hath been in these things and that it is by his care alone you have been preserved When God had so signally delivered David from a dangerous disease and the plots of Enemies against him by this saith he I know thou favourest me because mine enemy doth not trJumph over me Psal. 41. 11. he gathered from those gracious protections the care God had over him 3. Have you not plainly discerned the hand of God in the returns and accomplishments of your prayers Nothing can be more evident than this to men of observation Psal. 34. 4 5 6. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears They looked unto him and were lightned and their faces were not ashamed This poor man cryed and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles Parallel to this runs the experience of thousands and ten thousands of Christians this day they know they have the petitions they asked of him The Mercy carries the very impress and stamp of the Duty upon it So that we can say This is the Mercy the very Mercy I have so often sought God about O how satisfying and convincing are these things 4. Have you not evidently discerned the Lords hand in the guiding and directing of your paths to your unforeseen advantage Things that you never projected for your selves have been brought about beyond all your thoughts Many such things are with God and which of all the Saints hath not â—ound that word Jer. 10. 23. verified by clear and undeniable experience The way of man is not in himself I presume if you will but look over the mercies you possess thiâ— day you will find three to one it may be ten to one thus wrought by the Lord for you And how satisfying beyond all Arguments in the world are these experiences That there is a God to whom his people are exceeding dear a God that performeth all things for them 5. Is it not fully convictive that there is a God who takes care of you in as much as you have found in all the temptations and difficulties of your lives his promises still fulfilled and faithfully performed in all those conditions I appeal to your selves if you have not seen that Promise made good Psal. 91. 15. I will be with him in trouble and that 1 Cor. 10. 13. God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but will with the temptatJon also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it Have not these been as clearly made out by Providence before your eyes as the Sun at Noon day What room then is left for Atheistical suggestions in your breasts The Fourth Motive THe Recording and Recognizing of the performances of Providence will be a singular support to faith in future exigencJes This excellent use of it lyes full in the very eye of the Text. There never befell David in all his troubles a greater strait and distress than this and doubtless his faith had staggered had not the considerations of former Providence come in to its relief From this Topick faith argues and that very strongly and conclusively So did David's faith in many exigencies when he was to encounter the ChampJon of the Philistins it was from former Providence that he encouraged himself 1 Sam. 17. 37. And the Apostle Paul improves his experiences to the same purpose 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. Indeed the whole Scripture is full of it What Christian understands not the exceeding usefulness of those experiences he hath had to relieve and enliven But I shall not satisfie my self with the common assertion than which nothing is more tritc in the lips of professors but will labour to shew you wherein the great usefulness of our Recorded Experiences for encouraging faith labouring under difficulties consists To this purpose I shall desire the Reader to ponder seriously these following particulars How much advantage those things have upon our souls which we have already felt and tasted beyond those which were never relished by any former experience What is Experience but the bringing down of the objects of faith to the dijudication and test of spiritual sense Now when any thing hath been once tasted felt and judged by a former Experience it is much more easily believed and received when it occurrs again It 's much easier for faith to travel in a path that is well known to it having formerly trod it than to beat out a new one which it never trod nor can see one step before it Hence it is though there be a difficulty in all the acts of faith yet scarce in any like the first adventure it makes upon Christ and the reason lyes here because in the subsequent acts it hath all its former experiences to aid and encourage it but in the first adventure it hath none at all of its own it takes a path which it never knew before To trust God without any tryal or experience is a more noble act of faith but to trust him after we have often tryed him is known to be more easie O'tis no small advantage to a soul in a new plunge and distress to be able to say This is not the first time I have been in these deeps and yet emerged out of them Hence it was that Christ rub'd up his Disciples memories with what Providence had formerly wrought for them in a day of straits Matth. 16. 8 9 10 11. O ye of little faith why reason ye among your selves because ye have brought no bread do ye not yet understand neither remember q. d. Were yo never under any strait for bread before now Is this the first difficulty that ever your faith combated with No no you have felt straits and experienced the power and care of God in supplying them before now and therefore I cannot but call you men of little faith for a very ordinary and small measure of faith assisted with so much experience as you have had would enable you to trust God There is as much difference betwixt believing before and after experience as there is betwixt swimming with bladders and our first venture into the deep waters without them What a singular encouragement to faith do former Experiences yield it by answering all the pleas and objections of unbelief drawn from the object of faith Now there be two things that unbelief stumbles at in God One is his Power the other his Willingness to help 1. Unbelief objects the impossibility of relief in deep distresses Psal. 78. 19. Can God furnish a Table in the Wilderness can be give bread also can be provide flesh for his people O vile and unworthy thoughts of God! proceeding from our measuring the immense and boundless power of God by our own line and measure because we see not which way relief should come we conclude none is to be expected But all these reasonings of Unbelief are vanquisht by a serious reflection upon our own Experiences
all things for me The amount of all you have in this Doctrinal Conclusion DOCT. That it is the duty of the Saints especJally in times of straits to reflect upon the performances of Providence for them in all the states and through all the stages of their lives The Church in all the works of mercy owns â—he â—and of God Isa. 26. 12. Lord thou hast wrought all our works in or for us And still it hath been the pious and constant practice of the Saints in all generations to preserve the memory of the more famous and remarkable providences that have befallen them in their times as a precious treasure If thou be a ChristJan indeed I know thou hast if not in thy book yet certainly in thy heart a great many precJous favours upon record the very remembrance and rehearsal of them is sweet how much more sweet was the actual enjoyment Baxter's Saints Rest p. 768. Thus Moses by divine direction wrote a memorial of that victory obtained over Amalek as the fruit and return of prayer and built there an Altar with this Inscription Jehovah Nissi The Lord my Banner Exod. 17. 14 15. Thus Mordecai and Hester took all care to perpetuate the memory of that signal deliverance from the plot of Haman by ordaining the feast of Purim as an Anniversary throughout every generatJon every family every Province and every Ciâ—y that those days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews nor the memorJal of them perish from their seed Esth. 9. 28. For this end you find Psalms indited to bring to remembrance Psal. 70. the Title Parents giving suitable names to their Children that every time they looked upon them they might refresh the memory of Gods mercies 1 Sam. 1. 20. The very places where eminent Providences have appeared new named upon no other design but to perpetâ—ate the memorial of those sweet Providences which so refreshed them there Thence Bethel took its name Gen. 28. 19. And that well of water where Hagar was seasonably refreshed by the Angel in her distress Beer-la-hai-roi the well of him that liveth and looketh on me Gen. 16. 