party against them namely That they were the conquered people of Christ The Scripture had foretold of what should be and so what might make against them makes for them They were overcom'd and yet did overcome by their faith and patience The Wild-Boar of the Forest did chase them to their Father's House A time comes when Christ plays the mighty Huntsman and so slays the slayer to the glory of His Vindictive Justice Nam cum Episcopus Tolosanus stragi intercedens eos qui adhuc residui intentoriis forte manserant misso quodam religioso ut tanto quasi Dei irati contra eos pronunciantis flagello convicti jam tandem feritate depositâ ad fidem quam vocant Catholicam converterentur illi verò se populum Christi victum retorquentes hoc quasi clypeo tentationis impetum frustrati sunt atque ad unum omnes à recurrentium Militum manu intersecti fortiter occubuerunt Thirdly There is a glorious dissplay of Providence in timing both Mercies and Judgments Mercies are timed and so timed as that they are oftentimes inhanced from the season for them God did remember Joseph in the Butler's forgetting of him for Joseph is reserved till he be more fitted for release and till Pharaoh be at a loss about his dreams for the Magicians could not interpret them unto Pharaoh Gen. 41. 8. The like may be observed in Daniel's case between whose intended slaughter and advancement there was but a little time Dan. 2. 13. with following verses Moreover the time of Mercy doth sometimes lead to or point at some duty which the Lord graciously recompenceth at such time The day of setting upon Temple-work is a day of God's blessing them from thence Hag. 2. 18 19. It is observed how the English had victory given Fox Acts and Mon. in the History of Edward the sixth unto them on that very day and hour Images were burnt at London And as for Judgments the Lord times them The Assyrians goes not against an hypocritical Nation till God sends them Isa 10. 6. God knows how to make a Calamity a double one in regard of the timing of it That passage in Mat. 24. 20. doth plainly attest so much Moreover the day of Calamity may point out at sin committed on the day that Calamity is inflicted While the word a proud one was in the king's mouth there fell a voice from heaven c. Dan. 4. 31. Time is sometimes a Glass to behold the sin committed then or before at such a time which hath its recourse when the Judgment is inflicted The day week month of Smart may point to the day week month of Sin before The Second Branch of the Observation refers to Places And here three Propositions likewise offer themselves to consideration First Some Places are Monuments of Providence in regard of what falls out there Surely saith Jacob the Lord is in this place and I knew it not he set up a pillar and called the name of the place Bethel Gen 28. 16 17 18 19. See moreover for this purpose Numb 21. 3. 1 Sam. 7. 12. 1 Chron. 22. 1. Secondly There is much of Providence in going to Places and in absence of parties from Places A Levite lodgeth at Gibeah Judg. 19. 14. and what falls out there is the desolation of Benjamin no less than the lives of Twenty and five thousand Benjamites pay the shot or discharge that Levite's Quarters Judg. 20. 46. In 2 Sam. 20. 1. there happened to be there a man of Belial whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri a Benjamite and he blew the Trumpet of Sedition Nathan Sadock Benaiah Solomon are not at that Seditious Feast of Adonijah Abiathar Joab are and they had better fasted than thus feasted as the sequel of the story doth declare 1 King 1. There was much of Providence in Saul's coming to Jabesh-Gilead for their help 1. Sam. 11. 11. Thirdly Both Mercy and Wrath may be read in legible Characters on Places and at Places The Providence of God is seen in way of Mercy as it respects the place it self in blessing of it as he did the land of Canaan to the Israelites And the same Providence is displayed in way of mercy at places and that in doing good to the souls of men and to the outward man too Many of the Jews which came to Mary at Bethany and had seen the things which Jesus did believed on him John 11. 45. The blind man is in the way nigh Jericho and Christ there passeth by and healeth him Luke 18. 35. And as Mercy is thus displayed so Wrath likewise The Lord turneth rivers into a wilderness and the water-springs into dry grounds a fruitful land into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein Psal 107. 33 34. The Brethren of Ahaziah are on their progress to visit Ahab's children at Samaria they are met with by Jehu and slain at the pit of the shearing-house even two and forty men 2 Kings 10. 13 14. King Joram is providentially drawn forth from Jezreel and met Jehu in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite 2 Kings 9. 21. he is slain by Jehu and his body is thrown on that very plat according to the word of the Lord as Jehu makes the observation v. 25 26 of the same chapter CHAP. II. 1. FROM the Lord 's timing of matters learn 1. What ground there is for wicked ones to consider of their ways God not only times Punishment but so times it as that it may become double punishment God hath turned the Glass of his Long-suffering in Heaven how many sands are run out and how many are to run out they know not this let them know That God will come in way of punishing if they come not in way of repenting he will come even to a sand When the iniquity of the Amorites is full vengeance steps in Gen. 15. 16. There is a MENE God hath numbred thy kingdom and finished it for a Belshazzar Dan. 5. 25. And as the Lord timeth Wrath so there is a stinging timing of it Wicked ones have a spring-tide of Wrath when they expected it not so it was foretold of Babylon Isa 47. 9. But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day the loss of children and widowhood they shall come upon thee in their perfection c. And in v 11. Therefore shall evil come upon thee thou shalt not know from whence it ariseth and mischief shall fall upon thee thou shalt not be able to put it off and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly which thou shalt not know 2. What ground is there for godly ones to wait on God in this Providence for mercy God hath his timing of mercy and so timing of it as may the more commend the mercy There is a blessed season to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. John's Disciples came to Christ in a seasonable
not meet with mire and dirt here What is so if any I must own what is not so Providence will own I must confess the Subject may call for a Quill pluck't from the wing of a Seraphim and though that be so yet that is no apology to have Padlocks on our Tongues or Pens for the Tongue ought to be the Pen of a ready writer and the Pen the Tongue of a ready speaker to publish the wonderful works of him who is the blessed and only Potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen 1 Tim. 6. 15 16. PREFACE THE word Providence hath its various imports or significations sometimes it is taken in a bad sense and so notes an unhappy fore-cast or contrivance in order to men's gratifying some lust or other so Rom. 13. 14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof Sinners are provident for their darling-corruptions They are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledg Jer. 4. 22. 2. Other-while the word is taken in a good sense and so it is applied or accommodated 1. To men 2. To God 1. As it is applied to men it notes or points at a Moral Virtue a Political Endowment and a Spiritual Grace A prudent man in ordering his affairs is all one with the provident man Paulus Sergius is stil'd a prudent man Acts 13. 7. Tertullus in his Oration doth politically use if not through flattery abuse the term Providence Very worthy deeds are done unto this Nation by thy Providence saith he to Felix Acts 24. 2. The Apostle Paul doth call for the exercise of Pre-consideration Prudence or Providence as a Theological Virtue or Grace to be made conscience of by Christians Rom. 12. 17. Provide things honest in the sight of all men And in 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the faith and is worse than an Infidel And thus as the word is applied to men 2. The term is transferr'd to God and so it is 1. Decretal Original Ordinative and is nothing else but the eternal Platform of things the original Draught or Copy of them Isa 40. 12 13 14. Acts 2. 23. Acts 4. 28. 2. Actual or Executive which is the Counterpane or Copy of that Copy and notes more than a meer inspection or looking thorow the wood or bushes of Second Causes and Contingent Events Abraham's belief doth note more than a meer insight when he saith to Isaac God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt-offering Gen 22. 8. According therefore to this later acceptation of the word I may thus describe it as the description is founded on the Sacred Scriptures viz. Providence is a work of God whereby he sustains governs orders all the Creatures according to the good pleasure of his will to his own glory It is a work As there are the works of Creation so there are the works of Providence It is said Deut. 32. 4. His work is perfect And Psal 44. 1. We have heard with our ears our fathers have told us what work thou didst in their days in the times of old So Psal 77. 12. I will meditate also of all thy work and talk of thy doings And Isa 28. 21. That he may do his work his strange work and bring to pass his act his strange act My Father worketh saith Christ John 5. 17. Of God So it is said Psal 111. 3. His work is honourable and glorious No Person of the blessed Trinity is excluded My Father worketh hitherto and I work asserteth our Saviour in the place fore-mentioned John 5. 17. The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters Gen. 1. 2. And â—… thus in the Creation there was an agency of the Spirit so in the works of Providence Isa 48. 16. and his Spirit hath sent me And Mat. 4. 1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit Whereby he sustains So Psal 50. 12. Uphold me with thy free Spirit And Psal 66. 9. Which holdeth our soul in life And Heb. 1. 3. Upholding all things by the Word of his Power Governs and orders So Job 25. 2. Dominion and fear are with him Psal 22. 28. For the kingdom is the Lord's and he is the Governour among the nations Isa 9. 7. Of the encrease of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to stablish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this Jude v. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty dominion and power from henceforth for ever All the Creatures Unto me every knee shall bow Isa 45. 23. All the Creatures are his hosts who is the Lord of Saboath Jam. 5. 4. For of him and through him and to him are all things Rom. 11. 36. According to the good pleasure of his will He hath done whatsoever he pleased Psa 115. 3 I even I am the Lord Isa 43. 11. My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure Isa 46. 10. Who worketh all things after the counsel of his will Ephes 1. 11. To his own glory God's glory is nothing else but the irradiation or sparkling forth of his divine excellency He consults the glory of his Attributes in his work of Providence His work is honourable and glorious Psal 111. 3. As then God acteth from himself and from no other so for himself his own glory ultimately For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Rom. 11. 36. Having thus pointed at the Scriptures on which with the like others as a firm basis or bottom the Description standeth I shall now with my Coal draw out the lineaments of the ensuing Discourse which may be branch'd forth into Five Parts The First contains the Scripture-Arguments for the proof of what is here supposed namely That there is a Providence The Second takes in the various Considerations or Distinctions of Providence The Third treateth of the Object or Extent of Providence in regard of the several things it is conversant about The Fourth presents with Miscellaneous Aphorisms or Observations on the Providence of God The Last comprehends Directions for the better improvement of God's Providential Dispensations These are the Five general Parts and of these in their order according to that Providential phrase Heb. 6. 3. And this will we do if God permit A PROSPECT OF Divine Providence PART I. THAT there is a Providence 1. appears from those Sacred Hieroglyphicks Pictures or Representations thereof in Sacred Scripture He that shall climb Jacob's Ladder in his Meditations may behold the God of
his own land Here was a prediction of death the kind of it and the place where and accordingly it was fulfilled as it is recorded in the 37 38 verses of the same Chapter 4. From the peculiar Prerogative of God as he is 1. the God of Mercies and so he hands Mercies to men 1. by their own deaths they are taken away from the evil to come God houseth them in Heaven before the black storms fall out on the earth See 2 King 22. 20. Isa 57. 1. 2. By the deaths of others who are thorns in the sides of his people the burning up of these thorns is a joyful bonfire So in 2 King 13. 22. Hazael oppressed Israel in ver 23. The Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them c. Now how the Lord shews himself thus gracious and compassionate we have in v. 24. So Hazael the King of Syria died Thus the Lord is a God of Mercies even in the deaths of men But then 2. as the God of Judgment and so not only wrath but great wrath comes forth on the stage of the World in timing the deaths of persons The glorious terribleness of Justice is here seen as 1. when Providence suddenly snatcheth a man from his fancied Paradise Thou fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee c. Luke 12. 20. Death as Providence doth judicially time it hath a sting in its sting so in that Monarch who was slain in his Royal City by his own Sons and while at his devotions in the House of Nisâ—och his god Isa 37. 37 38. 2. When the deaths of many thousands are timed together The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth Psal 9. 16. We read of Seventy thousand men who dyed of the Plague in three days time 2 Sam. 24. 15. And in 1 King 20. 29. the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand foot-men in one day Now if there were not a Providence in the timing the deaths of persons the glory of Divine Justice would have its grave with the vast multitudes who fall by Famine Sword or Pestilence all which are the Lord's Arrows as the Prophet Gad informeth David in 2 Sam. 24 12 13. 5. From the success and non-success of means used in order to the proroguing or lengthning forth of life The preservatives of life are conservative of it no otherwise than as the Lord pleaseth This may be evidenc'd in three things 1. In the use of Medicinal means which sometimes very improbable to reason avail to the recovery of health and that though the person were mortally sick in the judgment of the most accurate Physicians There seemeth to be something of Providence by way of proportion to that Cure wrought on Hezekiah by the lump of Figs as Isa 38. 21. I acknowledg that Cure extraordinary and shall not dispute the question Whether the lump of Figs might not have something of natural tendency by way of cure This is that I contend for That Providence is very much seen if not in elevating improbable means in themselves considered in order to a cure yet in bringing to light such means which are improbable to mans reason though very proper for the recovery of the Patient who like Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death but God had mercy on him Phil. 2. 27. And as the Lord's mercy and Providence is displayed in the raising of persons from the grave so no less may the hand of Providence be seen in rendering the means us'd for health succesless A Colledg of Physicians are Physicians of no value when and where the Lord the great Physician withdraws his manutenancy or succeeding hand of Providence witness this in Asa who had his Physicians but not his cure dye he must his disease lodgeth him in his grave 2 Chron. 16. 12 13. But 2 dly in the matter of Diet some Creatures have more of a restorative virtue than others and yet some are healthier fairer live longer with their Pults than others who eat their portion of the King's meat Dan. 1. 12 15. Whence is this the word doth plainly lesson Exod. 23. 25. He shall bless thy bread and thy water and I will take sickness away from thee And Mat. 4. 4. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Lastly In the greatest caution or circumspection men use to preserve themselves in dangers The King of Israel disguiseth himself and hath his Armour yet an Arrow finds its passage between the joynts of his Harness 1 King 22. On the other hand Jehosaphat who was in the same fight and in greater danger than King Abab is preserved It came to pass saith the Text when the Captains of the Charives saw Jehosaphat in his Royal Robes that they said It is the king of Israel therefore they compassed about him to fight but Jehosaphat cried out and the Lord helped him and God moved them to depart from him 2 Chron. 18. 31. 6 thly and lastly From the absurdity which would otherwise follow For if the timing of men's lives here in the world be not according to the bounds which the Lord sets then to whom shall the glory in point of preservation be attributed Shall men think themselves or acknowledg Fortune in contradistinction to Providence The Scripture otherwise teacheth Psal 31. 15. My times are in thy hand deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute me And Psal 68. 20. He that is our God is the God of salvation and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death In the next place it remains that some reply be made to the Objections which look and do but look the matter here asserted in the face and they are as followeth 1. Fifteen years are said to be added to the days of Hezekiah Isa 38. 5. Ans The addition there is no new Addition as it respects the Purpose of God it is rather a new Edition of the Purpose of God a discovery of what lay hid before and is now made manifest notwithstanding the contrary might be concluded in respect of the malignity of Hezekiah's disease To assert that there was a new Purpose of God because of the declaration of the Prophet there were to make a new God who is still the Ancient of days and with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning as the Scripture affirms Him to be Dan. 7. 9. James 1. 17. 2. It may be objected That in Psal 55. 23. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days Ans The days of men are considered according to the course of nature Psal 90. 10. The days of our years are threescore years and ten c. and according to the course of Divine Providence which holds an exact accord with the Purpose or Determination of God I know saith the Prophet to Amaziah that God hath determined to destroy thee because thou hast done this and hast not
