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cause_n faith_n grace_n work_n 6,088 5 6.2038 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A34921 Isagoge ad Dei providentiam, or, A prospect of divine providence by T.C., M.A. T. C., M.A. 1672 (1672) Wing C6818; ESTC R4623 270,847 560

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fancy Gen. 37. 11. 2. The not heeding of Providence in its Proemial displays or presages may in some cases prove to be of dangerous consequence John the Baptist was the Elias to come he was the fore-runner of the Messiah for so said he Luke chap. 1. v. 17. He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias The Jews did not heed the Providence of God in the Baptist Mat. 17. 12. But I say unto you that Elias is come already and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they listed Likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them Thus the King's Harbinger being not regarded no wonder if the King himself be not welcom'd He came unto his own and his own received him not John 1. 11. OBSERVATION XXXI Past and present Passages of Providence lay foundation more or less for future matters or What falls out after is the result or issue of Providence before as effecting or righteously permitting CHAP. I. THIS Observation being akin to the former the less may be said yet if the more be said each of these like two Glasses may reflect on each other and things reflected in them will the better be taken cognizance of Before we considered Providence rather as an eye looking forward here we may look on it as an hand throwing up the earth and laying in stones for superstruction-work to go on There are three Generals to be spoken to here 1. The various Mode or Manner how past or present passages of Providence lay a foundation 2. The interval of time between the Foundation and after-Superstruction 3. The Latitude or Extent of this with respect to Matters First To begin then with the first and so past and present things in order to what follows may be considered 1. According to their intrinsecal and proper nature their usual manner of working qualification for what is the ordinary result as Providence is conversant about them Thus it is said that the heaven was black with clouds and wind and there was a great rain 1 King 18. 44. And so Eccles 7. 7. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad and a gift destroyeth the heart that is impatiency and vexation of mind as one saith Cartwright in locum is a kind of madness which oppression with its force and nature bringeth unless a man well principled with piety flie unto God for shelter and refuge and after the like sort bribery blinds the eyes of a wise man Again things may be considered according to a supernatural causality attending them in regard of their issues and here the said things may be considered as over-ruled by Providence three ways 1. As indifferent in their own nature for the production of this or that effect The Ax cuts the wood and cuts a man's leg the same Ax which fells the tree down for fewel or some other use kills a man at another time as Deut. 19. 5. 2. As having some tendency inclination or propensity for this or that effect but not proportionable in it self considered for the product thereof Gideon's Three hundred men rout a vast Army and so lay a foundation for their Countrey 's quier and respit from the Midianitish fury Judg. 7. 3. As averse and contrariant in all likelihood to what follows Thus Joseph's brethren rid their Father's house of Joseph which act of theirs by an over-ruling Providence contributes for the preservation of the Family afterwards as is asserted by Joseph Gen. 45. 9 10 11. There is another consideration of things past and present in order to futurity and that is 1. By way of natural causality as things according to their very natures physically considered work thus as for fire to burn the houses of Ziglag being applied to them 1 Sam. 30. 3. 2. By way of moral causality or order which the Lord hath set Thus the Corinthiant did prophane the Lord's Supper and this lays a moral foundation for a future House of Correction to be erected amongst them For this cause faith the Apostle many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep 1 Cor. 11. 30. On the other hand when the Temple work was minded by them in the Prophet Haggai's time the laying of the foundation of the Temple was through grace the laying of a foundation of future Mercies as is plainly declared in Hag. 2. 18 19. 3. By way both of natural and moral causality Both these streams meet in one channel sometimes The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags Prov. 23. 21. These sins have not only a moral provocation in them by reason whereof God doth righteously punish the sinners but likewise according to a natural tendency are an in-let to poverty Drunkenness as one saith turns man his family yea his house too out at the Wicket Some sins are costly and are Moths to men's Estates Men do not only fight against God with their Mercies but also against their own Estates Peace and Comfort They take the link-stock fire the Cannons and have no ground to quarrel with Providence if the Chain-shot or Wedg heated red-hot in the fire of their lusts light on their own houses to the burning of them And thus for the first general propounded Secondly The interval or space of time betwixt Causes Effects and Consequents comes next to be insisted on And here as there is a Winter-grain and Spring-seed as Oats Barley which are earthed after the former so some things come to pass after which were founded in their Causes before There is a Treasure-house of Providence Mercies and Judgments are laid up in this Treasure-house The opening of this Treasure-house belongs to God He times the opening of it 1. Sometimes there is but a little distance between the issues of Matters and their Causes The House is soon up and covered whether it be an House of Feasting or Mourning A word and good word there is for Jehosaphat with the people when they are fasting and praying upon the account of that great Multitude which came against them 2 Chron. 20. 17. To morrow go out against them for the Lord will be with you Elijah sends word to Ahab after a long drought saying Prepare thy Chariot and get thee down that the rain stop thee not and it came to pass that in the mean while that the heaven was black with clouds c. 1 King 18. 44 45. Boast not thy self of to morrow thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27. 1. 2. Otherwhile the distance is wider Causes and Effects do not shake hands by and by Joseph's brethren made a Rod for their backs which hung up by the wall of Providence for some years ere they were lash't by in it Egypt and Joseph's being sent into Egypt had a reference to the future good of his Father's Family The Tree was transplanted long before Jacob with his sons eat of the fruit thereof for Joseph was seventeen years when sold