14. Yea the Saints have given and God hath assumed to himself new Titles upon this very score and account Abraham's Jehovah jirch and Gideon's Jehovah shallum were ascribed to him upon this reason And sometimes you find the Lord stiles himself The God that brought Abraham from Vr of the Chaldeâ—s then the Lord Lord that brought them out of Egypt then the Lord that gathered them out of the North Countrey still minding them of the gracious providences which in all those places he had wrought for them Now there is a twofold reflection upon the providentJal works of God One entire and full in the whole Complex and perfect frame thereof This blessed sight is reserved for the perfect state It is in that Mount of God where we shall see both the Wilderness and Canaan the glorious Kingdom into which we are come and the way through which we were led into it There the Saints shall have a ravishing view of that beautiful frame and every part shall be distinctly discerned as it had its particular use and as it was connected with the other parts and how effectually and orderly they all wrought to bring about that blessed design of their salvation according to the promise Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God c. For it is certain no Ship at Sea keeps more exactly by the Compass which directs its course than Providence doth by that Promise which is its Cynosura and Pole-star The other partial and imperfect in the way to glory where we only view it in its single acts or at most in some branches and more observable course of actions Betwixt these two is the same difference as betwixt the sight of the dis-jointed wheels and scattered pins of a Watch and the sight of the whole united in one frame and working in one orderly motion or betwixt an ignorant Spectators viewing some more observable vessel or joint of a dissected body and the accurate Anatomist's discerning the course of all the veins and arteries of the body as he follows the several branches of them through the whole and plainly sees the proper places figure and use of each with their mutual respect to one another O how ravishing and delectable a sight is that to behold at one view the whole design of Providence and the proper place and use of every single act which we could not understand in this world for what Christ said to Peter John 13. 7. is as applicable to some providences in which we are now concerned as it was to that particular action What I do thou knowest not now but hereafter thou shalt know it All the dark intricate puzling Providences at which we were sometimes so stumbled and sometimes amazed which we could neither reconcile with the promise nor with each other nay which we so unjustly censured and bitterly bewailed as if they had fallen out quite cross to our happiness we shall than see to be unto us as the difficult passage through the Wilderness was unto Israel the right way to a City of habitatJon Psalm 107. 7. And yet though our present views and reflections upon Providence be so short and imperfect in comparison of that in Heaven yet such as it is under all its present disadvantages it hath so much excellency and sweetness in it that I may call it a little Heaven or as Jacob called his Bethel the Gate of Heaven 'T is certainly an high-way of walkking with God in this world and as sweet communion may a soul enjoy with him in his Providences as in any of his Ordinances How often have the hearts of its observers been melted into tears of joy at the beholding of its wise and unexpected productions How often hath it convinced them upon a sober recollection of the events of their lives that if the Lord had left them to their own counsels they had as often been their own tormenters if not executioners Into what and how many fatal mischiefs had they precipitated themselves if Providence had been as short sighted as they They have given it their hearty thanks for considering their Interest more than their Importunity and not suffering them to perish by their own desires The benefits of adverting the works of Providence are manifold and unspeakable as in its place we shall shew you But not to entangle the thread of the discourse I shall cast it into this method First I shall prove that the Concernments of the Saints in this world are certainly conducted by the Wisdom and care of special Providence Secondly I will shew you in what particular concernments of theirs this providential care is evidently discovered Thirdly That it is the duty of Saints to advert and heedfully observe these performances of Providence for them in all their Concernments Fourthly In what manner
Wife Exod. 4. 24 25. David had his scoffing Michal 2 Sam. 6. 20. And patient Job no small addition to all his other afflictions from the Wife of his bosom who should have been a support to him in the day of his trouble Job 19. 17. No doubt but God sanctifies such rods to his Peoples good If Socrates knew how to improve his affliction in his Zantippe to the increase of his patience much more will they who converse with God under all Providences whether sweet or bitter Nevertheless this must be acknowledged to be a sad stroke upon any person and such as maims them upon the working hand by unfitting them for duty 1 Pet. 3. 7. and cuts off much of the comfort of life also 2. How many are there who never enjoy the comfortable fruits of Marriage but are denyed the sight at least the enjoyment of Children Jer. 22. 30. Thus saith the Lord write this man Childless c. or if they have Children yet cannot enjoy them Hosea 9. 12. Though they bring up Children yet will I bereave them that there shall not be a man left who only bear for the grave and have their expectations raised for a greater affliction to themselves 3. And it is no rare or unusual thing to see Children and near Relations the greatest Instruments of affliction to their Parents and Friends so that after all their other sorrows and troubles in the World nearest Relations bring up the rear of sorrows as One speaks and prove greater griefs than any other O how many Parents have complained with the Tree in the Fable that their very hearts have been rived asunder with those Wedges that were cut out of their own bodies What a grief was Esau to Isaac and Rabecka Gen. 26. 34 35. What a scourge were Absalom and Amnon to David Well then if God have set the solitary in FamilJes as it is Psal. 68. 6. built an house for the desolate given you comfortable relations which are springs of daily comfort and refreshment to you you are upon many accounts engaged to walk answerably to these gracious Providences And that you may understand wherein that decorum and agreeable comportment with these Providences consists take up the sense of your duty in these brief hints 1. Ascribe to God the glory of all those Providential works which yield you comfort You see a wise directing governing Providence which hath disposed and ordered all things beyond your own projections and designs The way of man is not in himself nor is it in him that walketh to direct his own steps Jer. 10. 23. Not what you projected but what an higher counsel than yours determined is come to pass Good Jacob when God had made him the Father of a Family admired God in the mercy Gen. 32. 10. With my staff said he I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands And how doth this mercy humble and melt him I am not worthy of the least of all the mercJes and of all the 〈◊〉 which thou hast shewed unto thy servant Be exact in discharging the duties of those Relations which so gracious a Providence hath led you into Abuse not the effects of so much mercy and love to you The Lord expects praise where ever you have comfort This aggravated David's sin that he should dare to abuse so great love and mercy as God had shewn him in his Family Relations 2. Sam. 12. 7 8 9. Improve Relations to the end Providence designed them Walk together as Co-heirs of the grace of life study to be mutual blessings to each other so walk in your Relations that the parting day may be sweet Death will shortly break up the Family and then nothing but the sense of duty discharged or the neglects pardoned will give comfort The Seventh Performance of Providence VII YOu have heard how well Providence hath performed its part of you in planting you into families who once were solitary Now let us in the next place view another gracious performance of Providence for us in making provisJon from time to time for us and our FamilJes I the rather put these Providences together in this place because I find the Scripture doth so Psalm 107. 41. He setteth the poor on high from afflictJon and maketh him familJes like a flock You know the Promises God hath made to his People Psal. 34. 10. The young LJons shall lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing And have you not also seen the constant performance of it Cannot you give the same answer if the same question were propounded to you that the Disciples did Luke 22. 35. Since I sent you forth lacked ye any thing and they said nothing Can ye not with Jacob call him the God that fed you all your life long Gen. 48. 15. Surely he hath given bread to them that fear him and been ever mindful of his Covenant Psal. 111. 5. To display this Providence we will consider it in the following particulars 1. The assiduity and constancy of the care of Providence for the Saints Lam. 3. 23. His mercJes are new every morning It is not the supply of one or two pressing needs but all your wants as they grow from day to day through all your dayes Gen. 48. 15. The God that fed me all my life long The care of Providence runs parallel with the line of life See Isa. 46. 3 4. Hearken unto me O house of Jacob and all the remnant of the house of Israel which are born by me from the belly which are carryed from the Womb and even to your old age I am he and even to hoar hairs will I carry you I have made and I will bear even I will carry and will deliver you So that as God bid Israel Micah 6. 5. to remember from Shittim◠unto Gilgal that they might know the faithfulness of the Lord so would I perswade thee Reader to record the wayes of Providence from first to last throughout thy whole course of this day that thou maist see what a God he hath been to thee 2. The seasonableness and opportuneness of its provisions for them for so runs the promise Isa. 41. 17. When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them and so hath the performance of it been And this hath been made good to distressed Saints sometimes in a more ordinary way God secretly blessing a little and making it sufficient for us and ours Job tells us of the secret of God upon his Tabernacle Job 29. 4. i. e. his secret blessing is in their Tabernacles by reason whereof it is that they subsist but it is in an unaccountable way that they do so And sometimes in an extraordinary way it breaks forth for their supply So you find in 2 Kings 17. 9 10 11 12 13 14. the Cruse