to day a God not purposing and to morrow a God purposing or on the contrary a yesterday not purposing and to day purposing and to morrow not purposing no no He is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11. 19. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever the thoughts of his heart to all generations Psal 33. 11. 2. Look not on man's I will so as to forget that God's Will or Purpose must take place How many live as if Men were God and God but Scito autem homo nullum tibi adversari potuisse nisi Deus potestatem dedisset nec potestatem habuisset in te adversarius nisi permitteret Deus Universa quae accidunt tibi absque Dei non veniunt voluntate Iniquorum potestas super te ex Dei datur licentiâ qui tibi adversantur Dei faciunt consilium Isidor Hispal lib. 1. Soliloq Man The Lord takes notice of this and rebukes for it in Isa 50. 12. I even I am he that comforteth you who art thou that thou shouldst be afraid of man that shall dye and the son of man which shall be made as grass and forgettest the Lord thy Maker c. There are two things worthy of the Christian's meditation here 1. That man's I will without God's I will is but a sounding brass or tinkling cymbal It makes a noise in the ear of sense and reason and it 's but a noise Men's Decrees prove often smoak and bubbles The enemy said I will pursue I will overtake I will divide the spoil my lust shall be satisfied upon them I will draw my sword mine band shall destroy them Exod. 15. 9. Here is earth's I will upon I will But what is Heaven's I will That we have in the next verse Thou didst blow with thy wind the sea covered them they sank as lead in the mighty waters 2. That though man's I will may be co-incident in part with God's I will in regard of afflicting the Lord's people yet God intends otherwise than man who is his rod and is after thrown into the fire A full place for this is that in Isa 10. 5 6 7. 3. Rush not into sin nor plead for it upon a pretence of the Divine Will or Decree Shall Adam plead thus with the Lord If thou hadst not decreed to make the woman and accordingly to give her to me to wise I had not had forbidden fruit from her 't was the woman thou gavest to be with me she gave me of the tree and I did eat Gen. 3. 1◠Adam might blame himself the Lord had forbidden him to eat that Law of Prohibition was a Rule according to that in Deut. 29. 29. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever that we may do all the words of this law Look then to what God lays forth before thee by way of duty say not as the Heathen Servant to his Master in excuse of his fact That the gods had decreed be should do so To whom the Master replied That the gods had likewise decreed he should be beaten for so doing 4. Learn from hence thou whose Bucket hath gone down into Well of God's Eternal Love in Christ 1. To view thy spiritual mercies in the Spring-head of them so doth Paul Gal. 1. 16. But when it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb and called me by his grace to reveal his son in me Christ teacheth to eye the Father 's good pleasure in giving a kingdom Luke 12. 32. 2. To rejoyce in the Lord seeing his Purpose as declared bodes good to godly ones according to that of the Apostle Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose Observe here it is not said To them who are purposed as they are called as if the Election did lacquy after a Calling which may vanish after and that sort of Election with it such a gloss is to make Paul's Cordial here to become a venomous Potion 3. To be watchful against sin For God hath chosen us saith the Apostle in him that we should be holy Eph. 1. 4. And where sin is indulged there smart will be ushered in Who knows what black dispensations of affliction are wrapt up in the Lord's Purpose for Children who play the wanton Though the Lambs are not thrown into the mouth of the roaring Lion of Hell yet there are Dogs that may not only bark but bite them Eli David Hezekiah are lamentable instances for this See chap. 3 4 of the first Book of Samuel and 2 Sam. 12. and Isa 39. 4. To calm and quiet the heart from the Quin si viderimus fractum ruere orbem cum omnibus elementis imminere cervicib us nostris tamen diceremus etiam ruendo non rues nisi Deus velit etsi capiti incumberet nihil nocebis nec opprimes me diceremus aut si sic visum est Deo ut obruar mole tuâ fiat sane quod bonum est in oculis Domini Luth. meditation of the Purpose of God besides which or contrary to which men and devils can do nothing Hence is that glorious triumphancy of the Apostle Rom. 8. 38 39. OBSERVATION III. The Lord's Will is not only the ground why things are but why they are not CHAP. I. THE truth of this appears For 1. There is a sufficiency of Power to bring about what is not and may never be and what is not and yet may be when the Lord shall see it good to be and after this or that sort to be The Lord is described in Scripture as the great Potter of the world Isa 45 9. Rom. 9. 21. and so he hath a liberty for possible vessels not to be and for such vessels as are intentionally to be not to be of this fashion or shape of such a bigness and not to be at such a time but when he pleaseth The Apostle Paul hath well stated this point Why all flesh is not the same flesh Why one Starr hath not the like glory for degree that another hath Why the grain sown thrives and so consequently why when it thrives not He resolves all into the good will of God as that passage of his imports but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him 1 Cor. 15. 38. The Baptist tells the Pharisees and Sadduces That God is able of the stones present before their eyes to raise up children unto Abraham Mat. 3. 5. Why the stones are not multiplied into children unto Abraham is from the Lord's will the Israelites they had Manna in the wilderness which neither they nor their fathers knew before as Moses saith Deut. 8. 3. and whence is this but from the Lord's will not to give it in Egypt 2. The reason rendred in
said as of old O Ephraim what shall I do unto thee O Judah what shall I do unto thee for your goodness is as the morning cloud and as the early dew it passeth away Hos 6. 4. 4. What ground of support is there from hence for the Church of God under all threats contrivements attempts of men and devils God will have a people let men and devils say and essay the contrary No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper Isa 54. 17. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16. 18. God is not changeable in his Purpose Prediction An plus existimemus ad impugnandum posse humana conamina quam quod ad protegendum praevalet divina tutela Cypr. lib. 1. Epist 3. Promise and though men may rage and be as the great Mountain as it is said Zech. 4. 7. yet the Christian hath Mountains to oppose against the worlds Mountains what the Christians Mountains are the place before quoted Zech. 6. 1. doth give to understand they are Mountains of Brass and so afford two Meditations 1. That wicked ones will find these Mountains of Brass too firm for their weak shoulders to overturn 2. That the Arrows which the sons of Belial shoot against these Mountains will recoil back and mischief themselves in the end The Doegs of the world whose fingers itch to be medling with God's Davids will have their hands full of Wo one day A black prophecy there is for such Psal 52. 5 6 7. and they themselves take the course to have it accomplish't as Doeg did for if the Lord did not pour forth wrath on Doeg before David came to the Throne what could Doeg expect from a David but to be the instrument of God's wrath towards him who had belied David and murdered the Priests of the Lord as 1 Sam. 22. It is often to be observed That the way wicked men take to ruin others ruins themselves Pharaoh who will kill the Israelites or down them perisheth with his Host in the waters Exod. 14. 23 with 28. OBSERVATION VI. God hath His Secrets or Depths but is never unjust in His Providential Dispensations CHAP. I. THAT the Lord hath his Secrets may be made manifest if we consider 1. How this is symbolically or mystically insinuated in Scripture That of God to Moses Exod 33. 23. Thou shalt see my back-parts but my face thou shalt not see doth intimate we have not full view of the Lord as when a man comes up face to face but see him in part at a distance as the Apostle Paul hath it 1 Cor. 13. 9. We know but in part We read how when the Lord appeared he vailed himself with a cloud Exod. 16. 10. 1 King 18. 10 11. And in Isa 6. 1. there is mention made of the train or skirts nothing of the upper ornaments Nec caret ratione quod nihil meminit Propheta de superioribus Divinae Majestatis ornamentis sed de simbriis tantum Exprimitur consternatio animi religiosi qui in visionibus divinis non superiora sed vix insima contemplatur Et admodum essemus soelices si vel simbrias Divinae Majestatis pie ac religiose contemplaremur Musculus as one observeth and what may this import but our seeing of the Lord after a poor low imperfect sort in comparison of what He is 2. How otherwise were there such ground for admiration if the Lord had not His Secrets or Depths to be admired If there were no knots to unty how could it be so said O the finger of God The Angels are said to cover their faces with their wings Isa 6. 2 Paul cries out O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out Rom. 11. 33. Here by the way let it be noted That if so skilful a Pilot as Paul cries out O the depth shall such who may be scarce reckoned common Fore-mast-men pretend to find out a Northwest passage a new way in the Decrees of God and the Providence of God and such a way as that it may be said Behold the Plains according to their model which yet is a Labyrinth where they lose themselves and whilst they labour to Tinker up one hole they make two 3. The Scripture plainly asserts how it is the glory of God to conceal a thing Prov. 25. 2. For the better understanding of this place I shall annex what pious and judicious Cartwright saith God verily is to be honoured inasmuch as he hath revealed his counsel and will in many things But such mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven whose causes and reasons are unsearchable yield to him the richer crop of honour such are the Mysteries of the Trinity The threefold distinction of Persons in one Essence The eternal generation of the Son The procession of the Holy Spirit The eternal predestination of some to life others to death The incarnation of the Son of God or the assumption of our frail flesh into the unity of his Person Of God all things whatsoever are done both decreeing and his Providence so ruling that out of the evil which is done he contracts no guilt Of Parents sins to be punisht on posterity to many generations Of just judgment to be executed by the unjust Of the burning of the Wife for the Husband's sin and the Children for the Parents Josh 7. 25. Of which and all such kind it may be truly affirmed They do each afford to men a large field of praising and glorifying God yea he is the more amply and with fuller mouth in these to be extolled than in other matters whose causes and principles with our minds and understanding we do in some measure take in for first of all it is apparent from hence That God's Wisdom is infinite and unsearchable to the Creature Moreover That God is to be believed upon his own testimony and according to his pleasure may do whatever he will and so far condescends from his right when he vouchsafeth to render a reason of his doings or sayings That though the Lord hath his Secrets Depths yet he is never unjust in his Dispensations The Lord hath his Throne of righteous Judicature The judgment was set and the books were opened as Daniel beheld in that Vision chap. 7. 10. It is said there v. 9. that the Ancient of days did sit whose garment was white as the snow and the hair of his head like pure wool there is not the least spot or taint of injustice in his management of matters for so much may be denoted by this description though I deny not but the whiteness of the garment may likewise betoken supream dignity as being an Ensign of Honour as is observed by Junius on the place Besides this graphical description Majestati Dei proponuntur ista 1. quod antiquissimus diebus est ad notandam aeternitatem illius 2. Quod vestimentum ejus nivei coloris
of matters so in Jonah 4 8 9 10 11. 4. Forgetfulness who the Lord is and who man is that grumbles at his Maker Lam. 3 39. Rom. 9. 20. And as for the fruits they are none of the best but bad enough Men are ready to flag in duty yea to throâ— Ergo ne nobis forâ—e contingat impingere adversus Deum quasi cum ipso confligere discamus cohiberâ— nostram temeritatem id tempestivè antequam forociat siâ—… ergo atque nobis obrepunt cogitationes quae Deo aspergant aliquam notam ignominiae eas citissime compescamus quia si admittimus paulatim nos irretient donec nos pertrahant ad extremam hanc vesaniam ut nulla religio vel pudor nos teneat quin palam blateremus adversus Deum Calv. praelect in Ezek. c. 18. it off Psal 73. 13. Mal. 3. 14. yea in the way to blaspheme God see Job 2. 9. Mal. 3. 13. Rev. 16. â— OBSERVATION VII God's Soveraignty displayed in his Dispensations should be a golden Bitt to check man's corruption and a sacred Goad to quicken to the exercise of Grace CHAP. I. THE Soveraignty of God whereby as Absolute Lord he doth whatsoever he pleaseth Psal 115. 3. hath its latitude or extent it is like the Sun which is not confined to one part of the Zodiack but his going forth is from the end of the heaven and his circuit unto the ends of the earth I shall therefore consider it largely as it is expresly or implicedly absolutely or respectively in some particulars displayed A view then we may take of it 1. In Spirituals 2. In Temporals In Spirituals and so 1. In Election of a person to life and glory by Jesus Christ Was not Esau Jacobs brother saith the Lord Mal. 1. 2. Yea it may be answered and his elder brother too and yet the children being not yet born neither having done good or evil that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of him who calleth Jacob have I loved and Esan have I hated Neither is there unrighteousness with God in passing by the one and chusing the other for be saith unto Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion oâ— whom I will have compassion Rom. 9. 11 13 14 15. Thus the Apostle in that Divine Tract of Predestination asserteth Replies to Objections and wades farther on in the Controversie in the following Verses and speaks particularly of the Soveraignty of God in v. 20 21. On which Aquinas comments saying About the election of the good and the reprobation of the bad a two-fold question may be moved One in the general Why God will harden some and have compassion on others The other is special or particular Why he takes compassion on this and harden that man There may be a reason of the former assigned but not so of the later unless The meer will of God An illustration of which we have in human affairs for if any willing to build an house should have many stones alike and equal gathered together therâ— may some reason be assigned why he placetâ— some above some below from the End intended Because to the perfection of the Housâ— which he intendeth to build there is required a Foundation which hath stones below and likewise the top of the Wall which hath stones above the others but why he dotâ— place these stones above and these below hatâ— not any reason unless Because the Artificer â—… Mason will have it so Thus Aquin. 2. In the conveyance of the means of grace to some and not so to others He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgments they have not known them praise ye the Lord Psal 147. 19 20. And this is not only Old-Testament Doctrine but also New the Lord directs Paul and Timothy where and where not they are to preach the Gospel Now when they had gone thoroughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia after they were come to Mysia they assayed to go into Bythinia but the Spirit suffered them not and they passing by Mysia came down to Troas and a vision appeared to Paul in the night there stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him saying Come over into Macedonia and help us and after we had seen the vision immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them Acts 16. 6 c. 3. In conferring gifts and endowments on some and not on others All are not alike subjects of such and such qualifications Balaam prophesieth Numb 23. Ahitophel is a reputed Oracle for wisdom and counsel in Israel 2 Sam. 16. 23. Many will say to Christ in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name done many wonderful works Mat. 7. 22. The Apostle Paul supposeth That some like Lead may have a very specious stamp of some gifts and yet be Lead still 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. 4. In planting saving-grace in the hearts of some not so in the hearts of others It is given unto you saith Christ to the Disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and to them it is not given Mat. 13. 11. Our Saviour speaks of two sorts of branches some fruit-bearing ones others not so John 15. 2. The Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews doth tacitly distinguish of professors when he saith But beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany salvation Heb. 6. 9. 5. In calling home by his grace some at one time of their life and in a different way in point of circumstances others not so Some their ship arriveth sooner at the Port of Grace and are brought in with gentle gales others after a long coursing up and down meet with rough winds and so are landed at last Josiah Jeremiah John the Baptist Timothy may serve as instances on the one part Manasseh Paul with others may be exemplifications on the other Some are sweetly won into the Vinyard others are driven and as it were hunted in and at different seasons for we read of the morning the third hour the sixth ninth and eleventh Mat. 20. 6. In giving larger measures of grace to some not so to others Some are smoaking flax and bruised reeds Mat. 12. 20. Others grow as the Lilly and cast forth their rootslike Lebanon their branches spread and their beauty is as the Olive-tree and their smell as Lebanon Hos 14. 6 7. John rangeth Christians into little children fathers and young-men 1 John 2. 12 13. Why they who are the children are not the young men the young men the fathers and why the fathers are not the young men and young men the children the one in one place the others in the other is supreamly
the sons of men as shall after be spoken unto and the same Power of God is seen as it respects persons families in their particular Wilderness But 2. In point of Protection notwithstanding dangers It would fill a Volume to rehearse the many remarkable preservations which some have had whilst the Lord had wise Ends subordinate to his glory for their existence here in the world It may suffice that Christ points out the Power of God in preserving when he saith to his Disciples Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves Mat. 10. 16. What a notable draught have we of the Power of God in the rescue of Peter one of the Church's Bell-weathers from the Paw of that Lion Herod Acts 12. Neither Quaternions of Soldiers nor Chains nor Iron-gate shall hold him whom God will set free It is a truth God's Peters are immortal till their work be done CHAP. II. 1. THERE is no ground to be despondent or dejected in and under troubles Despondency of spirit is an evil of sin which steals in on parties under their evil of smart David said in his heart I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27. 1. and yet Saul's day of death was then nearer and David lived to see the day for a confutation of his black imaginations for so is it recorded 2 Sam. 22. 1. And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies and out of the hand of Saul Let not the Christian then be sinking under his Saul like difficulties but ask his soul this question Can I find out an Omnipotent Distress If my Religion say nay and tell me there is but one Omnipotent in the World Why doth my dejected practice say yea or tacitly proclaim the contrary 2. Distrust not the truth of God's word as if the Lord could not be as good as his word for defect of Power 'T was Zachariah's fault that he look't too much to Second-causes and did not consider as he should the Power of God which had Nature though decayed at his beck Luke 18. 19 20. If therefore there be as great an unlikelihood of things spoken of in Scripture in point of being fulfilled as there was that Zachariah and Elizabeth being old should have a son yet give no way to cavilling-unbelief but take a view of matters in conjunction with the Power of God and so indeed we are taught in Scripture as in the case of the Jews who have lien in a forlorn estate for so many Centuries of years Rom. 11. 23. God is able to graff them in again And so likewise in the case of Antichrist Rev. 18. 8. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day death and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord who judgeth her And so in any other difficult case let that be remembred Gen. 18. 14. Is there any thing too hard for the Lord 3. Be encouraged to go on in such work as God calleth you unto in his Providence He that hath a God of Power to set him on work and pay him wages may take the more encouragement to follow his work If God be with Moses as he promiseth saying Certainly I will be with thee Exod. 3. 12. Moses may take heart notwithstanding all blocks in the way Heaven's Warrant will bear God's Moseses out notwithstanding all the fury of the sons of the earth and the sons of hell too See Josh 1. 6 7. Jer. 1. 17 18 19. Mat. 28. 19 20. Acts 18. 9 10. 4. Resolve on the exercise of faith more and more on the Power of God Let not so glorious a Jewel lye by without taking frequent views of it by the eye of Faith Consider two things 1. Hereby you glorifie God in giving him a due estimate of his Power A clear and full exemplification for this we have in Abraham who being not weak in faith considered not his own body now dead when he was about an hundred years old neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God and being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform Rom. 4. 19 20 21. 2. Hereby you consult your own good and quiet Had men more of Faith they would have less of disquiet Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me was a word spoken in season by Christ for the calming of the hearts of his Disciples John 14. 1. If it be said here I question not the Power of God It may be replied 1. It is well if you do not as good as you have had their reflections on the Power of God Moses questions how Six hundred thousand foot-men should be provided for flesh for a Month in the Wilderness Numb 11. 21 22. God tells him saying Is the Lord's hand waxed short thou shalt see now whether my words shall come to pass unto thee or no v. 23. 2. Is there not a deceit of heart here God's Will is pretended but is not the Power of God questioned A reason to evidence this is thus Because when the distress is greater the party is the more disquieted Disquiet riseth with the difficulty The Israelites at the Red-sea were made up of unbelief Exod. 14 11 12. They might have considered that the Power of God which had made a passage through Pharaoh his stony heart for their egress from Egypt could make a passage for them through the Red-sea Martha is questioning the resurrection of her brother though Christ had said the word for the encouragement of faith and what is that which staggereth her faith it is because Lazarus had been dead four days see John 11. 39 40. 3. In reference to the Will of God about matters that there shall be no defect on God's part What he promiseth absolutely shall be made good what conditionally is made good likewise yea not only when the Condition is performed on our part but sometimes when failing on our part as in Martha her case Christ had told her If she believed she should see the glory of God displayed John 11. 40. yet she questioneth as v. 39. and Lazarus is raised v. 44. True then is that Heb. 10. 23. Faithful is he who hath promised OBSERVATION IX God never hath his Vacation-time though he may seem to do little or nothing sometimes in His administration of matters in the World CHAP. I. THAT Providence is not idle though it Deus nunquam feriatur Calv. seems to sit still will be evidenced 1. From positive assertions in Scripture So Prov. 15. 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good Eyes here are attributed to God to note not only his knowledg of or inspection into the affairs of the World but his
wise ordering of all things in all places and at all times for these eyes are never shut the Lord is not a sleepy Watchman Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep Psal 121. 4. My Father saith Christ to the Jews who were stumbled at the Miracle wrought on the Sabbath-day worketh hitherto and I work Joh. 5. 17. The sense is Though God rested the seventh day from his work of Creation yet he hath not been at rest ever since and perpetually worketh hitherto in his Providence and yet none of you durst entitle Him a violater of your Sabbath and why then am I adjudged a violater for a doing my Father's work This I conceive with others to be the intendment of that place of Scripture and it plainly giveth to understand that God's Providential care in and over the World is permanent The Lord withdraws not his manu-tenency He upholds all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. 2. From exemplifications in Scripture For if we cast an eye on this or that special draught of Providence we may trace the foot-steeps of the Almighty even there where we cannot see Him so visibly walk for a time Draughts of Providence are of two sorts 1. Some respect persons singly as in Joseph's and Job's case 2. Others respect parties collectively or the Body of a people a Community of a people as the Church of God in Egypt and Babylon and in times of the New-Testament under persecution Whoso shall take a right view of the cases of Saints thus instanced in will find the result to be commensurate to the Truth asserted He who diggeth the foundation for an house the deeper he digs the less visible he is to those who cast an eye towards the place where the digging-work is managed and whilst this work is on foot Is nothing done or doing because the side-walls are not reared and tile-stones are not hung There is a manifold working-hand of Providence God doth ripen persons for mercies and mercies for persons There is not only a work of the Shoo-maker whereby a Shoo is made of this or that proportion but there is a work of the Physician whereby the swollen hydropical foot is reduced to its regular shape and is fitted for the shoo If God under some dispensations carry on a work upon us though he do not this or that work for us till he see fit he is still at work and the work he intends is in its Second-causes it is latent there and comes forth from between the Curtains of antecedent preparations when the Lord's time is come The Israelites are in Egypt's Furnace where they must be melted and the hotter the Furnace is the nearer Moses is with his Pails of water to extinguish the Egyptian fires though the Israelites know no such matter see Exod. 2. 23 24. with Exod. 3. v. 7 8 9 10. Job in like sort is put into Heaven's Mortar where he is pounded and beaten to the end the sweet fragor or smell of his graces might come forth and after God hath taught him many a good lesson a prosperous condition is on the hand-gallop towards him it had its foot in the stirrop before he had friends they were not impoverish't as Job was they had hands to help and have hearts to help or set up a broken man in his estate when the time for so doing is come Every man also gave him a piece of money and every one an earing of gold Job 42. 11. And we have not only exemplifications of Saints but likewise of Sinners and that both singly considered as well as in a Body or Community Sinners ripen for Judgments and Judgments ripen for Sinners They by their sinning are digging their own graves with their own nails The pit is a digging for them though it be not quite finisht there is an until the pit be digged for the wicked Psal 94. 13. What a Bogg or Quag-mire then do sinners dance on the surface or top-turf breaks and what becomes of them with their insultations projects designs Then she that is mine enemy saith the Church shall see it and shame shall cover her which said unto me Where is the Lord thy God Mine eyes shall behold her now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets Mic. 7. 10. CHAP. II. 1. KNOW how to understand those passages in Scripture as to the Lord 's forgetting his people Psal 13. 1. Psal 77. 9. and that in Psal 44. 23. Awake why sleepest thou O Lord These are not to be understood as to an universal and absolute forget-getting and sleep of Providence for God hath not his Vacation-time He still holds the reins of Government in his hand all the world over Neither do they infer an absolute cessation of Providence in reference to that object-matter which the Lord to our apprehension seems to forget and lies dormant for there is a promoting-work of Providence which we see not and are not so sensible of for the present as hath been shewed and may further be shewed in the next Observation Besides such forgetting and sleep of Providence as it is such bespeaks the beauty of Providence in the way of bringing things to pass It is so far from inferring an inter-regnum or letting fall the Scepter of Government as that it is a glorious demonstration that God orders matters and that wisely whilst he seems to forget and be as one asleep As the Night as night falls under the Providence of God as well as the Day for there are the Ordinances of Heaven for the Night-season Jer. 31. 35. so the dark Night when as to matters the Lord seems to sleep is reductive to His All-wise Model of Government The Seventy-years Captivity was a long Night of the Church's distress and yet thus it must be according to Ordinance of Providence Jer. 29. 10. 2. Let Saints be encouraged to work out their salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2. 12. To be always abounding in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. and that because in so doing they in a sort resemble their Heavenly Father who hath not his Vacation-time and works one way though not another in ordering and bringing matters about in the World A Christian should be spiritually industrious He should be sometimes in one Duty sometimes in another If it be not a ploughing season for work without-doors yet it may be a threshing-one for work within-doors If he cannot pray as he would yet if he seriously sigh and groan at a Throne of Grace read a verse of Scripture think on it talk of it here is work and good work too and leight gains this way will make an heavy Purse OBSERVATION X. God doth some thing yea much whilst He seems to do little or nothing and doth little or nothing whilst men are in expectation of great matters to be done CHAP. I. THAT Providence speaks whilst it is in a sort silent and works whilst the work intended is at
that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God 2. From God's doing nothing whilst men are in expectation of great matters to be done Learn 1. What reason there is for men to look to the ground of their Expectations To expect other-what other-when and otherwise than the Lord hath purposed or made some discovery of such a purpose is to build Castles in the air not in the Heavens and what hath not its foundation in Heaven as the Lord is the Founder of it will not have its superstruction on Earth For ever O Lord thy word is seated in heaven Psal 119. 89. Who is he that saith and it cometh to pass when the Lord commandeth it not Lament 3. 37. 2. In the second place Learn from hence to view the folly of wicked men's purposes presumptions designs in their prosecution and persecution of the Saints of God O how often are they disappointed The greedy Dogs often catch not the morsel and when they do they vomit it up again They pay deer for their lust here or hereafter in Hell They have their gnashing of teeth in regard of disappointments before they gnash them in the other World Herod to please the Jews will murder Peter the Lamb is taken but not to be slain till after the Passover and not then for now I know saith Peter of a surety that the Lord hath sent his Angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews Acts 12. 12. It is reported how Julian the Emperor Theod. lib. 3. c. 23. intending the Persians being conquered to fall in on Christians with his Army at his return and that one Libanius the Sophister spake to a Christian-School-master of Antioch saying What is the Son of the Carpenter now a doing To whom reply was made how the great Carpenter of the World was making a Coffin And not long after the slain body of Julian was brought to Antioch A good lesson for the Libaniusses and Julians of the World to ponder on OBSERVATION XI There is an admirable adaptation or connexion of things with things whereby this or that is Midwifed or Birthed into the world Or Providence hath its Chain the several Links whereof are set together by an Over-ruling Hand CHAP. I. THE truth of this may be evidenced divers ways 1. This is emblematically described in the Situ verò demonstratur harum conditio quod aliae in aliis dicuntur fuisse id est non solum cohaerentes sed etiam adunatae Providentia Dei adeo ut quemadmodum ex causa unâ inferiore procreantur effecta plurima sic contra ad effectum unum causae plurimae pertineant plurimum Junius word We have a most exquisite picture of this in Ezek. 1. the Wheels there are asserted to have a near neighbourhood v. 16. a wheel in the middle of a wheel to note their implication or connexion and the living creatures are coupled with the wheels in regard of influences for when the living creatures went the wheels went by them and when the living creatures were lift up from the earth the wheels were lifted up v. 19. 2. God doth expresly own such an adaptation Docemur etiam Creaturas omnes esse convenientissimo ordine collocatas ita ut una ab altero pendeat ex earum connexione constituatur sua vis illa concinna mundi harmonia frumentum ut nascatur opus habet terrâ terra pluriâ pluvia est à coelo omnia sunt à Deo qui solus independens rerum omnium concentum efficit moderatur Rivetus in locum or connexion of things with things So in Hos 2. 21 22. And it shall come to pass in that day I will hear saith the Lord I will hear the heavens and they shall bear the earth and the earth shall hear the corn and the wine and the oyl and they shall hear Jezreel 3. There are clear exemplifications of this adaptation or connexion 1. In Naturals so in the place mentioned Hos 2. 21 22. so Ps 104. 10 11 12 13 14. 2. In Civils Magistrates are to rule and people to be ruled Rom. 13. 1. And where it is not so there is an adaptation of things in way of punishment Judg. 17. 6. 3. In Sacreds There is a constituted order in the Church 1 Cor. 12. 18. Heb. 13. 17. And not only is there an adaptation this way but likewise in regard of the means of Grace and Grace by the means A connexion there is but yet arbitrary according to the good pleasure of God when and to whom Grace is conveyed by the Means The Apostle Paul asserts a connexion when he thus stateth the matter saying So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10. 17. 4. This adaptation or connexion may be more particularly evidenced if we cast an eye 1. On Organs or Instruments 2. Occasions or Inducements 3. Means 4. Opportunities for the management of matters 1. There is an adaptation in regard of Instruments ministerial In the shop of Providence there are tools of all sorts and sizes If the Lord will punish the Nations he can find an Hammer to knock them down Thou art my battel-ax and weapons of warr for with thee will I break in pieces the nations c. Jer. 51. 20 c. If the day of visitation be come for an Ahab's Family and Baal's worshippers there is a Jehu a rough Captain-General who drives furiously 2 Kings 9. 20. If God will vouchsafe good days to a people he can raise up Political Shepherds such as David of whom it is said he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Psal 78. 72. And as there is an adaptation in regard of Political Instruments so likewise in regard of Ecclesiastical There is a zealous Elijah in times of apostacy and declining from God's Worship and a John the Baptist of whom the Angel saith He shall go before him i. e. Christ in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord Luke 1. 17. There is an admirable adaptation in the Church's having not only Elijahs John Baptists but likewise others whose endowments are useful to confute Adversaries as Apollos Acts 15. 28. and to comfort distressed and build up souls in practical way of converse with God See Job 33. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 4. 2. There is an adaptation or suiting of things in regard of occasions or kind of in lets into this or that Both the son's and father's discontents are inducements to Jacob to mind a removal from Laban Gen. 31. 1 2. A report sounds in Pharaoh's ears that Israel fled probably he conceived the Israelites to flye like Hares such who might easily be hunted back again to Egypt and