even as others The blood that â—uns in our veins is as much tainted as theirs in Hell 2. Consider them in their ConstitutJon and â—atural temper and it is no better yea in many a worse temper than in Reprobates and though grace depose sin in them from the Throne yet Oh what offensive and God provoking corruptions daily break out of the best hearts 3. Consider them in their outward ConditJon â—nd they are inferiour for the most part to â—thers 1 Cor. 1. 26 27 28 c. and Matth. 1. 25. I thank thee O Father saith Christ that â—ou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent â—nd hast revealed them unto Babes And now let us consider and admire that ever his great and blessed God should be so much â—â—ncerned as you have heard he is in all his Proâ—â—dences about such vile despicable Worms as â—â—e are He needs us not but is perfectly blessed â—nd happy in himself without us We can add â—othing to him Job 22. 2. Can a man be profitable God No the holiest of men add nothing to him yet see how great account he makes of us For Doth not his eternal electing love bespeak the dear account he made of us Eph. 1. 4 5. How ancient how free and how astonishing is this act of grace This is that design which all Providences are in pursuit of and will not rest till they have executed Doth not the gift of his only Son out of his bosome speak this truth That God makes great account of this vile thing Man Never was man so magnified before If David could say Psal. 8. â— When I consider the Heavens the work of thy hands the Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained Lord what is man How much more may we say when we consider thy Son that lay in thy bosome his infinite excellency and unspeakable dearness to thee Lord what is man that such a Christ should be delivered to death for him for him and not for fallen Angels Heb. 2. 16. for him when in a state of enmity with God! Rom. 5. 8. Doth not the assiduity of his Providential care for us speak his esteem of us Isa. 27. 3. 〈◊〉 any hurt it I will keep it night and day Hâ— withdraweth not his eye from the righteous Job 36. 7. no not a moment all their dayes for did he so a thousand mischiefs in that moment woulâ— rush in upon him and ruine him Doth not the tenderness of his Providencâ— speak his esteem of us Isa. 66. 13. as one whom his Mother comforteth so will I comfort you He comforts his viz. by refreshing Providences aâ— an indulgent Mother her tender Child So Isa 31. 5. As birds flying viz. to their nests when their young are in danger so he defends his No 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tenderness in the Creature can shadow forth the tender bowels of the Creator Doth not the variety of the fruits of his Providence speak it Lam. 3. 23. Our mercJes are new every morning See Psal. 40. 5. It is a fountain from which do stream forth spiritual and temporal ordinary and extraordinary publick and personal mercies mercies without number Doth not the ministration of Angels in the Providential Kingdom speak it Heb. 1. ult Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth c. Doth not the Providence which this day calls us to celebrate the memory of bespeak the great account God hath for his people O if not so why had we not been given up as a prey to their teeth See Psal. 124. If the Lord had not been on our side then wicked men there compar'd to fire water wild beasts had devoured us O blessed be God for that teeming Providence that hath already brought forth more than seventy years liberty and peace to the Church of God I shall move in behalf of this Providence that you would do by it as the Jows by their Purim Esth. 9. 27 28. and the rather because we seem now to be as near danger by the same Enemy as ever since that time and if such a mercy as this be forgotten God may say as Judges 10. 13. I will deliver you no more The Third General Head HAving proved the Concernments of the people of God to be conducted by the care of special Providence and given Instances in the ten last named Heads what influence Providence hath upon those Interests and concerns of theirs among the rest we come in the next place to prove it to be the duty of the people of God to reflect upon these performances of Providence for them at all times but especially in times of straits and troubles This I will evidence to be your unquestionable duty by the following particulars This is our duty because God hath expresly commanded it and called his people to make the most serious reflections and animadversions upon his works whether of mercy or judgement So when that dreadfullest of all Judgements was executed upon his professing people for their Apostasie from God and God had removed the Symbols of his presence from among them the rest are bid to go i.e. by their meditations to send at least their thoughts to Shiloh and see what God did to it Jer. 7. 12. So for mercies God calls us to consider and review them Micah 6. 5. Remember O my people from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the faithfulness of the Lord q. d. if you reflect not upon that signal Providence my faithfulness will be covered and your unfaithfulness discovered So for Gods works of Providence about the Creatures we are called to consider them that we may prop up our faith by those considerations for our own supplies Matth. 6. 28. consider the Fowls and Lillies It 's plain that this is our duty because the neglect of it is every where in Scripture condemned as a sin To be of an heedless inobservant temper is very displeasing to God and so much appears by that Scripture Isa. 26. 11. Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see Nay it is a sin which God threatens and denounces woe against in his Word Psal. 28. 4 5. and Isa. 5. 12 13. Yea God not only threatens but smites men with visible Judgements for this sin Job 34. 26 27. And for this end and purpose it is that the Holy Ghost hath affixed those notes of attention to the narratives of the works of Providence in Scripture all which do invite and call men to a due and deep observation of them So in that great and celebrated work of Providence in delivering Israel out of EgyptJan bondage you find a note of attentJon twice affixed to it Exod. 3. 2 9. So when that daring Enemy Rabsheka that put HezekJah and all the people into such a consternation was defeated by Providence there is a note of attentJon prefixt to that Providence 2 Kings 19. â— Behold I will send a blast upon him c. So when God glorifies his wisdom and power in delivering his
people from their Enemies and ensnaring them in the works of their own hands a double note of attentJon is affixed to that double work of Providence Psal. 9. 16. higgaJon sâ—lah So at the opening of every seal which contains a remarkable series or branch of Providence how particularly is attention commanded to every one of them Rev. 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Come and see come and see All these are very useless and superâ—luous additions in Scripture if no such duty lyes upon us See Psal. 66. 5. Without due observation of the work of Providence no praise can be rendered to God for any of them Praise and thanksgiving for mercies depend upon this act of observation of them and cannot be performed without it Psalm 107. is spont in narratives of Gods Providential care of men To his people in straits Ver. 4 5 6. To prisoners in their bonds Ver. 10 11 12. To men that lye languishing upon beds of sickness Ver. 17 18 19. To Seamen upon the stormy Ocean Ver. 23 c. To men in times of famine Ver. 33. to Ver. 40. Yea his Providence is displayed in all those changes that fall out in the world deâ—asing the high and exalting the low Ver. 40 41. and at every paragraph men are still called upon to praise God for each of these Providences but Ver. ult shews you what a necessary ingredient to that duty observation is Whosâ— it wiâ—e and will observe these things even they shall understandâ— the loving kindness of the Lord. So that of necessity God must be defraudedâ— of his praise if this duty be neglected Without this we lose the usefulness and beâ—neâ—it of all the works of God for us or others which would be an unspeakable loss indeed to us This is the food our â—aith lives upon in dayes of distress Psal. 74. 14. Thou â—rakest the heads of LevJathan in pJeces and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the Wilderness i.e. food to their â—aith From Providences past Saints use to argue to fresh and new ones to come So David 1 Sam. 17. 37. The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistin So Paul 2 Cor. 1. 10. Who hath delivered and in whom also we trust that he will yet deliver If these be forgotten oâ— not considered the hands of â—aith hang down See Matth. 16. 9. How is it that ye do not remember neither consider This is a Topick from which the Saints have used to draw their Arguments in prayer for new mercies As Moses Numb 14. 19. when he prayes for continued or new pardonâ— for the people he argues from what was past As thou hast forgiven them from Egypt until now So the Church Isa. 51. 9 10. argues for new Providences upon the same ground Moses pleaded for new pardons It is a vile slighting of God not to observe what of himself he manifests in his Providences For in all Providences especially in some he comes nigh to us He doth so in his Judgements Mal. 3. 5. I will come nigh to you in judgement He comes nigh in mercies also Psal. 145. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him c. Yea he is said to visit us by his Providence when he corrects Hosea 9. 