world and we cannot well over-look a display of Providence on this wise and that in regard of 1. Instruments 2. Occasions 3. Means 4. Opportunities in point of bringing about things First As for Instruments the Lord is not confined to these If Thieves do not break in on Nabal and so become Instruments of divine wrath the Lord smites him that he dies 1 Sam. 25. 38. And if unlikely Agents for this or that work be brought forth on the stage yet nothing hinders as God is pleased to concurr but the effect is proportionable to a likely and promising cause of such an effect This may be seen in Spirituals and Politicals God saith the Apostle hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise 1 Cor. 1. 27. A little Maid is an Hand-maid indeed whereby a Naaman may come to the knowledg of the true God 2 King 5. 2 3. It is written of Mr. Peacock how that under his agonies of conscience when some Ministers asked him Whether they should pray for him He replied By no means do not so dishonour God as to pray for such a reprobate as I am But his young Pupil standing by said with tears in his eyes Certainly a reprobate could never be so tender of God's dishonour Which he well weighing was thereby comforted and restored when neither he with his Learning nor any other sons of the Prophets could prove sons of consolation to him Again in Politicals The Sacred History informs of the noble acts of Solomon though young and tender 1 Chron. 29. 1. with 1 Kings 3. 28. And of Josiah who was but eight years old when he began to reign 1 King 22. 1. Each of their green years were well made up by the Ancient of days as the Lord is termed Dan. 7. 9. The Fathers of Trent gave History of the Council of Trent lib. 2. p. 260. thanks to God when Henry the eighth was dead saying That it was a miracle that he had left a Son behind him of but Nine years old that he might not be able to tread in the Father's steps Thus these good Fathers for their gravity if not some of them for their levity according to the probable issue of their Doctrine in forbidding Marriage did soon shoot their bolt they might have held their pop a while and so have learnt this lesson truâ—r than their Canons That Edward the Child is more than a Child when Providence by him shall confront the Man of Sin Secondly Occasions for matters have not sometimes that influence by way of birthing-fâ—…th what in likelihood might be The Ephramites quarrel with Gideon for not calling them forth when he fought with the Midianites their sharp chiding recorded Judg. 8. 1 2. did not end in a bloody battel as it did at another time when the like contending had its closure in the death of Forty and two thousand of the swaggering Ephramites See Judg. 12. 1 6. Thirdly The Means for help are sometimes invisible unlikely and casual Ye shall not saith Elisha to the distressed Kings for lack of water see wind neither shall ye see rain yet that valley shall be filled with water that ye may drink both ye and your cattel and your beasts 2 Kings 3. 17. Or if the Means do appear yet they promise nothing to sense and reason Are not Abana and Pharphar rivers of Damâ—scus better than all the waters of Israel saith Nâ—…man may I not wash in them and be clean 2 King 5. 12. yet Jordans waters cleanse the Leper God works by what means he pleaseth Parties see a Jordan before them and sometimes see neither wind nor rain and yet have water a help a supply As that Woman reported of in the late Irish Rebellion who being driven into the Mountains her Milk was gone and her Child like to perish and then is found a Suck-bottle full of Milk by the good Providence of God Which teacheth us by such Experiments not to consine God to wind or rain or to warm breast-milk God can provide for his Children without these And little helps through gracious Providence become great ones Fourthly Opportunities for action take not accordingly as God in his Providence doth inhibit David in the night enters Saul's Camp finds Saul asleep he slays him not but brings away the Spear and the Cruse of water as testimonies of his loyalty 1 Sam. 27. 1. Ishbosheth's sleep cost him his head as was before exemplified There are like opportunities for action and yet not like consequent actions That of Christ is pertinent Mat. 26. 55. In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me I sate daily with you teaching in the Temple and ye laid no hold on me CHAP. II. 1. BEWARE of slighting ordinary dispensations of Providence There is a foolish gaping after extraordinary ones God â—…a enim â—…mpositi 〈◊〉 ut 〈◊〉 quoâ—… 〈…〉 quaeâ—… reâ—… si 〈◊〉 litae â—…dieâ—iâ—t speâ—taculum dulcâ— fiat Hic itaq coetus astrorum quibus immensi corporis pulchrituâ—… distinguitur populum non convocat at cum aliquid ex moâ—… mutatum est omnium vultus in coelo est Sol spectatorem niâ— cum desicit non habet nemo observat Lunam nisi laborantem Soneca in lib. 7. quaest natur may justly suffer such to starve who list not to feed on the ordinary bread of Providence but are for the fine Manchet of Miraculous Displays The chief Priests Scribes and Elders said He saved others himself he cannot save if he be the King of Israel let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him Mat. 27. 42. Here is a flying to an extraordinary Providence or else no Faith no Christ and no Heaven Beware then of this Jewish leaven highly value what food God serves in on the ordinary Board-cloath of Providence as well as what is laid forth on a rich Diaper-one 2. There is little ground for the enemies â—… the Church to be confident and wickedly secure in their ways and designs against the Church What though there be not four Carpenters for the four Horns which have scattered Judah Israel and Jerusalem to allude to that in Zech. 1. 18 20. yet God knows how to â—…ay and to cast them out by the Carpenter's Boy A Jael with an Hammer and a Nâ—il shall fasten Lord-general Sisera so to the ground as that at her feet he bowed he fell he lay dâ—wn at her feet he bowed he fell where he bowed there he fell down dead Judg. 5. 26 27. 3. Bear up against unbelief or distrust of God under great distresses Say not O my case and the Church's case is sad indeed behold the ground is not a leight mold but thick heavy stubborn clay and withal very dry how shall it be broken up Where are the Oxen strong for the labour Say not so in way of unbelief The great God can moisten the earth provide the
and two Children which mocked the Prophet of the Lord 2 Kings 2. 23 24. Those new Colonies placed by the King of Assyria in the Cities of Samaria feared not the Lord therefore the Lord sent Lions amongst them which slew some of them 2 Kings 17. 24. Deborah and Barak in their song of Victory descant on this wise They fought from heaven the starrs in their courses fought against Sisera the river of Kishon swept them away that ancient river the river of Kishon O my soul thou hast trodden down strength Judg. 5. 20 21. 2. Other Creatures wherein they are defective in regard of annoyance by virtue comparatively to other Creatures may notwithstanding in regard of co-incident circumstances prove very afflictive Balaam's Asse was none of the wildest for the Asse said unto Balaam Am not I thine asse upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day Was I ever wont to do so unto thee And he said Nay Numb 22. 30. We have here the appeal of the Asse and the acknowledgment of the Master both accord in the truth of the premises and yet we find an harsh conclusion for she crusht Balaam's foot against the wall v. 25. So calm a Creature as Balaam's Asse at such a place where a wall being on this side and a wall on that side together with the Angel of the Lord standing in the path of the Vineyards v. 24. becomes a scourge to the Rider CHAP. II. 1. FROM the Creatures being made friends to us 1. Forget not whence it is that the Creatures smile on thee and do not frown It 's from the pleasure of their Lord or Master that these servants in the general and those of them which are of rough temper in particular do bespeak you fairly and run to and fro willingly to do you service I will says the Psalmist both lay me down in peace and sleep for thou Lord only makest me to dwell in safety Psal 4. 8. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want Psal 23. 1. The Lord hears the heavens ere the corn wine and oyl hear Jezreel Hos 2. 21 22. 2. Labour to demean thy self in all godliness and honesty suitably to thy mercies There is good reason for such to serve God who have the Creatures as so many good servants to wait upon them There is an obligation on man to obey his God and the more his mercies are the stronger is the obligation He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God Micah 6. 8. 2. From the Creatures being Corrosives or Scourges one way or other 1. Observe How the sweetest Wine may become the sharpest Vinegar and this 1. With respect to Things 2. With respect to Persons 1. With respect to Things The good things of this life may be matter of affliction Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things therefore shalt thou serâ—e thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and thirst and in nakedness and in the want of all things Deut. 28. 47 48. Hezekiah a good Prince yet what a thundering-message was sent him Behold the days come that all that is in thine house and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day shall be carried to Babylon nothing shall be left saith the Lord Isa 39. 6. 2. With respect to Persons as Magistrates Ecclesiastical Ministers Family-relations choice Friends or Acquaintants All these instead of Roses may become pricking-briers some way or other as may be instanced in 1. Magistrates who are the Ministers of God for good according to their institution Rom. 13. 4. these may be snatch't away by death to the grief of a People who sate under their refreshing-shadow Their deaths and burials become the resurrection of the Subjects sorrows Witness this in the case of good Josiah who dies and is buried and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him and Jeremiah lamented for him as is recorded 2 Chron. 35. 24 25. Or if they be not seized on by death they may prove the death or bane of a Nation by their follies Instances enough there are for this in Holy-Writ and History 2. Ecclesiastical Ministers become afflictive and that many ways When sins abound amongst a people pride barrenness under the means slighting Ministers and idolizing of them for these are sad extreams do with others sins provoke the Lord to afflict in and by Ministers Sometimes they are taken away by death John's Disciples had too high thoughts of their Master they began it seems to make a party against Christ himself John 3. 25 26. it 's observable ver 24. John was not yet cast into prison Afterward he was and beheaded too Sometimes though God continue them in the world yet he may make their tongues cleave to the root of their mouths They shall be dumb and not be reprovers as Ezek. 3. 26. The pipes shall be stopt and the Conduits in the Towns shall not run as formerly with that plenty of the Water of Life There is a time when the Prophets of the Lord are in their caves and not upon the house-top 1 King 18. 4. Again some may become afflictive by their slips falls apostacies Tertullian turn'd a Montanist and flies out against the Orthodox Scult Annal dec 1 p. 161. One Speicer in Germany was so powerful in preaching that Whores left the Stews and betook themselves to another course of living and yet after he return'd to the Tents of the Papists and miserably perisht Ibid. p. 269. It is said of Swenckfield who did beguile many with great swelling-words of illumination revelation deification of the inward and spiritual man that he had a well-meaning heart but a very irregular or erroneous head God is righteous as in the digging of a grave for some in the Vineyard and the binding of others hand and foot so in the permission of others to leap over the hedg of the Vinyard and to be be-wilder'd in wild and extravagant fancies and conceits See Acts 20. 30. 1 Cor. 3. with 2 Cor. 11. 13 14. 3. Family-relations become Gall and Wormwood 1. The Husband is sometimes a Nabal and folly is with him 1 Sam. 25. 25. or if he be otherwise his death gives life to the Wife's sorrows as 2 Kings 4. 1. Thy servant my husband said that Widow to Elisha is dead and thou knowest that thy servant did for the Lord and the Creditor is come to take to his my two sons for bond-men 2. The Wife if she be not more or less a chiding Zipporah Ezra 4. 25. a mocking-Michol 2 Sam. 6. 20. a sullen Vashti Esth 1. 12. or some otherway afflictive yet there was never a Marriage but there must be a Funeral and a vertuous beautiful Sarah must away out of an Abraham's sight Gen. 23. 4. 3.
See 1 Cor. 4. 11 12. Rev. 2. 9. 3. They who have a care to please God have experience of God's care over them notwithstanding their straits David though denied by a surly Nabal yet had provision brought in by means of a wise Abigail Jeremiah finds fair quarter amongst the Chaldeans Jer. 39. 11 12. The brethren which dwelt in Judea had relief sent to them in the time of the great dearth Acts 11. 28 29. God's Providence is seen as in straits so in the helps handed in under them 4. Suppose some are starved by enemies yet what is this more if the Lord take them out of the world this way than to dye on their beds when a man's life abhorreth bread and his soul dainty meat Job 33. 20. A man dyes who hath victuals but no stomach as he dyes who hath a stomach but no victuals Moreover God knows how to salve up this sharp dispensation 1. He can abate the pain and torment of hunger as one said If you take away my meat God can take away my stomach See Exod 34 28. 2. The Lord may then feast them with other kind of meat as Christ speaketh John 4. 32. 3. They are honoured by God to be starved Non fovetur in metallis lecto culcitris corpus â—…d refrigerio solatio Christi Humi jac nt fessa laboribus viscera sed poena non est cum Christo jacere Squalent sine balneis membra situ sorde deformia sed spiritualiter intusabluitur quod foris carnaliter sordidatur Cyprian lib. 3. Epist 25. as well as others to be burnt for his sake Suffering for Christ any way is honourable See Mat. 5. 11 12. Phil. 1. 29. 4. They will not look like Starvelings one day the vile body will become a glorious body Phil. 2. 21. OBSERVATION XX. The Lord bears up the World by bearing down Sin in the World CHAP. I. AS God's Providence is seen in making provision for the world so in bearing down sin in the World The World would quickly be resolved into a Chaos or heap of confusion did not the Providence of God exert it self and that particularly in and about the sins of men who having since the fall of our first Parents destructive Principles wrapt up in their natures would certainly give the product of such Principles in black and bloody Conclusions were there not a Providence which did counter work them by bearing down sin and these ways amongst others First By ushering in good tidings of a Saviour for whose sake the World is spared from destruction for time is now vouchsafed for the ingathering of a chosen generation Adam and so all mankind were dead in law Judgment was to take place Christ the Seed of the Woman steps in becomes a Surety and bruiseth the head of the Serpent Gen. 3. 14 15. He shall said the Angel to Joseph save his people from their sins Mat. 1. 21. the tares then are spared till the Wheat be gathered Mat. 13. 29 30. Secondly By an inward work of sanctification promoted in the hearts of redeemed ones by Christ who saith the Apostle Paul gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. There is a two-fold bearing down of sin here to be considered 1. A bearing of it down in Saints for they are justified by Christ and sanctified by the Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 11. a stop is put to sin in them yea to such sins which were destructive to human society for such sins were to be found amongst the Corinthians before conversion in regard of their reigning power v. 9 10 11 of the same Chapter 2. Bearing of it down by Saints and that 1. In regard of their common and general Calling as Christians so they do or at leastwise are to live it down and pray it down in others The best Saint may contribute something as a polish't shaft in the hand of the Lord to wound sin The Lord in his Providence hath cast Saints as Salt up and down the World and were it not for this Salt there would be such an ill savour that it would be time to set the World on fire See Mat. 5. 13 14 15 16. Phil. 2. 15. 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. 2. In regard of some Calling special and so 1. As Magistrates These as Saints are to use their authority and power for Christ Job brake the jaws of the wicked and pluck't the spoil out of his teeth Job 29. 17. When I saith David shall receive the congregation I will judg uprightly Psal 75. 2. 2. As Ecclesiastical Ministers who may be said to bear down sin 1. In regard of the real conversion of some Sin receives a killing-blow from the preaching of the word see Acts 26. 18. Rom. 10. 17. 2. In regard of moral illumination of others whereby some for a time at least are curbed Mark 6. 20. Notorious evils are the proper fruit of the Tree of Ignorance Gen. 20. 11. 1 Pet. 1. 14. with chap. 4. v. 3 4. The very checking in of vile lusts may give a check to terrible Judgments which break in on persons and places otherwise The filthy lust of some of the Benjamites made soul work amongst their Tribe Their burning-lusts ended in the burning of their City see Judg. 19. 25. with Judg. 20. 40. Thirdly By way of prevention Though men have a seed-plot of sin in their hearts yet some of the seeds at some times lye there as dead So in Exod. 34. 24. I will cast out the nations before thee and enlarge thy borders neither shall any man desire thy land when thou shalt go to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year God hath variety of ways to hush and still the cry of Robbery Spoil and Cruelty He who made the Soul of man knows how to have access to the door of every affliction and so to set a lock and key on it Fourthly By way of inhibition There are the stirrings of sin but they are but stirrings The shackles of restraint are clapt on by Providence Lust hath conceived but it bringeth not forth to allude to that in James 1. 15. The birth of the Project is an abortive Now how Providence doth block up the lusts of men so that though there be consultation and resolution yet the design walks not abroad into the field but is confined within doors may call for our admiration rather than discussion A comprehensive recital of the many ways which Providence hath to lay siege to the hearts of men is not to be expected It 's not for a Cock-shell-understanding to take in the Ocean A few drops then of that River which Providence cuts a channel or trench for the keeping in of sinners so that they sally not out and do that mischief which might be done may here be put together and that in the Vessel of the Sanctuary I mean according to Scripture 1.
8. c. Achan's transgressing the Covenant is found out Josh 7. 11 17 18 19 20. Judas his Hypocrisie ends in notorious Apostasie Mat. 26. 14. 15. Ananias and Saphira's Sacriledg hath the Curtain drawn from before it by the hand of Peter Acts 5. Simon Magâ—s his Sorceries and painted Atheism are unmasked Acts 8. 2. Examples of the later sort there are likewise The eye that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick it out and the young eagles shall eat it Prov. 30. 17. Cain's murdering his brother Abel is found out by the Lord Gen. 4. 8 9 10. Judah's Uncleanness hath a Signet and Bracelet and Staff to discover it Gen. 38. 16 24 25. Joseph was stoln out of the Land of the Hebrews as it is said Gen. 40. 15. the Plagiarism or Theft of the Brethren is laid open The wicked forgery and perjury in the case of Naboth is left on record 1 King 21. These instances of both sorts may suffice It were easie to enlarge here from History I pass to the accommodation or improvement CHAP. II. 1. OBSERVE an Argument to prove Providence from the wonderful discoveries which are made of the deeds of darkness Though all deeds of darkness do not come to light in this world yet this may suffice Divers do some are discovered to prove a Providence others reserved from a discovery to intimate a day of general Judgment There are several Observables which if they are seriously considered do abundantly commend to us the Providence of God in matters of this nature 1. The small and various threads on which a discovery doth sometimes hang. Unless the hand of Providence did fasten these together and keep them from being broken the sinner had not been drawn out of his Dungeon by them How many windings and turnings were there of Providence ere the horrid fact of Joseph's brethren comes to their father's knowledg 2. The long distance of time sometimes between the perpetration of some fact and the discovery of it One would think such or such a deed of darkness were dead buried and never like to rise again in this world There were divers years past ere Joseph's brethren were taken to task by Providence in order to a discovery I could instance in a woman who liv'd thirty years after a Murder committed and the House where she liv'd being after to be altered in regard it was not convenient for the making of Gunpowder being twice blown up in digging bones were found and the Woman who had changed her habitation was apprehended and convicted out of her own confession 3. The notable sagacity and quick-sightedness of some who are concerned to search into matters There is sometimes much of Providence to be noted Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water but a man of understanding will draw it out Prov. 20. 5. In the controversie of the Harlots about the living-child Solomon's Judgment was more sharp than his Sword 1 King 3. 16 to the end 4. Angelical Ministry which Providence doth often use in order to discoveries Joseph is warnned by an Angel of the Lord how Herod had a design to murder Christ Mat. 2. 13. I make no question but the Angels who cover their faces before the Almighty do invisibly uncover many a deed of darkness They are the Intelligencers in matters of this nature And though they do not appear in places of Judicature yet they may assist there and promote invisibly Discoveries I have heard of one who had an Apparition which willed him to accuse a certain party of Murder committed and withal bid the man ask certain questions and in case the proof did not take the Spirit would appear in the place of Judicature On the rumour of this a great concourse there is of people to behold the Apparition and out of the Croud Witnesses are found to evince the murderous fact for the questions referring to the Murder as going through such an hedg washing his shooes at such a place being denied some there did on the contrary attest being thus providentially drawn together with others and so the Judg condemns the man not because of the Apparition but upon proof made secundum allegata probata 5. The variety of ways which Providence hath to lay open the deeds of darkness Providence doth sometimes blow off the paint by the warm breath of the guilty parties themselves Their own consciences words carriages witness the evils committed Many came and confessed and shewed their deeds Acts 19. 18 19. Again sometimes by the breath of others who if they were not Associates yet were some way or other privy to such deeds A Jehu tells stories of Ahab's Court and what past before 2 King 9. 25 26. Moreover Providence doth make good the charge against the guilty sometimes by some one single demonstrative or passage Tamar sends a greeting to her father saying By the man whose these are am I with child Gen. 38. 25. Again sometime by a concurrency of matters A bundle of sticks is not broken though taken apart they are easily snapt asunder Providence is wonderful in bringing forth the several links of the Chain which pull the Guilty out of their close Coverts to their blush and confusion of face 2. Give not way to Abominations upon presumption of secrecy It is folly and a delusion of Satan to consent to temptations because of secrecy 1. Suppose the guilts of some escape the eye of men in this world Art thou sure that thine shall The Lord seeth all and may give others to see what thou dost And I will come near to you to judgment and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against false swearers and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages the widow and the fatherless and that turn aside the stranger from his right and fear not me saith the Lord of Hosts Mal 3. 5. And Psal 44. 21. Shall not God search this out for he knoweth the secrets of the heart 2. There is an heavy judgment on parties in their uncontrollable liberty which they take in the Vaults of darkness The hand of Providence lies heavy on them in a judiciary way whilst the finger of Providence doth not point out to the world their sins for which they might take an holy shame and amend 'T was a mercy to David that Nathan was sent to him 2 Sam. 12. with Psal 51. On the other hand Providence doth punish when it doth not punish Hos 4. 14. To go on in the broad-way to destruction without check is the suburbs of damnation 3. A day will come when all will out before Angels and Men. In Rom. 2. 16. In the day when God shall judg the secrets of men according to my Gospel And 1 Cor. 4. 5. Therefore judg nothing before the time until the Lord come who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest
towards Heaven Twelfthly There are the sallies of Providence in regard of some glorious Discovery of God to the Soul by way of consolation Every day is not in this sense a Christian's gaudee-gaudee-day Jacob had a golden dream indeed when in it Behold I am with thee and will keep thee saith the Lord to him Gen. 28. 15. That passage of signal Providence was never to be forgotten by Jacob it was of use to him thorow his whole life it was not an every-day's Providence though he had experience of God's Providence every day In 1 Kings 12. 9. God's appearing twice to Solomon is there taken notice of Paul was caught up into the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. I make no question but divers Saints of God have had somewhat like experience of God's out-goings towards their souls There are some high-days of Providence if I may so term them and oh that such high-days where and when they are may not puff up persons Lastly There are the sallies of Providence in regard of Death and that as they respect 1. The fore-running warning preparatory-intimations of Death Moses and Joshua sang sweetly like Swans before their death Christ observes that Providence in the woman's anointing his feet with ointment of Spikenard Let her alone said he to grumbling Judas against the day of my burying hath she kept this Joh. 12. 7. Memorable service of English-Generals under Sir John Norrice p. 46. It is recorded of Sir Anthony Wingfield slain at Brest in Britain in the year 1594 That at his last going into Britain he so disposed of his Estate as if he were never to return and the same day or day before his death took such order for his debts as if he had a presage of his end Some have fore-told the day of their death others have dropt such passages at times when no visible signs of death then as after have been better understood by their sorrowful Friends 2. These Death-sallies respect the kind of death The Lord takes some out of the world in way of Martyrdom as Stephen Acts 7. 59. James Acts 12. 2. Others dye a natural death and that notwithstanding all the attempts of men to the contrary This was Luther's case who dies in his bed do Emperor and Pope what they can to the contrary 3. These Death-fallies respect assistance against Satan then The Devil is busie then I have always saith a pious Divine observed Mr. John Barlow in his Ser. on Psal 73. 24. pag. 50. that when Satan most tempteth the truly religious they seldom recover that sickness he hath great skill to discover how nature is weakned and therefore taketh the fittest time for the purpose It 's reported of Mr. Pemble how the Tempter assaulted him by way of syllogism on his death-bed as was understood by Pemble's denying sometimes the Major other-whiles the Minor-Proposition Our Saviour Christ when the time of his Passion drew nigh said to his Apprehenders This is your hour and power of darkness Luke 22. 53. And what darts Satan shot at him in the bows of People Soldiers the Malefactor may be understood Luke 23. 34 to 40. As the temptations may be more than ordinary then so are the sallies of Providence in a way of assistance It is said in reference to Christ when the bitter Cup was in his hand there appeared an Angel from Heaven strengthning him Luke 22. 43. The Lord helps his people in shooting this gulph They will be out of gun-shot in a little time and Death will be the death of temptations The Sheep shall not be pluck't out of Christ's hand though Satan catch at them John 10. 28. 4. And lastly These Death-sallies respect Comforts at death which are dispenced after a more than ordinary sort to some as in Stephen's case Acts 7. 55. The learned and pious Rivet in his last hours seems to have had a turf of the Heavenly Inheritance a first-haâ—sel of Heaven a dawning of the joyful day of Eternity And thus far of the Sallies of Providence in regard of Death and other matters as hath been insisted on The Improvement of such Sallies follows CHAP. II. 1. OBSERVE and note well the Sallies of Providence If Gold-filings are with care paper'd up much more are the Wedges of Gold to be choicely laid up under Lock and Key It is observable how there is a note of attention or observation prefixt to the Narratives of the Sallies of Providence in the Sacred Scripture see Gen. 28. 12. Gen. 37. 15. 1 King 14. 10. 2 King 19. 7. Psal 78. 20. Acts 10. 19. 2. Be thankful to God for what share you have had in the signal Sallies of Providence on your behalf Hath Providence stept in for thy help holp up thy Cart when it was overturn'd or suddenly suppli'd thee with a firm Wheel for a broken one What remains now but the celebrating the Name of God with Halelujahs The Israelites had their Song for that Sally at the Red-sea Exod. 15. 1. We read of the Writing of Hezekiah King of Judah when he had been sick and was recovered of his sickness Isa 38. 9. Paul is affected with the Lord 's delivering him out of the mouth of the Lion 2 Tim. 4. 17. 3. Learn from the meditation of the Sallies of Providence to trust God both for thy self and Relations God's Saints have so done their faith in running backward hath fetch'd a leap forward So David in 1 Sam. 17. 37. So Paul 2 Tim. 4. 18. Abraham had an eye to the Sallies of Providence for his Son's marriage Gen. 24. 6 7. he useth the means sends his servant on a Nuptial-Embassie and so acquiesceth in God's Providence The Sallies of Providence on the behalf of Children are the best portion They who can leave little or nothing to Children yet if they leave them an interest in the Sallies of Divine Providence do leave them enough what is wanting one way these Sallies of Providence make up another way Oh that Parents therefore would take less care by taking more care less care for the Earth and more for Heaven The way to have things go well is for Parents and Children to have God for their God or to be reallly godly But of this in the next Meditation Nititur ergo Abraham promissione docet omnia gerenda esse in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fidei sive magnum sive exile appareat Sic nos quoque discamus Deo reddenda committenda esse omnia sive singularia sive usitata summa infima ut laetemur fortes simus in Domino omnem solicitudinem in eum projicientes Videtur res sordidâ— obscoena propemodum apparare filio nuptias sed in quanto pretio honore est in oculis Abrahae adeo ut non dubitet de Angelorum praesentia cura praesidio Lutâ— ad locum OBSERVATION XXIV PROVIDENCE hath its Courts in which the sons of men have their different stations CHAP. I. AS in the Temple of
old there were divers places appropriated to persons so in the great House of Providence some are the Children and have their lodgings others Servants and Scavengers who though they have some relation to the House yet are not members of the House comparatively with others There are three Courts or Circles in which men may be considered 1. There is the large and outmost Circle of common or general Providence Here all men the worst of men even the Pagan-Pagans may be placed The Lord maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust Mat. 5. 45. Nevertheless he left not himself without a witness in that he did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness saith Paul to the Paganish people at Lystra Acts 14. 17. 2. There is the intermediate Circle of special or limited Providence which respects members in common of the visible Church Unto the Jews were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. they are called the children of the Kingdom inasmuch as God honoured them with his Worship and Ordinances Matth. 8. 12. 3. There is the inmost Circle of peculiar and singular Providence In this Circle are the Elect of God and Called of him in Christ Jesus The former Circle is a visible one this invisible the former of larger circumference than this later for many are called but few are chosen Mat. 22. 14. The Apostle Paul doth describe this by the notion of an house in which are vessels of divers sorts not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and of earth some to honour and some to dishonour 2 Tim. 2. 20. To what hath been said of these different Courts may be added what doth further appear from Rom. 2. where two things are observable 1. The different descriptions of parties there The Gentile is set forth in his colours v. 14 15. the Jew or formal Professor in his v. 17 28. the sincere Saint in his v. 28 29. 2. The different aggravation of sin there The Gentile's sin is aggravated in that he fights against the displays of a Deity in his Conscience which accuseth him v. 15. The Jew or Formalist hath his sin aggravated in that he oppugneth higher discoveries from Heaven v. 21 22 23 24. And consequently He who hath the highest Discoveries hath sin in that respect aggravated the more as in David his case 2 Sam. 12. compared with Psal 51. CHAP. II. 1. QUARREL not with God because all are not within the inmost Circle of Providence Corrupt Reason is ready to enter its plea against God as the Apostle intimates Rom. 9. 19. But whatever the pleas of Reason are yet they are without reason for reason it is that the discoveries of God in Scripture should be decisive in matters And here to silence Cavils there are Four things considerable 1. Is there ground to dispute with the Almighty for his not making all the Creatures of one or two specifical Kinds The Lord needed not direction from man in the creation of several sorts of creatures according as they are brought forth on the Stage of the World Gen. 1. His Will and Wisdom is to check man's Peevishness and Folly The Lord saith Solomon hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil Prov. 16. 4. It is true that the Lord hath not made the wicked as wicked by way of positive efficiency yet he hath consulted with the glory of his Justice in the wicked's existency and that by way of antecedent permission or permissive antecedency It is not from a defect of Power in God as if Stones could not be turned into Children unto Abraham as the Baptist asserts Mat. 3. 9. The Lord's Will is the Supream reason why the Creatures are different both in regard of their natural and moral consideration No reason is there then for man to cavil at the difference there is natural or moral amongst the Creatures 2. Hath mortal man without the least impeachment of cruelty a liberty to appoint such and such young beasts some for the Plough others for the Pail and others for the Shambles And shall it be deni'd to the Almighty if he shall appoint not all but some to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ 1 Thess 5. 9. There is unquestionably a distance by Myriads of Myriads between Man and an Infinite God That distance between Man and the Beasts is but as the Tenth thousand part of an Atom in comparison of the whole World yea not that in comparison of the other distance between Man and the Lord Jehovah To quarrel then at the Lord's Prerogative is for a man to allow that in himself which he will not on the other hand allow to his Maker and Soveraign Disposer 3. What if the Lord had wholly excluded men from his grace and favour and instead of them magnified his grace towards the lapsed Angels Had he been unjust cruel partial therefore No no and if so then it follows that he who might pass by all the sons of men without wrong done to them is not to be censured because he takes compassion only on some and the rest are hardned see Rom. 11. 5 7. 4. Men come not into the inmost Circle of Divine Providence because they cannot but because they will not A man is told That if he travel on in such a road his throat will be cut for there the Cut-throats are in ambush if this man will on his own perverse will is in fault A man is sick and this or that Remedy is prescribed and he will not make use of it he dies of the disease but the moral disease of his wilfulness may be rather termed the cause of his death This is the Sinner's case He is a resolv'd man for his own ways How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledg Prov. 1. 22. And Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life To wave then disputes about the Lord's Purpose There is enough in man to apologize for God in regard of man 's not being within the inmost Circle for go to the Gentile who never heard of Jesus Christ and so by way of proportion make a judgment of the cases of others whose ears the joyful sound of the Gospel hath fill'd but their hearts are empty of grace or goodness and there will be no reason to multiply words without knowledg for what saith the great Apostle of the Gentiles Rom. 1. 21. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkned We have here the judgment of the great Doctor of the Gentiles who had taken cognizance of the matter and his decision will the better appear if a Comment which a learned man hath on this Text be alledged Doct.