7. and when he saves and delivers Psal. 106. 4. These visitations of God preserve our spirits Job 10. 12. And it is a wonderful condescension in the great God to visit us so oâ—ten Job 7. 18. every morning and every moment But not to take notice of it is a vile and bruitish contempt of God Iâ—a 1. 3. Zeph. 3. 2. You would not do so by a man for whom you have any respect It 's the character of the wicked not to regard Gods favours Isa. 26. 10. or frowns Jer. 5. 3. In a word men can never order their addresses to God in prayer suitable to their conditions without due observatJon of his Providences Your prayers are to be suitable to your conditions sometimes we are called to praise sometimes to humiliation In the way of his Judgements you are to wait for him Isa. 26. 8. to prepare to meet him Zeph. 2. 1 2. Amos 4. 12. Now your business is to turn away his anger which you see approaching And sometimes you are called to praise him for mercies received Isa. 12. 1 2. but then you must first observe them Thus you find the matter of David's Psalms still varied according to the Providences that befell him but an inobservant heedless spirit can never do it And thus you have the grounds of the Duty briefly represented we pass on to The Fourth General Head LEt us next according to our method proposed proceed to shew in what manner we are to reflect upon the performances of Providence for us And certainly it is not every slight and transient glance nor every cold historical unaffecting rehearsal or recognition of his Providences towards you that will pass with God for a discharge of this great duty No no it is another manner of business than the most of men understand it to be O that we were but acquainted with this heavenly spiritual exercise how sweet would it make our lives how light would it make our burdens Ah Sirs you live estranged from the pleasure of the Christian life while you live in the ignorance or neglect of this duty Now to lead you up to this heavenly sweet and profitable exercise I will beg your attention to the following Directions The First Direction LAbour to get as full and through recognitJons of the Providences of God about you from first to last as you are able O sill your hearts with the thoughts of him and his wayes If a single act of Providence be so ravishing and transporting what would many such be if they were presented together to the view of the soul If one Star be so beautiful to behold what is a ConstellatJon Let your reflections therefore upon the acts and workings of Providence for you be full extensively and intensively 1. Let them be as extensively full as may be Search backward into all the performances of Providence throughout your lives So did Asaph in Psal. 77. 11 12. I will remember the works of the Lord surely I will remember thy wonders of old I will meditate of all thy works and talk of thy doings He laboured to recover and revive the ancient Providences of God mercies many years past and suck a fresh sweetness out of them by new reviews of them Ah Sirs let me tell you there is not such a pleasant History for you to read in all the world as the History of your own lives if you would but sit down and record to your selves from the beginning hitherto what God hath been to you and done for you what signal manifestations and out-breakings of his mercy faithfulness and love there have been in all
God saith the Psalmist thou hast taught me from my youth and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works now also when I am old and gray headed O God forsake me not Psal. 71. 17 18. At death the Saints are engaged in the last and one of the most eminent works of faith even the committing themselves into the hands of God when we are lanching forth into that vast Eternity and entring into that new state which will make so great a change upon us in a moment In this Christ sets us a pattern Luke 23. 46. Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and having said thus he gave up the Ghost So Stephen at his death Lord Jesus receive my spirit and immediately fell asleep Act. 7. 59. There be two signal and remarkable acts of faith both exceedingly difficult viz. its first act and its last The first is a great venture that it makes of it self upon Christ and the last is a great venture too to cast it self into the Ocean of Eternity upon the credit of a Promise But yet I know the first adventure of the Soul upon Christ is much more difficult than the last adventure upon death and that which makes it so is in great measure the manifold recorded experiences that the Soul hath been gathering up from the day of its espousals to Christ unto its dying which is in a sense its marriage day Oh with what encouragement may a Soul throw himself into the arms of that God with whom he hath so long conversed and walked in this world Whose visits have been sweet and frequent with whom the soul hath contracted so intimate acquaintance in this world whom it hath committed all its affairs to formerly and still â—ound him a faithful God and now hath no reason to doubt but it shall find him so in this last distress and exigence also At death the people of God receive the last mercies that ever they shall receive in this world by the hand of Providence and are immediately to make up their Accounts with God â—or all the mercies that ever they received from his hand What can be more suitable therefore to a dying person than to recount with himself the mercies of his whole life the manifold receipts of favour for which he is to reckon with God speedily and how shall this be done without a due and serious observation and recording of them now I know there are thousands of mercies forgotten by the best of Christians a memory of brass cannot contain them And I know also that Jesus Christ must make up the Account for us or it will never pass with God yet it is our duty to keep the Accounts of our own mercies and how they have been improv'd by us for we are Stewards and then are to give an Account of our Stewardship At death we owe an Account also to men and stand obliged if there be opportunity for it to make known to them that survive us what we have seen and found of God in this world that we may leave a testimony for God with men and bring up a good report upon his ways Thus dying Jacob when Joseph was come to take his last farewell of him in this world strengthened himself and sate upon the bed and related to him the eminent appearances of God to him and the places where Gen. 48. 2 3. as also an account of his afflictions Verse 7. So Joshua in his last speech to the people makes it his business to vindicate and clear the truth of the Promises by recounting to them how the Providence of God had fulfill'd the same to a tittle in his day Josh. 23. 14. And behold saith he this day I am going the way of all the earth and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you all are come to pass unto you and not one thing hath failed thereof And certainly 't is of great importance to the world to understand the Judgements and hear of the Experiences of dying men They of all men are presumed to be most wise and most serious Besides this is the last opportunity that ever we shall have in this world to speak for God O then what a sweet thing would it be to close up our lives with an honourable Account of the ways of God! to go out of the world blessing him for all the mercies and truth which he hath here performed to us how would this encourage weak Christians and convince the Atheistical world that verily there is a reality and an excellency in the ways and people of God! At death we begin the Angelical life of praise and thanksgiving We then enter upon that everlasting sweet employment and as I doubt not but the Providences in which we were concerned in this world will be a part of that Song which we shall sing in Heaven so certainly it will become us to tune our hearts and tongues for it whil'st we are here and especially when we are ready to enter upon that blessed state O therefore let it be your daily meditation and study what God hath been to you and done for you from the beginning of his way hitherto And thus I have spread before you some encouragements to this blessed work Oh that you would be perswaded to this lovely and every way beneâ—icial practice This I dare presume to say that whoever finds a careful and a thankful heart to record and treasure up the daily experiences of God's mercy to him shall never want new mercies to record to his dying day It was said of ClaudJan that he wanted matter suitable to the excellency of his parts but where is the head or heart that is suitable to this matter who can utter the mighty works of the Lord who can shew forth all his praise Psal. 106. 2. Thus I have through the aid of Providence dispatched the main design I aimed at in the choice of this subject All that remains will now be speedily finished in some few Corollaries to be brieâ—ly noted upon the whole and three or four practical Cases to be stated You have heard how Providence perâ—ormeth all things for you Learn thence First Corollary THat God is therefore to be owned by you in all that befalls you in this world whether it be in â— way of success and comfort or of trouble and afflictJon O 't is your duty to observe his hand and disposal When God gives you comforts 't is your great evil not to observe his hand in them Hence was that charge against Israel â—os 2. 8. She did not know that I gave her Corn and Wine and Oil and multiplJed her Silver and Gold i. e. she did not actually and affectionately consider my care over her and goodness to her in these mercies And so for afflictions 't is a great wickedness when God's hand is listed up not to see it Isa.
of the Spirit was engaged to go to Jerusalem Acts 20. 22. After a clear revelation of the mind of God to him in that matter how many difficult and discouraging Providences beâ—ell him in his way The Disciples at Tyre said to him by the Spirit though in that they â—ollowed their own spirits that he should not go to Jerusalem Acts 21. 4. Then at Cesarea he met Agabus a Prophet who told him what should beâ—all him when he came thither Chap. 21. 10 11. all this will not disswade him And after all this how passionately do the Brethren beseech him to decline that journey Ver. 12 13. Yet knowing his rule and resolving to be faithful to it he puts by all and proceeds in his journey Well then Providence in concurrence with the Word may give some encouragement to us in our way but no testimony of Providence is to be accepted against the Word If Scripture and Conscience tell you such a way is sinful you may not venture upon it how many opportunities and encouragements soever Providence may suffer to offer themselves to you for they are only permitted for your Tryal not your encouragement Take this therefore for a sure Rule That no Providence can legitimate or justifie any moral evil Nor will it be a plea before God for any man to say The Providence of God gave me encouragement to do it though the Word gave me none If thereâ—ore in doubtful cases you would discover Gods will govern your selves in your search after it by these Rules Get the true fear of God upon your hearts be really afraid of offending him God will not hide his mind from such a â—oul Psal. 25. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Study the Word more and the concerns and interests of the World less The Word is a light to your feet Psal. 119. 105. i. e. it hath a discovering and directive usefulness as to all duties to be done and dangers to be avoided it is the great Oracle at which you are to enquire treasure up its rules in your hearts and you will walk safely Psal. 119. 11. thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Reduce what you know into practice and you shall know what is your duty to practise Joh. 7. 17. If any man do his will he shall know of the doctrine Psal. 111. 10. A good understanding have all they that do thereafter Pray for illumination and direction in the way that you should go beg the Lord to guide you in straits and that he would not suffer you to fall into sin This was the holy practice of Ezra chap. 8. 21. Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava that we might afflict our selves before our God to seek of him a right way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance And this being done â—ollow Providence so far as it agrees with the word and no farther There is no use to be made of Providence against the word but in subserviency to it And there are two excellent uses of Providence in subserviency to the word 1. Providences as they follow Promises and Prayer are Evidences of God's faithfulness in their Accomplishment When David languished under a disease and his Enemies began to triumph in the hopes of his downfall he prays Psal. 41. 10. that God would be merciful to him and raise him up and by that he saith he knew the Lord favoured him because his Enemy did not triumph over him ver 11. this Providence he looked upon as a token for good as elsewhere he calls it Psal. 86. 17. And 2. Providences give us loud calls to those duties which the Command lays upon us and tell us when we are actually and presently under the obligation of the Commands as to the performance of them Thus when sad Providences befall the Church or our selves they call us to humiliation and let us know that then the command upon us to humble our selves at the feet of God is in force upon us Micah 6. 9. The Lords voice cryeth to the City and the man of wisdom shall see thy name hear the rod and who hath appointed it The Rod hath a voice and what doth it speak Why now is the time to humble your selves under the mighty hand of God This is the day of trouble in which God hath bid you to call upon him And â— contra when comfortable Providences refresh us it now informs us this is the time to rejoyce in God according to the rule Eccles. 7. 14. in the day of prosperiâ—y be joyful These precepts bind always but not to always It 's our duty therefore and our wisdom to distinguish seasons and know the proper duties of every season and Providence is an Index that points them out to us Thus of the first Case The Second Case HOw may a Christian be supported in waiting upon God whil'st Providence delays the performance of the mercies to him for which he hath long pray'd and waited Two things are supposed in this Case 1. That Providence may linger and delay the performance of those mercies to us that we have long waited and prayed for 2. That during that delay and suspension our hearts and hopes may be very low and ready to fail Providence may long delay the performance of those mercies we have prayed and waited upon God for For the right understanding of this know that there is a two-fold term or season fixed for the performance of mercy to us One by the Lord our God in whose hand times and seasons are Acts 1. 7. Another by our selves who raise up our own expectations of mercies sometimes meerly through the eagerness of our desires after them and sometimes upon uncertain conjectural grounds and appearances of encouragement that lye before us Now nothing can be more precise certain and punctual than is the performance of mercy at the time and season which God hath appointed how long soever it be or how many obstacles soever lye in the way of it There was a time prefixed by God himself for the performance of that Promise of Israel's deliverance out of Egypt and it 's said Exod. 12. 41. At the end of the four hundred and thirty years even the self same day it came to pass that all the host of the Lord went out of the Land of Egypt Compare this with Acts 7. 17. and there you have the ground and reason why their deliverance was not nor could be delayed one day longer because the time of the Promise was now come Promises like a pregnant woman must accomplish their appointed months and when they have so done Providence will Midwife the mercies they go big withal into the world and not one of them shall miscarry But for the seasons which are of our own â—ixing and appointment as God is not tyed to them so his Providences are not
how little faith patience resignation and self-denyal we can find when God calls us to the exercise of them O 't is a blessed sign that trouble is sanctified that makes a man thus turn in upon his own heart search it and humble himself before the Lord for the evils of it IN the next place let us take into consideration the other branch of Providences which are comfortable and pleasant Sometimes it smiles upon us in successes prosperity and the gratification of the desires of our hearts Here the Question will be how the sanctification oâ— these Providences may be discovered to us For resolution in this matter I shall for clearness sake lay down two sorts of Rules one Negative the other positive First Negative It is a sign that comfort is not sanctified to us which comes not ordinarily in the way of Prayer The wicked boasteth of hiâ— hearts desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth The wicked through the pride of his countenance will 〈◊〉 sâ—â—k after God God is not in all his thoughts Psal. 10. 3 4. Here you see Providence may give men their hearts desire and yet they never once open their desires to God in prayer about it But then those gifts of Providence are only such as are bestowed on the worst of men and are not the fruits of love Whatever success prosperity or comfort men acquire by sinful medJums and indirect courses are not sanctified mercies to them This is not the method in which those mercies are bestowed Better is a little with righteousness than great revenews without right Prov. 16. 8. better upon this account that it comes in Gods way and with his blessing which never follows the way of sin God hath cursed the wayes of sin and no blessing can follow them Whatever prosperity and success makes men forget God and cast off the care of duty is not sanctifJed to them It is unsanctifJed prosperity which lulls men asleep into a deep oblivJon of God Deut. 32. 