of God Acts 9. 17 18. OBSERVATION XXI The Motions Stirrs Alterations in the World have oftentimes the Concerns of God's People at the bottom of them or There is a subserviency of the Civil Affairs of State to the Affairs of God's Church or People CHAP. I. BEFORE the Circles or Courts of Providence were spoken of here we have a display of Providence as it refers to those who are or may in time come to be in the inner and inmost Circle of Providence And that the motions in the World have a reference primarily to those who are called out of the World or to be called appears First From plain Assertions in Scripture Thus saith the Lord your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel For your sake I have sent to Babylon and have brought down all their Nobles and the Chaldeans whose cry is in their ships Isa 43 14. And except saith Christ those days should be shortned no flesh should be saved but for the elects sake those days shall be shortned Mat. 24. 22. 2. From the interwoven types and Historical passages in Scripture to this very end and purpose Thus God instructed Abraham by the smoaking Furnace what would be the case of his people and what would be the issue of all Gen. 15. Ezekiel's Vision of the Wheels runs hand in hand with the former times being distinguish't both agree as to the motions in Egypt and in Babylon and that as the Jews are concerned in those motions of State Ezek. 1. Daniel by various types is lesson'd of the Monarchies what Beasts they are and how it would be with the Sheep of the Lord's pasture Dan. 7 8 9 10 11 12. John in the Revelation is informed Quemadmodum enim in Veteri Testamento Daniel secundum Imperiorum successiones tum Christi adventum praesignavit tum Ecclesiae Judaicae fata digessit ita rem Christianam Apocalypsis Romani quod adhuc post Christum superfuturum esset Imperii rationibus admetiri censenda est nec eventus abnuit Mede in Apoc. Com. pag 12. of the state of the Church under the Roman Power These types are in a sort an History of things and besides these there are passages by way of narrative which prove the thing here aimed at for look we into the motions of State As Domestick and Forreign and the truth of this will appear Saul is laid aside and David advanced to the Throne and what is intended in this see 1 Sam. 15. 28. with 1 Chron. 13. 3. Cyrus is advanced but to what end the Lord informs saying For Jacob my servant's sake and Israel mine elect I have eveâ— called thee by name Isa 45. 1. and how Cyrâ—… did answer this Prophetical History or Historical Prophecy of himself if it may be so called see Ezra 1. where we have the actual History Again consider not only of Historical passages referring to the members but of such which refer immediately to Christ the Head and so to the Church and which are the truth of this Observation Two things may be noted here 1. The previous Alteration at that time when Christ came He was born in the days of Herod the King Mat. 2. 1. Who this Herod was and how the Prophecy of Jacob Gen. 49. 12. was accomplish't is known to those who list not to be contentious 2. The great Tax imposed by Augustus is another thing observable This made way for Christ's birth at Bethlehem and that as foretold to be see Luke 2. Augustus in this Tax pays Tribute to the King of Heaven He brings stones to build God's Temple whilst he intends the raising of his Exchequer His Political Action hath its Ecclesiastical Aspect 3. From particular Demonstrations Political motions have their references to the people of God divers ways 1. By way of castigation for their sins When the children of the Kingdom wax wanton no wonder if some become Scourges for the afflicting of them Moses prophetically speaks of this But Jesurun waxed fat and kicked c. Deut. 32. 15. What follows then see v. 23. I will heap mischiefs I will spend mine arrows upon them And in v. 25. The sword without and terror within shall destroy both the young man and the virgin the suckling also with the man of gray hairs Moses who thus descants was no false Prophet the Israelites might find how a Prophet had been amongst them 2 Kings 17. 6 7. 2 Chron. 36. 14 15 16 17. If we look into following Ages we shall find that the house hath been foul ere the Lord of the house hath taken the Besom in hand and providentially delivered it into the hands of persecuting ones Thus Eusebius relates Eccles Hist lib. 8. c. 10. But after that our affairs through in much liberty ease and security degenerated from the natural Rule of Piety and after that one pursued another with open contumely and hatred and when that we impugned our selves by no other than our selves with the armour of spite and sharp spears of opprobrious words so that bishops against bishops and people against people raised sedition c. then persecution came on It was wholsome advice therefore which Bradford in the marian-Marian-days gave to the City of London Let the anger and plagues of God most justly fallen upon us be applied to every one of our deserts that from the bottom of our hearts every one of us may say It is I Lord that have sinned against thee it is my hypocrisie my vain-glory my covetousness uncleanness carnality security idleness unthankfulness self-love and such like which have deserved the taking away of our good King of thy Word and true Religion of thy good Ministers by exile prisonment and death it is my wickedness that causeth success and encrease of Authority and Peace to thine enemies 2. By way of subversion or vindictive punishment for affronts and injuries offered to the people of God God orders some to be Scourges to others who have been Scourges to his people Nebuchadnezzar is the Sword of the Lord against Egypt Ezek. 29. 18 19 20. and what Egypt was to the House of Israel we have in v. 6. where it is said All the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel The Kings of the earth are to hate the Whore and to make her desolate and naked eat her flesh and burn her with fire Rev. 17. 16. If it be asked Why the Whore of Babylon is so roughly to be handled A reason there is v. 6. I saw saith John the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus Christ It is observed how the Turks have fallen in on some places and possest themselves of such places from whence the Protestants have been expelled by the Papists Bloody Popery hath vengeance belonging to it The more catholick and repeated are the insolencies and cruelties of Papists the greater ground of support and comfort
by his prudent and politick Delays Soft and fair goes far sometimes in Mars his field CHAP. II. 1. LEARN how wicked men are out-witted and out-work't by Providence They are Snails when they should be Dromedaries and Dromedaries when they should be Snails They conceive mischief but bring forth falshood Psal 7. 14. If there be not a sudden abortion there is a passing the time of delivery Thus according to the common forms of speech they come a day after the fair or their hasty Bitches puppy blind whelps 2. Beware of sinful Hastes and Delays He that believeth shall not make haste Isa 28 16. Jacob was too hasty in catching after the blessing by the use of undue means Gen. 27. And on the other hand rememember David Psal 119. 60. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments Eccles 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth John 12. 35. Walk while ye have the light lest darkness come upon you If it be enquired What Rules are of use here as they respect Hastes and Delays It may be answered in three Directions 1. Be well acquainted with thy constitution or temper wisely suspect it and accordingly moderate it Some are of an hasty temper they are like fire in straw have a Gunpowder disposition it is probable Peter was so Mat. 26. 35 c. John 18. 10. Others are of a slow temperament The Cretians are said to be slow bellies Tit. 1. 12. Wisdom then must have its spur or curb and use one or other as there is occasion 2. Take a rational surveigh of matters Consider things with their circumstances So Cum diu cogitaveris tunc fac quod probaveris Nihil ex praecipiti magnum Consilii mora melior in rebus autem certis bene agendi tardita◠removeatur à te Tolle moras in crastinum nihil differas Isidor Hisp lib. 2. Synon c. 12. teacheth Solomon in the case of rash Suretiship Prov. 6. 1 2 3 4 5. And in Eccles 8. 5. A wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment A due view of matters is of great importance when to be swift and when to be slow 3. Eye God for direction and success O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Jer. 10. 23. Here Jeremiah bolts forth a Doctrine and Solomon gives us a good practical Use of the point Prov. 3. 6. In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy paths 3. Bless God for what of mercy is conveyed by Hastes or Delays It is said Abigail made haste 1 Sam. 25. 18. and David takes notice of the Providence for saith he Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me v. 32. O how much is there of a glorious display of Providence both in Hastes and Delays The Church of God doth experiment this The wind of Providence blows good to the Lord's people and that though at different points of the Compass Sometimes they who are Pirates and seek to make a prey of God's people are wind-bound and sometimes a fair wind they have but the gust are so strong and vehement as that the Ship of Fools is swallow'd A notable story for illustration may be here set down which hath been recommended to divers from the learned and pious Vsher whose Uncle as I have been informed telling the story but not knowing the person at Christ's Church in Oxford at the Table there a Gentleman blush't and confessed himself to be the man Doct. Fuller the History of the Worthies of England Westmerland p. 137. And seeing the story is in print now I shall set it down as it is related by one of our own worthy Writers and pass to another Aphorism or Observation About the third of the reign of Queen Mary a Pursevant was sent with a Commission into Ireland to impower some eminent persons to proceed with fire and fagot against poor Protestants It happened by Divine Providence this Pursevant at Chester lodged in the house of a Protestant-Inn-keeper who having gotten some inkling of the matter secretly stole his Commission out of his Cloak-bag and put the Knave of Clubs in the room thereof Some weeks after he appeared before the Lord 's of the Privy-Council at Dublin of whom Bishop Coren a principal and produced a Card for his pretended Commission The black Box it seems wherein the bloody Commission was at first was tied up with an hold-fast knot till opened in Ireland They caused him to be committed to prison for such an affront as done on design to deride them Here he lay for some months till with much ado at last he got his enlargement Then over he return'd for England and quickly getting his Commission renewed makes with all speed for Ireland again But before his arrival there he was prevented with the news of Queen Mary's death and so the Lives of many and the Liberties of more poor Servants of God were preserved OBSERVATION XXIX PROVIDENCE hath its various or several aspects in matters or The Eye of PROVIDENCE looks more ways than one CHAP. I. IN Ezek. 1. every one of the living creatures had four faces v. 6. and the wheels there or rather the rings of them as the more immediate subject are said to be full of eyes v. 18. What may these passages in the vision import but probably the manifold aspect of Providence in matters However the truth of the Observation may be considered two ways 1. Exemplifications there are in Scripture to this purpose That Providence in the Brethren's going down to Egypt had its various aspects it did look backward on their guilt for that is brought to remembrance Gen. 42. 21. and it did look forward to their preservation in the time of Famine as Joseph doth inform them Gen. 45. 7. The borrowing of the Egyptians Treasure Exod. 12. 31 36. respects the Egyptians in a way of punishment in the Lord 's transferring the property of the goods borrowed to the Israelites who are now well paid for their hard service and are furnish't with materials for the Tabernacle such as gold silver brass blue purple and scarlet Onyx-stones c. Exod. 25. The taking of the Ark by the Philistines 1 Sam. 4. 11. seems to confute a conceit of God's protecting Presence because of the outward symbol or sign of his presence in which the Israelites rested as 1 Sam. 4. 3 4. and not only so but to punish the Israelites for their Ark-removing sins or provocations as 1 Sam. 2. 22. Neither doth that Providence stop here God vindicates the honour of the Ark thus taken the Philistins shall be overcom'd when they do overcome The Ark of God amongst them that Sacred Chest becomes in a sort a large Coffin for the burial of many of them for there was a deadly destruction thorowout all their Cities the hand of God was heavy on them as is recorded
clear Exposition on this hard Chapter CHAP. I. THAT the comparing of some single act or acts of Providence with an after-act or acts of Providence about matters is the opening of the Casement for light to come in on the understanding doth appear as followeth 1. Some have been startled staggered non-plust disquieted whilst they have been held at a gaze of some act or acts of Providence about matters but on the other hand quieted composed satisfied when they have taken a view of the whole of a Dispensation Jacob upon the supposed loss of Joseph talks of nothing but his grave Gen. 37. 35. but when he saw the Waggons which Joseph had sent to carry him his spirit revived he said It is enough Joseph my son is yet alive I will go and see him before I dye Gen. 45. 27 28. What an eye-fore was the prosperity of the wicked solely considered to the Psalmist But as for me saith he my feet were almost gone my steps had well-nigh slipt when I saw the prosperity of the wicked Psal 73. 2 3. And in v. 21. Thus my heart was grieved and I was pricked in my reins But after these pangs of disquiet have an end when he can say Then I understood their end surely thou didst set them in slippery places thou castedst them down into destruction v. 17 18. The two Disciples going to Emaus were nigh tired with sorrow and disquiet which had almost rid them off their legs of Faith and that while they cast back an eye on Mount Calvary where their Lord and Master was lately crucified We trusted say they that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel Luke 24. 21. but after they are taught a lesson to consider that Golgotha-Dispensation as a copulative one v. 26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory They might have been stumbled if the Golgotha-Dispensation had not been for how otherwise should Christ have risen from the grave triumphed over enemies fulfilled the Scripture according as he intimates v. 27. 2. The taking a view of the whole of Providence in matters doth after a natural sort contribute to the better understanding of matters He that comes into an Artificer's or Joyner's Shop and sees here and there some pieces for a Box or into a Taylor 's Shop and bâ—holds here a Skirt there a Sleeve may at present through his want of thorough consideration be at a loss what to make of these somethings-nothings but after when all is set together there is a proof of the Workmen's skill and a confutation of the man's ignorance who knew not what belongs to the Box or Garment Even thus it is in reference to Providential-Dispensations Or as the Types of old are better understood when considered in conjunction with what is typed forth by them as Numb 21. 9. with John 3. 14. so this or that act of Providence may better be apprehended after than at present So Christ tells Peter What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter John 13. 7. CHAP. II. 1. SEE one way to prevent guilt of sin under the Dispensations of God whether they respect our selves or others and that is by a copulative or conjunctive consideration of Providence as to matters Had Jonah waited a while he need not have been so pettish and froward upon the account of the blasting of his Guord Then said the Lord Thou hast had pity on the guord for which thou hast not laboured neither madest it to grow which came up in a night and perished in a night and should not I spare Nineveh that great city wherein are more than six-score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left and also much cuttel Jonah 4. 10 11. The Psalmist likewise acknowledgeth his fault which the non-consideration of Providence conjunctively was an in-let or door to Psal 73. 22. So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee 2. Look after a sweet waiting-frame of heart under this and that Dispensation of Providence Yea in the way of thy judgments have we waited for thee O Lord Isa 26. 8. I will stand upon my watch and set me upon the tower and will watch to see what he will say to me and what I shall answer when I am reproved or when I am argued with as the Margin hath it Hab. 2. 1. Could persons be so composed when they first set foot on the borders of a Dispensation as they are or ought to be when they have footed it through to the other end they would foot it cheerfully without faintness and stumbling by the way We should then in patience possess our selves till the Lord's work be over Copulative Providence is the Silver Trumpet of God's Praises Joseph beholds a glorious display of the Divine Attributes in God's Dispensation towards him Suppose him as brought into the great Hall of Egypt hung with Cloath of Arras at first entry he sees a Leg or Arm of a man in the Hangings but after when he hath liberty to walk up and down there he sees a beautiful piece of Workmanship Even so when Joseph looks not to the violent hand of his Brethren in the Hangings of Providence but considers all together he sees the curious Artifice of Providence in all and so tells his Brethren But as for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive Gen. 50. 20. Job who hath his Scene and that a sad one too experienceth all for good in the end So James 5. 11. Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy Non est judicandum de Providentiâ Dei ante quintum actum Pet. Mart. OBSERVATION XXXIII PROVIDENCE hath its Harmonies CHAP. I. THOUGH Providence seem to sound Discords yet it hath its Correspondencies or sweet Accords and that with 1. The Purpose or Decree of God 2. The Sacred Scriptures 3. With the Prayers of Saints 4. With it Self First There is an Harmony of Providence with the Purpose or Decree of God Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Acts 15. 18. The process of Providence in the sixth Chapter of the Revelation is according to the Book of the Divine Decree spoken of in the fifth Chapter and seventh verse I enlarge not here having spoken distinctly and largely to this in a foregoing Observation Secondly There is an Harmony of Providence with the Sacred Scriptures It is said Amos 3 3. Can two walk together except they be agreed The Scripture and Providence do walk together they are agreed in the journey's end where to meet albeit one of them may seem to leave the company of the other for some miles Providence in regard of its correspondency with the word may be termed a visible Bible or a Commentary