13 14 15 18. He made him ride on the high places of the earth that he might eat the increase of the fields and he made him to suck honey out of the rock and oyl out of the flinty rock butter of Kine and milk of Sheep with fat of Lambs and rams of the breed of Bashan and Goats with the fat of kidneys of wheat and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape but Iesurun waxed fat and kicked thou art waxed fat thou art grown thick thou art covered with fatness then he forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the Rock of his Salvation Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful and hast forgotten God that formed thee Rarè fumant foelicibus arae When prosperity is abused to sensuality and meerly serves as fuell to maintains fleshly lusts it is not sanctifJed See Job 21. 11 12 13. They send forth their little ones like a flock and their Children dance They take the Timbrell and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ They spend their dayes in wealth and in a moment go down to the grave It 's a sign that prosperity is not sanctifJed to men when it swells the heart with pride and self-conceitedness Dan. 4. 29 30. At the end of twelve moneths he walked in the Palace of the Kingdom of Babylon The King spake and said Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the Kingdom by the might of my power and for the honour of my Majesty That success is not sanctified to men which takes them off from their duty and makes them wholly negligent or very much indisposed to it Jer. 2. 31. O generatJon see the Word of the Lord have I been a Wilderness unto Israel a land of darkness Wherefore say my people We are Lords we will come no more unto thee Nor can we think that prosperity sanctifJed which wholly swallows up the souls of men in their own enjoyments and makes them regardless of publick miserJes or sins Amos 6. 4 5 6. They lye upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches and eat the lambs out of the flock and the calves out of the midst of the stall They chant to the sound of the Viol and invent to themselves Instruments of musick like David They drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the chief ointments but they are not grieved for the afflictions of Ioseph But then Positively Those mercies and comforts are undoubtedly sanctified to men which humble their souls kindly before God in the sense of their own vileness and unworthiness of them Gen. 32. 10. And Jacob said I am not worthy of the least of all the mercJes c. Sanctified mercies are commonly turned into Cautions against sin Ezra 9. 13. they are so many bands of restraint upon the soul that hath them to make them shun sin They will engage a mans heart in love to the God of his mercies Psal. 18. 1. compared with the Title They never satisfie a man as his Portion nor will the soul accept all the prosperity in the world upon that score Heb. 11. 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward Nor do they make men regardless of Publick sins or miseries Nehem. 2. 1 2 3. compared with Acts 7. 23. It 's a sure sign that mercJes are sanctifJed when they make the soul more expedite and enlarged for God in duty 2 Chron. 17. 5 6. Therefore the Lord stablished the Kingdom in his hand and all Iudah brought to Iehoshaphat presents and he had riches and honour in abundance And his heart was lift up in the wayes of the Lord c. To conclude That which is obtained by prayer and returned to God again in due praise carries its own testimonials with it that it came from the love of God and is a sanctified mercy to the soul. And so much of this Third Case The Fourth Case HOw may we attain unto an evenness and steddiness of spirit under the Changes and contrary Aspects of Providence upon us Three things are supposed in this Case 1. That Providence hath various and contrary Aspects upon the people of God 2. That it is a common thing with them to experience great disorders of spirit under those Changes of Providence 3. That these disorders may be at least in a great measure prevented by the due use and application of those rules and helps that God hath given us in such Cases That Providence hath various yea contrary Aspects upon the people of God is a case so plain that it needs no more than the mentioning to let it in to all our Understandings Which of all the people of God have not felt this truth Providence rings the changes all the world over He encreaseth the NatJons and destroyeth them he enlargeth the NatJons and straitneth them again Job 12. 23. The same it doth with persons
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Let that support your hearts under all your sufferings Quest. 3. LAstly Let us consider what may be useful to support and quiet our hearts under doubtful Providences when our dear concernments hang in a doubtful suspence before us and we know not which way the Providence of God will cast and determine them Now the best hearts are apt to grow solicitous and pensive distracted with thoughtfulness about the event and issue To relieve and settle us in this case the following Considerations are very useful First Consideration First Let us consider the vanity and inutility of such a solicitude Matth. 6. 27. Which of you saith our Lord by taking thought can add one Cubit We may break our peace and waste our Spirits but not alter the Case We cannot turn God out of his way Job 23. 13. He is in one mind We may by strugling against God increase but not avoid or lighten our troubles Second Consideration How often do we afflict and torment our selves by our own unquiet thoughts when there is no real cause or ground for so doing Isa. 51. 13. And hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor as if he were ready to destroy and where is the fury of the oppressor O what abundance of disquiet and trouble might we prevent by waiting quietly till we see the issues of Providence and not bringing as we do the evils of the morrow upon the day Third Consideration How great a ground of quietness is it that the whole dispose and management of all our affairs and concerns is in the hand of our own God and Father No Creature can touch us without his commission or permission I know saith Christ thou couldst have no power against me except it were given thee from above John 19. 11. Neither Men nor Devils can act any thing without Gods leave and be sure he will sign no order to your prejudice Fourth Consideration How great satisfaction must it be to all that believe the Divine Authority of the Scripture that the faithâ—ulness of God stands engaged for every line and syllable found therein And how many blessed lines in the Bible may we mark that respect even our outward concerns and the happy issue of them all Upon these two grounds viz. that our outward concerns with their steddy direction to a blessed end is â—ound in the Word and this Word being of Divine Authority the faithfulness and honour of God stands good for every Title that is found there I say these are grounds of such stability that our minds may repose with greatest security and confidence upon them even in the cloudiest day of trouble Not only your eternal salvation but your temporal Interests are there secured Be quieted therefore in the confidence of a blessed issue Fifth Consideration How great and sure an expedient have the Saints ever found it to their own peace to commit all doubtful issues of Providence to the Lord and devolve all their cares upon him Prov. 16. 3. Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established By Works he means any doubtful intricate perplexing business about which our thoughts are rackt and tortur'd Roll all these upon the Lord by faith leave them with him and the present immediate benefit you shall have by it besides the comfort in the last issue shall be tranquillity and peace in your thoughts And who is there of any standing or Experience in Religion that hath not found it so The Fifth Case HOw may a Christian work his heart into a resigning frame unto the will of God when sad Providences approach him and presage great troubles and afflictions coming on towards him For the right stating and resolving of this important case it will be needful to shew 1. What is not included and intended in the Question 2. What it doth suppose and include in it and lastly what helps and directions are necessary for the due performance of this great and difficult duty First Negatively As to the first It must be premised that the Question doth not suppose the heart or will of a Christian to be at his own command and dispose in this matter we cannot resign it and subject it to the will of God whenever we desire so to do the duty indeed is ours but the power by which alone we perform it is Gods We act as we are acted by the Spirit It is with our hearts as with meâ—eors hanging in the air by the influence of the Sun while that continues they abide above but when it fails they fall to the earth We can do this and all things else be they never so difficult through Christ that strengthens us Phil. 4. 13. But without him we can do nothing John 15. 5. he doth not say without me ye can do but little or without me ye can do nothing but with great difficulty or without me ye can do nothing perfectly but without me ye can do nothing at all And every Christian hath a witness in his own breast to attest this truth for there are cases frequently occurring in the methods of Providence in which notwithstanding all their prayers and desires all their reasonings and strivings they cannot quiet their hearts fully in the dispose and will of God but on the contrary do find all their endeavours in this matter to be but as the rolling of a returning stone against the Hill till God say to the heart be still and to the will give up nothing can be done Secondly Affirmatively Next Let us consider what this case doth suppose and include in it and we shall find That it supposeth the people of God to have a foresight of troubles and distresses approaching and drawing near to them I confess 't is not always so for many of our afflictions as well as comforts come by way of surprizals upon us but oft times we have forewarnings of troubleâ— both publick and personal before we feel them as the weather may be discerned by the â—ace of the Sky when we see a morning Sky red and lowring this is a natural sign of a foul and rainy day Matth. 16. 3. and there are as certain signs of the times whereby we may discern when trouble is near even at the door And these forewarnings are given by the Lord to awaken us to our duties by which they may either be prevented Zeph. 2. 1 2. or sanctified and sweetned to us when they come These signs and notices of approaching troubles are gathered partly from the observatJon and collation of parallel Scripture cases and examples God generally holding one tenour and steddy course in the administrations of his Providences in all ages 1 Cor. 10. 6. partly from the ReflectJons Christians make upon the frames and tempers of their own hearts which greatly need awakening humbling and purging Providences For let a Christian be but a few years or months without
a rod and how formal earthly dead and vain will his heart grow And such a temper presages affliction to them that are beloved of the Lord as really as the giving or sweating of the stones doth rain Lastly The ordering and disposing of the next causes into a posture and preparation for our trouble plainly premonisheth us that trouble is at the door Thus when the symptoms of sickness begin to appear upon our own bodies the wiâ—e of our bosome or our children that are as our own souls Providence herein awakens our expectations of death and doleful separations so when enemies combine together and plot the ruine of our liberties estates or lives and God seemeth to loose the bridle of restraint upon their necks now we cannot but be alarmed with the near approach of troubles especially when at the same time our conscience shall reflect upon the abuse and non-improvement of these our threatned comforts The case before us supposeth that these premonitions and fore-runners of affliction do usually very much disturb the order and break the peace of our souls they put the mind under great discomposure the thoughts under much distraction and the affections into tumults and rebellion Ah how unwilling are we to surrender to the Lord the Loan which he lent us to be disquieted by troubles when at ease in our enjoyments How unwelcome are the messengers of affliction to the best men we are ready to say to them as the Widow to Elijah What have I to do with thee O man O messenger of God art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance and to slay my Son 1 King 17. 18. And this ariseth partly from the remains of corruption in the best souls for though every sanctified person is come by his own consent into the Kingdom and under the government and Scepter of Christ and every thought of his heart de jure and of right must be subjected to him 2 Cor. 10. 5. yet de facto the conquest and power of grace is but incompleat and in part and natural corruption like Jerobâ—am with his vain men riseth up against it and â—auseth many mutinies in the soul whil'st grace like young Abijah is weak handed and cannot resist them And partly from the advantage Satan makes upon the season to irritate and assist our corruptâ—ons he knows that which is already in motion is the more easily moved In this confusion and hurry of thoughts he undiscernedly shuffles in his temptations Sometimes aggravating the evils which we fear with all the sinking and overwhelming circumstances imaginable Sometimes divining and fore-casting such events and evils as haply never fall out Sometimes repining at the disposes of God as more severe to us than others And sometimes reflecting with very unbelieving and unworthy thoughts upon the promises of God and his faithfulness in them by all which the affliction is made to sink deep into the soul before it actually comes The thoughts are so disordered that duty cannot be duly performed And the soul is really weakned and disabled to bear its tryal when it comes indeed just as if a man should be kept waking and restless all the night with the thoughts of his hard journey which he must travel to morrow and so when to morrow is come he faints for want of rest mid-way his journey It is here supposed to be the Christians great duty under the apprehensions of approaching troubles to resign his will to Gods and quietly commit the events and issues of all to him whatever they may prove Thus did David in the like case and circumstances 2 Sam. 15. 25 26. And the King said unto Zadock carry back the Ark of God into the City If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me back again and shew me both it and his habitatJon but if he shall thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good to him O lovely and truly Christian temper q. d. go Zadock return with the Ark to its place though I have not the symbol yet I hope I shall have the real presence of God with me in this sad journey how he will dispose the events of this sad and doubtful Providence I know not Either I shall return again to Jerusalem or I shall not If I do then I shall see it again and enjoy the Lord in his ordinances there If I do not then I shall go to that place where there is no need or use of those things And either way it will be well for me I am content to refer all to the divine pleasure and commit the issue be it whatever it will be to the Lord. And till our hearts come to the like resolve we can have no peace within Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established Prov. 16. 3. By works he means not only every enterprize and business we undertake but every puzzling intricate and doubtful event we fear These being once committed by an act of faith and our wills resigned unto his besides the comfort we shall have in the issue we shall have the present advantage of a well composed and peaceful Spirit But this resignation is the difficulty no doubt of peace could we once bring our hearts to that And therefore I shall here subjoyn such helps and directions as may through Gods blessing in the faithful use of them assist and facilitate this great and difficult work First Help And first Labour to work into your hearts a deep and fixed sense of the infinite wisdom of God and your own folly and ignorance This will make resignation easie to you whatsoever the Lord doth is by counsel Eph. 1. 