founded on right Reason or general Experience Some make bold to bring forth the Decrees of the Starr-Chamber as touching the bent of men's minds the deaths of persons c. as if so be there were not a secret Council-Table within the be-spangled Canopy of Heaven There is little reason and less grace for men to be curiously searching after some Fopperies in Almanacks and this to the neglect of their Bibles which will never be out of date If men would search into the later as they do into the former they might read of an Esau and a Jacob twins-born but of a different character Gen. 25. 23. They might read of many thousands dying a violent death nigh one and the same time Judg. 8. 10. and if an Astrologer had been consulted is it likely that he had made such a difference as to Esau and Jacob and such an Harmony of the deaths of an Hundred and twenty thousand as the last Scripture mentions Again they might read that promotion cometh neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south Psal 75. 6. Furthermore they might read a Sacred insulting Irony Let now the astrologers the starr-gazers the monthly-prognosticators stand up and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee Isa 43. 13. Lastly They might peruse a Dehortatory Lesson Thus saith the Lord Learn not the way of the heathen and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven for the heathens are dismayed at them Jer. 10. 2. 2. There is another bastard Harmony in regard of particular blind Prophecies cast forth from Wizards and Witches the Oracles of the Devil There is in some a wicked Curiosity to know their Fortune as it is phrased If such would know their Fortune they might take a shorter and surer course by reading the 28 ch of Deuteronomy or if they like not so large a Discourse they may have it in short from Christ who tells them He that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16. 16. It is often a suspicious sign of hardness of heart and a judiciary deserting by the Lord when thus the Oracles of the Devil are in request with parties Seek me out said Saul to his servants a woman that hath a familiar spirit that I may go to her and enquire of her 1 Sam. 28. 7. and what got he but further sorrow and wo see ver 20. Perhaps it will be objected here by some That Prophecies so termed do fall out true and therefore why are they not to be look't after To this thred-bare Objection note the following Reply and that in divers particulars 1. Why are not things observed to fall out otherwise ordinarily Sciunt illi daemones quidem futura multa sed non omnia quippe quibus penitus consilium Dei scire non licet ideo solent responsa in ambiguos exitus temperare Lact. lib. 2. Instit cap. 15. An Astrologer or Star-peeper saith Luther is to be likened to one who selleth Dice and saith Behold here I have Dice that always run upon Twelve the rest of the fifty Casts upon 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Even thus it is with Astrologers When once or twice their Conceits and Fantasies do hit and happen then they cannot sufficiently extol and praise the Art but touching the other so oftentimes failing they are altogether still and silent Thus Luther And indeed it 's no wonder if sometimes that which is spoken and yet it may be in the general or in an ambiguous sense do thus or thus fall out Suppose divers in Israel had had recourse to Witches or others to enquire what weather should have been on the morrow when Samuel said Is it not wheat-harvest to day I will call unto the Lord and be shall send thunder and rain 1 Sam. 12 17. Perhaps none had hit right suppose one had amongst many for some kind of weather must be now this one speaks the truth but not truly having no ground but as the blind man shoots the Hare 2. Whether some kind of Predictions may have some influence by way of a kind of natural causality to bring about what is said A true Prophecy may have some influence in an ordinary way to further the accomplishment of it self so 2 King 9. the Prophecy there was the occasion at least for the Army-men to set up Jehu And so on the other hand some passages heeded may be inductive of the thing A man hath a strong conceit of death he is foretold so and this phancy may through Providence righteous Amen have its deadly operation 3. Satan can give notable intelligence to some who are his Oracles For Angeli in verbo Dei cognoscunt omnia antequam in re siant quae apud homines adhuc futura sunt Angeli jam revelante Deo noverunt praevaricatores Angeli etiam sanctitate amissa non tamen amiserunt vivxis creaturae Angelicae sensum triplici enim modo praescientiae acumine vigent scilicet subtilitate naturae experientiâ temporum revelatione superiorum potestatum Isid Hisp lib. 1. sent c. 12. 1. He is an Angel and so hath a deeper insight into matters Though there may be some crack in his natural intellectuals by his fall yet as an Angel he sees further into matters see 2 Sam. 14. 17. 2. He hath had long experience as to matters in the world He is an old Serpent Rev. 12. 9. 3. He can quickly take cognizance of the position of matters how things are in their precedent Causes both Natural and Moral Thus supposing that it was the Devil in Samuel's Mantle no wonder if he speaks as he doth for David was anointed Saul grows worse and worse and now the top-stone-Sinne was laid on namely his going to a Witch and a battel was at hand to be sought 4. The Devil hath a great stroak in matters brought about in the World He that is then an Agitator may the better be an Intelligencer See 1 King 22. 21 22. Job 1. 12. Satan could know what would befall Ahab and Job when he had a Commission or rather a Permission what to do 4. God hath wise Ends in the verification of what is sometimes foretold That place in Deut. 13. 1 2 3. is a full one for this purpose Providence forbears not to go the journey because Satan doth so probably guess and give it out yea Providence sets forward the rather for the trial of persons And therefore let that pertinent instruction be remembred Isa 8. 19 20. And when they shall say unto you Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto wizards that peep and that mutter should not a people seek unto their God for the living to the dead To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them 3. There is a specious expected Harmony of Providence with Scriptures misunderstood It may be said here to some as Christ said Mat. 22. 29. Ye do
a Divine Constitution of Heaven for wise Ends why this is so and shall be so Solomon tells of a day of Prosperity and a day of Adversity and moreover affixeth this saying God also hath set the one over against the other to the end that man should find nothing after him Eccles 7. 14. Adversity saith one is set opposite to Prosperity Mr. Pemble a Vale against a Hill in a continual vicissitude and succession and this is done to the end or in such order and manner that man should or shall find nothing after him viz. of those things that may come upon him in the course of his life and after-times he cannot by wit fore-see nor by policy prevent ensuing changes and therefore it is a great part of his wisdom to arm himself with patience for all adventures In this Constitution of Heaven for an intermixture Si tristia semper acciderent quis fustineret si semper prospera quis non contemneret sed rerum tanta gubernatrix sapientia horum pernecessariâ vicissitudine eo moderamine electi suis cursum vitae temporalis alternat ut nec adversa frangant nec laeta dissolvant cum potius ista ex illis gratiora illa ex his tolerabiliora reddantur Bern. in Epistola ad Peâ—… Popiensem of Dispensations three things are observable 1. Here is a display of the Divine Attributes intended Not only is Wisdom seen in the allay of Prosperity by Adversity and of Adversity by Prosperity but likewise Goodness Power Justice have their glorious Manifesto's or Displays according to particular concernments of persons whose day is a black-cloudy or a bright Sun-shine one Not only the Word but Providence and that in Dispensations of this nature do witness that the Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity and transgression and by no means clearing the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation Numb 14. 18. In the next place The Lord by this intermixture of Whites and Blacks in the course of his Providence will make trial of persons They shall have change of pastures One while the grass is very low another while a fresh leeze is broken up for them The Israelites in the Wilderness are suffer'd to hunger and yet are fed with Manna and all this to prove them Deut. 8 2 3. Lastly God will hereby put a distinction between Earth and Heaven This World rings Changes Heaven's Serenity is never overcast with a black Cloud The Apostle Paul is admirable in the antithesis or opposition he makes on this wise here affliction there an exceeding and eternal weight of glory Here an earthly house of this tabernacle there a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 4. 17. and chap. 5. v. 1. Yea wicked men will find a difference between their state here and their state hereafter so Luke 16. 25. But Abraham said Soâ— remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented CHAP. II. 1. BE not secure because of a present Nos verò sic laetari debemus ut non immergamur sed servemus partem cordis Deo quâ etiam ferre possimus diem malum sic fiet ut mala praevisa minus discrucient nos Luth. in Eccles cap. 7. Sed nos immergimur penitus vel laetis vel adversis pii verò ubi boni mali vicissifudinem patiuntur dicunt Hic Dei ordo sive mos est neque frangantur Ibid. Tranquillity or Sun-shine of Providence in matters The Horse goes well over the Plain a rough way is at hand where it may stumble and dismount the Rider yea it may happen the Horse may trip on the Plain some little hillock or loose stone in the way may occasion a fall And in my prosperity I said but God said not so though David said so I shall never be moved Lord by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled Psal 30. 6 7. 2. Give not way to a despondency under Adversity Though the man stand in the Black he may by-and-by be in the White Note here four things 1. There is an evil of Despondency under evils of Smart 2 Good persons yea eminently good are incident to some grumblings or touches at least of this Disease 3. Parties notwithstanding their black Conclusions from the Position of their Affairs may experience God's kindness 4. Persons may even then be nearest Mercy or Mercy nearest them when they deem it furthest off So 1 Sam. 27. 1. And David said in his heart I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul Observe here 1. Who said David a Saint and an eminent one too 2. What did he say I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul Did this one day ever come No for David lived to see the day of Saul's death 3. When was it that David said as he did Even then when Saul's glass was nigh done a few sands to run so that he who did conclude his life would be concluded by Saul's violence he that talks of falling by the hand of Saul hears tidings of Saul's falling by the hand of the Philistins 1 Sam. 30. with 2 Sam. 1. chap. 3. Take a view of the Checker-Table of Providence observe the revolutions that are in the world let not the Whites and Blacks be passed over without a good improvement It is said Deut. 8. 2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness Note here how it 's the Israelites duty to call to remembrance or keep up in memory the way and all the ways of God's Dispensations towards them they in their Wilderness-journey had ups and downs Mercies and Judgments were attendants and they are not to forget what might profitably be learn't in the company of such attendants on them in the Wilderness There are moreover two inducements why persons should take a view of this Checker-Table 1. It 's plain or obvious to men's eyes The Whites and Blacks of the Lord's Dispensations are the more visible The walk of Providence from one point to a diametrically opposite point or from the Hill to the Vale and from the Vale to the Hill be speaks men to be sand-blind or pur-blind if it be not noted Thus it 's implied in Luke 1. He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree he hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away v. 52 and 53. They then are very deaf or have an injudicious ear who hear not the loud Bell of Providence in such changes which befal themselves or others 2. As this Checker-table is plain or obvious to the eye so is it a large one There are many whites and blacks There
and truth in my days Isa 39. 8. 2. As there is a robbing of the Lord in respect of his goodness and mercy in eying only the bitter part as bitter in Dispensation so a person in so doing stands in the light of his own support and comfort He that can read Love Mercy Wisdom in the Characters of Providence though written with the intermixture of Gall in their black Ink will not tear in pieces the Letter sent from Heaven The Prophet Jeremiah gives a large description of Miseries Lam. 3. from v. 1. to 21. and in v. 22. what saith he It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not Here is a sense of Mercies as well as before a sense of Miseries and a good use is made of this in v. 26. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. OBSERVATION XXXVI There is a Retaliating-work or work of rendring like for like observable in God's dealing with the sons of men CHAP. I. THIS Retaliating-work of Providence may be considered both by way of frown and smile or as grievous in a way of smart and gracious in a way of favour Each of these have a correspondence with what is foregoing either by way of proportion literal if I may so term it there is a Copy or Counterpane of the former Deed or as is vulgarly said the same bread which men break to others is broken to them again or by way of proportion equivalent or in value God doth sometimes pay persons in the like coyn sometimes the payment is made in Bullion which though it have not the like Image or Superscription on it yet it comes out of the same Mine though not the same Mint There is a general accord with what did precede and that as was said by way of frown and smile For the further clearing up of this Meditation or Observation the following Heads of Discourse offer themselves to consideration First There are Assertions in Scripture on this wise These Assertions are 1. General 2. Particular 1. The Assertions general which do point at this are to be spoken to And here not to be large hear what He asserteth whose word may well be taken Christ himself Judg not that ye be not judged for with what judgment ye judg ye shall be judged and with what measure ye mete it shall be measur'd to you again Mat. 7. 1 2. Compare this Scripture with Luke 5. 37 38. and we have the Text or Subject-matter enlarged for thus it is said Judg not and ye shall not be judged condemn not and ye shall not be condemned forgive and ye shall be forgiven give and it shall be given unto you good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosome for with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again 2. There are Assertions in particular and that as they point at frowning-Dispensations and smiling-ones The first sort of Assertions in particular as they respect wrath we have scattered up and down in Scripture So Isa 33. 1. Wo to thee that spoilest and thou wast not spoiled and dealest treacherously and they dealt not treacherously with thee when thou shalt cease to spoil thou shalt be spoiled and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously they shall deal treacherously with thee Rev. 13. 10. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword The later sort of Assertions in particular we have likewise on Sacred Record So Psal 41. Blessed is he that considereth the poor the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble the Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the earth and thou wilt not deliver him to the will of his enemies the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing thou wilt make his bed in sickness v. 1 2 3. To this add one Scripture more Psal 18. 25. With the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful with the upright thou wilt shew thy self upright And that in Mat. 5. 7. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy Secondly The Prayers that are in Scripture recorded do imply a Retaliating-work of Providence There are Sacred or Divinely-inspired reflections on the evil and good deeds of persons and these reflections have reached Heaven for an answer so in Psal 137. 7. Remember O Lord the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said Raze it raze it even to the foundation thereof So likewise Lam. 1. 22. Let all their wickedness come before thee and do unto them as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions for my sighs are many and my heart faint And Rev. 6. 7. And they cryed with a loud voice saying How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judg and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth Again there are passages in Prayer of another aspect or reflection Boaz answered and said to Ruth It hath fully been shewed me all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother and the land of thy nativity and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore The Lord recompense thy work and a full reward be given to thee of the Lord God of Israel under whose wings thou art come to trust Ruth 2. 11 12. The Lord said Paul give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus for he oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain 2 Tim. 1. 18. Thirdly There are Exemplifications of a Retaliating-work and that 1. By way of Wrath or Judgment or Severity 2. By way of Mercy 1. To begin with the first sort The first-born of Egypt were slain and that very righteously if consideration be had to the bloody Edict for the destroying the male-children of the Israelites and look as Orders were issued out to drown the children of the Israelites in Egypt's River so Pharoah with his Host are drowned in the Red-sea Exod. 1. 16. and v. 22. with Exod 12. 29. and Exod. 14. 30. Samuel tells Agag As thy sword hath made women childless so shall thy mother be childless among women and Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal 1 Sam. 15. 23. Vengeance is for Edom and why Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance Ezek. 25. 12 13 14. O Jerusalem said Christ which killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee behold now your house is left unto you desolate Luke 13. 34 35. It is said Rev. 16. 6. for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthy And in Rev. 18. 6. Reward her even as she rewarded you and double unto her double according to her works
in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double Many instances are there in Civil and Ecclesiastical History which do abundantly witness this It may be observed how the sins of Fraud Perjury Oppression Blood are written in Capital Characters on the foreheads of after-punishments The next sort of Exemplifications come to be spoken to The Midwives who did not set their hands to pull down the props of the Israelitish houses I mean the Male-children have houses made for them Exod. 1. 21. God's making of them houses there may be understood in regard of propagation or encrease of posterity their Vines spread who did not destroy the young Plants or in regard of Honour their Houses or Families are made illustrious They who honoured God and his people too in an afflicted condition are honoured by God Or lastly in regard of wealth or prosperous estate they are blest with a confluence of good things who would not be instrumental to rob the Israelites of their best living goods Lot shews kindness to Angels in the shape of men and he who would defend his Guests is defended by them Gen. 19. 1 c. David shews kindness to Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake having received kindness from the Father he makes conscience of paying of the debt of kindness to the Son 2 Sam. 9. 7. There are Exemplifications of this verity in History That relation Mr. Fox makes of Freseobalt a Merchant of Florence is pertinent here He was very bountiful to Cromwel after Lord Chancellor of England and found the counterpain of his bounty in Florence at London for coming thither to get in some moneys due to him in England he being now in a low estate finds one high enough namely the said Lord for his help and relief By the assistance of the Chancellor his debts due are paid and the money which this Merchant gave or rather lent to the other being in a mean and distressed condition is refunded with noble Interest viz. Eight hundred Duckats for about Fifty disbursed in order to Cromwel's return to England In the Life of that famous Preacher in his Age Lavater there is a memorable story of Providence in retaliating kindness for kindness to Lavater his Father He being a Military-man had compassion on a common Soldier labouring under great extremity by reason of thirst at a very hot season though he were an Officer of note yet he took cognizance of a distressed Soldier and liberally refresh't him with a draught of Wine which he had by him in some vessel at that time It happens about eight years after that Lavater in a certain fight falls into a Ditch or Trench where many had perished neither was there any hope that he should get out from thence but behold that very Soldier put forth his hand in the very sight of the Enemies with great danger of his life and plucks Lavater from the jaws of death who is now delivered and after returns home to his Command and enquires who it was that so hazzarded himself for him wills the man to come before him asks him what was the reason he so jeoparded his life The Soldier replies Because thou some years heretofore when I was likely to perish by reason of thirst in Italy didst relieve me in my extremity In the Life of learned and pious Junius it is mentioned how being at a great distance from his friends and Warr breaking forth in France so that he could not have moneys sent him he was in very great want so that he was resolved to dig for a Livelihood in the City-trench of Geneva and so relieve himself that way taking what time he could otherwhile to follow his Book Being thus distressed one William Burdo who was a Taylor there having been out in the Civil-Warrs of France and lately escaped with his life takes notice of Junius going from a Sermon and doubtful whether it were Junius who was now in a poor condition as to sight asks him who was asham'd to discover himself and so finds him to be his Countrey man hath him to his Lodging telling him he would work to get enough for a subsistence knowing he should be paid again from Junius his friends and so he did and was induced so to do considering what kindness his Mother being a Widow-woman and having many Children had received from Junius his Mother who was a religious and bountiful Matron and did daily send relief to the Widow-woman and her Children living near her house One of her Children was this William who now is an helper to him whose Mother had been an helper Who knows to whom he may be beholding to one time or other Good acts of Charity are Bills of Exchange when no money is in the Purse He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Prov. 19. 17. CHAP. II. I. IN reference then to Frowning-Retaliations of Providence observe these following Documents 1. There is ground to repent for Injuries done to others There may be a sad reckoning of Providence behind They who imbitter others lives may have their lives imbittered by others The King of Nineveb with his Nobles act wisely when it is thus enacted Yea let them turn every one from his evil way and from the violence that is in their hands Jonah 3. 8. The success of humbling and reforming-work is made mention in the tenth verse 2. Acknowledg God's righteous hand when the evil of our sins are written thus on the fore-heads of our Smarts An Adonibezeck feels the righteous hand of Providence in his thumbs cut off and the trampling foot of Providence in treading on yea off his great toes As I have done so God hath requited me saith he Judg. 1. 6 7. 3. There is hope of the Lord's helping persons under the furies of men from the consideration of Retaliating-Providence So Psal 137. 8. O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us Obad. v. 15. For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen as thou hast done it shall be done unto thee thy reward shall return upon thine own head See also Rev. 18. 20 with 24. 4. Beware of unrighteous acts towards others whether Magistrates Ministers Parents Husbands Wives Widows Fatherless It is storied of an aged man who being barbarously dragged by the hair of the head desired his son who abused him he would not drag him beyond such a place of the house for that he did not so to his Father It 's said how some second Husbands pay home the first Husbands scores and so of Wives too often it is experienced The people of Israel refused to obey the voice of Samuel their Governour and they smarted for it 1 Sam. 8 19. They who slight good Ministers may be punish't with bad ones There may be Watch-men which may smite some for their smiting and wound for their wounding Cant. 5. 7.