11. his understanding is infinite Psal. 147. 5. his thoughts are very deep Psal. 92. 5. but as for man yea the wisest among men how little doth his understanding penetrate the works and designs of Providence And how oft are we forced to retract our rash opinions and confess our mistakes acknowledging that if Providence had not seen with better eyes than ours and looked farther than we did we had precipitated our selves into a thousand mischiefs which by its wisdom and care we have escaped It 's well for us that the seven eyes of Providence are ever awake and looking out for our good Now if one creature can and ought to be guided and governed by another that is more wise and skilful than himself as the ClJent by his learned Counsel the PatJent by his skilful PhysicJan much more should every creature give up his weak reason and shallow understanding to the infinite wisdom of the omniscient God It 's nothing but our pride and arrogance over-valuing our own understandings that makes resignation so hard Carnal reason seems to it self a wise disputant about the concerns of the flesh but how often hath Providence baffled it The more humility the more resignation How few of our mercies and comforts have
and if destitute of other helps but add those that have fallen out in their own time and experience O what a precious Treasure would these make How would it antidote their souls against the spreading Atheism of these dayes and satisfie them beyond what many other Arguments can do that The Lord he is God the Lord he is God Whilst this Work was under my hand I was both delighted and assisted by a Pious and Useful Essay of an unknown Author who hath to very good purpose improved many Scriptural passages of Providence which seem to lye out of the road of common observation Some passages I have noted out of it which have been sweet to me And O that Christians would every where set themselves to such work Providence carries our lives liberties and concernments in its hand every moment Your bread is in its Cupboard your money in its Purse your safety in its enfolding Arms and sure it is the least part of what you owe to record the favours you receive at its hands More partiâ—ularly 1. Trust not your slippery memories with such a multitude of remarkable passages of Providence as you have and shall meet with in your way to Heaven It 's true things that greatly affect us are not easily forgotten by us and yet how ordinary is it for new impressions to raâ—e out former ones It was a saying of that Worthy man Dr. Hâ—rris My memory said he never failed me in all my life for indeed I durst never trust it Written memorials secure us against that hazard and besides makes them useful to others when we are gone So that you carry not away all your treasure to heaven with you but leave these choice Legacies to your surviving friends Certainly it were not so great a loss to lose your Silver your Goods and Chattels as it is to lose your Experienâ—es which God hath this way given you in this world 2. Take heed of clasping up those rich treasures in a Book and thinking it enough to have noted them there but have frequent recourse to them as oft as new wants â—ears or difficulties arise and assault you Now it 's seasonable to consider and reâ—lect Was I never so distressâ—â— before Is this the first plunge that ever befell me Let me consider the dayes of old the years of aâ—cJent times as Asaph did Psal. 77. 5. 3. Lastly Beware of slighting former straits and dâ—ngers in comparison with present â—nes That which is next us alwayes appears greatest to us and as time removes us farther and farther from our former mercies or dangers so they lessen in our eyes just as the Land from which they sail doth to Sea-men Know that your dangers have been as great and your fears no less formerly than now Make it as much your business to preserve the sense and value as the memory of former Providences and the fruit will be sweet to you FINIS THE TABLE A. ABuse of Scripture punished by Providence Pag. 28 Abuse of Providence cautioned 95 96 AfflictJons preventive of sin 99 AfflictJons restraints from sin 110 AfflictJons how they purge Corruption 112 Adherence to creatures checked 117 AffectJons must suit Providence 148 Afflictive Providences when sanctiâ—ied 23â— Ambrose his providential relief 9â— Andreas how called to the Ministry 80 AnticipatJons by Religion advantageous 47 Assiduity of providential care 91 Aspects of Providence contrary 247 AssocJatJon of natural causes 18 19 Atheism checked by Providence 174 Augustin's strange deliverance 24 Augustin's converting a Manichee 63 B. BArbarous Nations their sad state 40 41 Bible providentially mistaken 63 Body its Elegant structure 35 36 Bolâ—on's Conversion 61 Brethren their different tempers 10â— Bruens happy Marriage 62 C. CAllings ordered by Providence 77 7â— Callings sinful in themselves 7â— Callings poor some mens advantage 82 CautJons about Civil Callings 83 84 Care of God to be eyed in Providence 143 Christ hath his hand six wayes in Providence 187 Children setled providentially in Callings 79 Childrens duties pressed 56 57 CommunJon with God in Providences Rules for it and the sweetness of it 163 Committing to God quieting to us 142 Complaints of painful Callings answered 81 Comparing Providences how melting 194 CondescensJons of God admirable 119 120 212 ConversJon two wayes 58 59 ConversJon endears places and instruments 57 ConversJon how great a mercy 74 75 Content under all Providences 153 Crying to God what it imports 4 Craft sinful providentially defeated 135 CurJosity in prying into Providence 160 161 D. DAngers in extremity 3 Dangers of death providentially prevented 102 Dependance on Creatures checked by Providence 116 Delayes of Providence relieved 156 157 Delayes sink our hearts 226 227 Devil busie with dying Christians 206 DJana's shrines what they were 78 Distrust not God in new difficulties 213 Dod's strange impulse 98 Duty to advert Providence 122 Dying hour sweetned by Providence 205 E. EAvenness of spirit how attained 247 Embryoes their condition 38 Encouragements to wait on God 228 229 Englands Encomium 41 46 47 Epicureans why they denyed Providence 14 ExpectatJon from creatures dashed 115 116 Eye how guarded by nature 102 F. FAcultJes sound a choice Providence 3â— Faithfulness of God eyed in Providence 14â— Faith two signal acts of it 207 FamilJes providentially assigned us 49 Foresight of troubles how taken 25â— Fox his wonderful relief 9â— G. GOd leaves not his in straits 13â— God to be owned in all Providences 21â— Good mens affections over-heated 11â— Greatness of God discovered 11â— H. HArmony of conjugal affections providential 8â— Harmony of Gods attributes 16â— Heavenly-mindedness in all providences 15â— Heart how melted by Providence 192 19â— Heart ballanced under prosperity 25â— Heart cheered under sad Providences 25â— Heart quieted in doubtful Providences 25â— Heart not under our Command 25â— Henry the Second punished by Providence 2â— Holiness improved by eying Providence 20â— I. IDJots the design of Providence in them 37 3â— Idle life a sinful life 7â— Jewel's strange preservation 10â— â—nterpositJons of Providence seasonable 98 â—nobservance of providence sinful 125 â—ntroductive Providences remarkable 130 â—nstruments of Providence to be noted 131 â—mmutability of God in changeable Providences 147 â—oy in God under all Providences 149 â—nterest how best secured 142 â—unJus his Conversion how effected 61 K. KEepers converted by their prisoners 164 L. LIberality the best frugality 141 M. MArrJages the appointments of Providence 86 Ministers removes ordered by Providence 66 6â— MortificatJon promoted by Providence 108 109 N. NAtural causes suspended by providence 15 16 Naaman's change how effected 60 Nativity its place providentially ordered 40 41 Neighbourly Visits improved by Providence 63 Notes of attention why affixt to Providence 123 O. OBjectJons of Vnbelief solv'd by Providence 181 ObservatJons of Providence matter of praise 124 ObservatJons of Providence endear Christ 187 Oâ—colampadJus designed for a Merchant 80 ObligatJons to duty from Providence 212 P. PArents godly what a mercy 50 51 Papists their doom 43 44 Parents advantages opened 52 Parents