time to be strengthned in the faith of the Mâ—ssiah Go and shew John saith Christ those things which ye do hear and see Mat. 11. 5 6. Christ knew when to fill Peter's net with fish after they had toiled all night and caught nothing Luke 5. 5 6. Isaac hath a comfortable yoke-fellow after his Mother's death and was comforted Gen. 24. 67. 2. From God's Providence in reference to Places 1. Let men be afraid of sinning against God in places In the very places God can alarum them and punish them The King with his Carowsing-Courtiers are appaled with the fingers of a man's hand which came forth and wrote upon the plaister of the wall yea it is said In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain Dan. 5. 5 6 7 30. 2. Observe Place-Providences Let afflictions and mercies in respective places have one place more and that is the heart to think upon them and improve them Jacob was bid to mind Bethel a mercy of old there and a duty incumbent on him upon the account of mercy vouchsafed Gen. 35. 1. The same Jacob takes notice of his Wife Rachel's death where she dyed and tells Joseph of it Gen. 48. 7. Paul forgat not his Asian-trouble and mercy withal which whether it were a violent fit of sickness or hot persecution and deliverance from the one or other it matters not he observed the Providence of God there and improveth it see 2 Cor. 1. 8 9 10 11. the same Apostle hath brief observations on what happened in divers places of his Apostolical-pilgrimage 2 Cor. 11. 23 to the end OBSERVATION XXXVIII Man's Extremity is Heaven's Time and Opportunity for Help CHAP. I. IT hath been discussed How God's Providence is seen in Timing of matters Now amongst other things not only the timing but so timing in regard of opportune help is to be touched And because the Providence of God is wonderfully displayed on this wise so that His actings of this nature are molded into a religious Aphorism or Sentence as Gen. 22. 14. In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen It will be very pertinent to insist on the seasonable display of Providence under Distress or Difficulty That passage in the Scripture quoted may be stiled A Providential Proverb for so the words as it is said unto this day in the Text there do imply The occasion of this Sacred form of speech was the Lord's stepping in for Abraham's help There are three things to be noted 1. That distress befalleth a person or a people For so it was here with Abraham Take now thy son thine only son Isaac whom thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of 2. That a distress proves an abiding-one so long as God pleaseth Abraham travelleth on the first and second day no release and on the third day he lifts up his eyes and saw the place afar off v. 4. The sight of the place must needs affect his heart this Golgotha or place of Skull might make him hang down his head with sorrow his head might well have aked on both sides had he not had a hand of faith to hold it and this he had as the Author to the Hebrews doth affirm ch 11. 17 18 19. 3. That Providence doth opportunely appear for distressed ones by way of release from troubles Abraham must have the sacrificing-knife in his hand to slay his son ere the Angel of the Lord call unto him saying Lay not thy hand on the lad neither do thou any thing unto him c. What here was Abraham's case is by way of proportion the cases of others who have their extremities as God hath his opportunities for help and that Providence hath thus its opportunities for help will appear if we consider 1. Promises which imply so much 2. Divine Performances or Exemplifications of this Truth 3. The variety of Ends which God hath in matters of this nature First Promises formally and properly so termed we have in Scripture Gen. 15. 13. compared with Exod. 3. 7. and Exod. 5. 7 8. doth give us to understand That God's Promise of bringing the Israelites out of Egypt was not the further off from fulfilling though the Israelites had been long under the Egyptian yoke and their yoke was made heavier a little before the Lord brake it to pieces The Promise stood still irreversible and in its full strength when the Israelites were weakest help was then nearest when they might think it furthest off in regard of the bricks doubled In Deut. 32. 36. For the Lord shall judg his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left This is extensive to persons or people under heavy pressures and difficulties the more persons evidence themselves to be God's people the more they may find in the accomplishment of what is here promised Psal 9. 18. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not pâ—rish for ever Psal 12. 5. For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him Psal 72. 12 13. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth the poor also and him that hath no helper He shall spare the poor and needy and shall save the souls of the needy be shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight Zech. 14. 7. It shall come to pass that at evening it shall be light that is Mercy then shall break forth when little expected they shall have a Morning of Mercy in their Evening of Difficulties That of Paul in 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. may be look't on as at least a virtual promise We had saith he the sentencâ— of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selvee but in God which raiseth the dead who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver 2. Come we next to Performances or the Experiences of persons God remembred Noah after he had been shut up in the Ark Gen 8. 1. Lot is rescued timely by Abraham Gen. 14. 13. Sarah was taken into house Gen. 20. 2. and it is said God came to Abimilech in a dream and said Behold thou art but a dead man for the women which thou hast taken for she is a man's wife ver 3. Providence was seasonable for the preservation of Sarah's chastity The Israelites are at the Red-sea and the Egyptians at their backs they could neither drink up the one nor eat up the other no ordinary way of escape and yet then the Lord opens a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters Exod. 14. 21 22. Israel was sore distressed Judg. 10. 9. then the Spirit of
the Lord came upon Jephthah and he becomes their deliverer Judg. 11. 29. So it is said The Lord saw the affliction of Israel that it was very bitter for there was not any shut up nor any left nor any help for Israel and the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash 2 King 14. 26 27. Joseph was in the briars a knotty case offers it self and while he thought on these things the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him Mat. 1. 20. The Disciples of Christ were in the Ship there arose a great tempest in the sea insomuch that the Ship was covered with the waves they come to Christ awake him saying Lord save us we perish then he arose after this storm and check given to them for the tempest of unbelief in their souls and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm Mat. 8. 24 25 26. Again when the disciples cry'd out for fear straightway Jesus spake unto them saying Be of good cheer it is I be not afraid Mat. 14. 26 27. Christ appears timely to the Emmaus-disciples under their heaviness Luke 24. 17. And as the Jews went about to kill Paul tidings came to the chief Captain of the Band That all Jerusalem was in an uproar who immediately took Soldiers and Centurions and so rescued Paul Acts 21. 31 32. Paul's Sister 's son heard of the Jews lying in wait to kill Paul and so there was a seasonable prevention of the murderous design Acts 23. 16. Epaphroditus was sick unto the death but the Lord had mercy on him Phil 2. 27. Thus all these are instances of seasonable help from Heaven under extremities Thirdly The variety of Ends which the Lord hath in the swelling of a distress ere he apply the remedy is the next thing to be insisted on These Ends subordinate to his will and pleasure may be reckoned up as follows 1. To chasten for sin Great sins call for grievous distresses As men were swift in transgressing so Providence may justly be slow in delivering God will let men see by the evils of smart how provoking their evils of lin have been Joseph's brethren envy him Gen. 37. 11. had resolution to slay him v. 20. commit Plagiary in selling their brother to the Ismaelites for he was not theirs to sell v. 28. with 40. Gen. 15. They are after distressed in Egypt and Conscience then rings them a peal being so distressed Gen. 42. 21. Their distress riseth higher and higher for behold their money is in their Sacks-mouth and hereupon their hearts failed them and they were afraid saying one to another What is this that God hath done unto us Gen. 42. 28. Neither is this all but a hard task they have to get Benjamin from their Father in order to the purgation of themselves from being Spies and no going again to Egypt without him and if they go not they must go down to their graves for the famine was sore in the Land Gen. 43. 1 2. At length Jacob is prevailed with to let Benjamin go and then their distress evades a superlative one the killing-part of the Tragedy is acted the Cup is found in Benjamin's Sack and according to their verdict Benjamin was to dye and they to be bond-men Gen. 44. 9. Now is the spring-tide of distress which overflows all the banks as appears from the pathetical Oration of Judah who vents his sorrows saying What shall we say unto my Lord What shall we speak or how shall we clear our selves God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants we are my Lord's bondmen and he also with whom the cup is found Gen. 44. 16. Now when their distress mounts to the clouds help comes down from the Heavens I am Joseph saith Joseph I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold into Egypt Gen. 45. 3 4. To this instance add another God did threaten the people by Isaiah with the Assyrian flood which was to overflow go over and reach even to the neck Isa 8. 6. Accordingly it was accomplished for the Assyrians like a deluge of water did overflow even to the head-City Jerusalem which like a man stood up to the neck in these waters the body of the nation being cover'd with them and then the Lord who sets bounds causeth the waters to return as we have the story in Isa 37. 36 37 38. the then there in the Text hath reference to the Jews doleful case when within the City God hath then his Angel for their deliverance when the Assyrian in his pride is highest and resolved in an utter riddance of the Lord's people 2. To dis-engage or take off the heart from creature-dependency and to call forth the faith for exercise on God The greater the distresses are and no way visible for help the more is there a place for faith on God Providence narrows or straitens the conditions of parties that so there may be more room or enlargement for the exercise of faith All Creature-twigs being lopt off there is nothing left but to hang the more on the Creator Faith will find somewhat to take hold on when Sense seeth nothing I looked saith the Psalmist on my right hand and behold but there was no man that would know me refuge failed me no man cared for my soul I cried unto thee O Lord I said Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living Psal 142. 4 5. the like was Paul's case 2 Cor. 1. 8 9. 3. To let men know That the Lord he is God and can help notwithstanding there is a visible face of things to the contrary The Israelites shall out of Egypt and over the Red-sea let Task-masters Horses Chariots the mighty Waters say the contrary Now I know saith Jethro that the Lord is greater than all gods for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them Exod. 18. 11. That is notable in Hezekiah's days when the case was sad at Jerusalem as that in Isa 37. 3. This day is a day of trouble and of rebuke and of blasphemy for the children are come to the birth and there is not strength to bring forth And yet though thus saith Hezekiah yet thus saith the Lord concerning the King of Assyria He shall not come into this City nor shoot an arrow there nor come before it with shields nor cast a bank against it by the way that he came by the same shall he return and shall not come into this City saith the Lord v. 33 34. God is the great Arbiter or Controller of things He will be known amongst the Mighties of the World and one season when he thus will be known is when distressed ones know not what to do but to sigh and pray to him who is great and greatly to be praised and feared above all gods Psal 96. 4. 4. To encourage praying-work The Church of God in Esther's time
moth and to the house of Judah rottenness Both the Moth and Worm do by degrees consume the Garment and Tree whose corroding Tenants they are In Rev. 16. the Angels there have the vials of the wrath of God these vials are poured forth not all at once but gradually and each vial may have its degrees too for so the form of a vial imports What is contained in a vial is not poured forth as water out of a Pail or Bucket the brim whereof in regard of its latitude is commensurate with its bottom 2. From Exemplifications Before Israel was carri'd away captive by Salmaneser 2 King 17. they had not only warnings by the Prophets of the Lord v. 13. but also knocks before the killing-blow by Salmeneser We read of their intestine broils and forreign ones too 2 Kings 15. That of Jeremiah is full Israel is a seattered sheep the lions have driven him away first the king of Assyria hath devoured him and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones Jer. 50. 17. And not only so of old but in the Calamity fore-told by Christ Luke 21. there were doleful harbingers and fore-runners of the destruction of the Jewish people Josephus a Jew hath written a Commentary on Christ's Prophecy Gamaliel tells of two by-blows and they bloody ones which happened to their State Acts 5. 36 37. 3. From the various wise ends of God as 1. To testifie the patience and long-suffering of God towards men God doth not by and by fall in he bears and forbears There are Rods before Scorpions O Israel thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah Hos 10. 9. How shall I give thee up Ephraim How shall I deliver thee O Israel How shall I make thee as Admah How shall I set thee as Zeboim Hos 11. 8. The long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the Ark was a preparing as is said 1 Pet. 3. 20. 2. To render men without excuse who notwithstanding preambulatory Dispensations of Providence are still vile and impenitent The people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail branch and rush in one day Isa 9. 13 14. See further Luke 13. 7. Rev. 16. 9 10. In the next place There is a gradual process of Providence in Mercies And this appears three ways 1. From Promises which do imply so much Thus Moses tells the Israelites saying The Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little Deut. 7. 22. And so in Hos 2. 15. I will give her vineyards from thence and the valley of Achor for a door of hope 2. From Instances and that in Temporals and Spirituals 1. In matters referring to this life there is first the blade then the ear after that the full corn in the ear to allude to that in Mark 4. 28. Riches are oftentimes given in gradually It is said of Jacob The man encreased exceedingly and had much cattel and maid-servants and men-servants and camels and asses Gen. 30. 43. Joseph had two petty exaltations before the great one God did let him understand that he who could exalt him in Potiphar's Family and in the Prison could when he pleased give him favour in the sight of others It is noted how David waxed stronger and stronger and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker 2 Sam. 3. 1. Abraham had first a promise of a child after Ismael is born after an Isaac after a posterity like the Starrs for number Hezekiah was sick unto death Isa 38. 1. a promise he hath for health v. 5. direction for the means v. 21. and the means prove succesful 2. In Spirituals The kingdom of heaven saith Christ is like to a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field which indeed is the least of all seeds but when it is grown up it is the greatest amongst herbs and becometh a tree so that the birds of the air come and lodg in the branches thereof Mat. 13. 31 32. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed Acts 19. 20. I might here more particularly shew the gradual process of Providence in Spirituals it shall suffice to point out the way rather than travel on it We may observe the extent of this Observation 1. In the conversion of man from the state of nature to a state of grace There is a gradual procedure in nature though not in time distinguishable for as in the creation Let there be light and there was light Gen. 3. so in the spiritual creation God sets up light in the understanding see Acts 2. 37. Acts 26. 18. Eph. 5. 8. Moreover before the reception of grace in the heart there is much of Providence in providing the Spiritual Seeds-man in the disposal of persons here and there in order to their acquaintance with God in rouzing some by afflictive dispensations and the like precursory dealings of Providence But 2. In the mortification of sin The Apostle sets forth this by Crucifixion a lingring death Rom. 6. 6. We are willed by the same Apostle to mortifie the members which are upon earth Col. 3. 5. 3. In growth of grace The very term doth imply the thing An Acorn is not by and by an Oak The Mustard-seed becomes a tree in time and the smoaking Flax a flame We read of children young men and fathers 1 John 2. 13. The Trees are not all of equal height and bigness in the Lord 's Lebanon 4 In Victory over Satan So in that last Scripture mentioned that is said there of young men Ye have overcome the wicked one which is not at least in like degree applied to children and they who are the young men in grace are not so well vers'd in Satan's methods as the wise and sage fathers in grace are We are not ignorant of his devices saith Paul 2 Cor. 2. 11. The same Apostle speaks of bruising or treading Satan under the Romans feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. 5. And lastly In a perception sense or spiritual feeling of the love of God and this may be considered with respect to two sorts of persons 1. The new Convert who lately of a slave to Satan is made a free subject to Christ The dust of sin raised by 〈◊〉 convictions do cover the copy of grace 〈◊〉 on his heart by the hand of his Spirit so that it is not by and by legible A sense of the party 's own vileness makes him or her hang the head till Christ revive by some passage or other as he did that poor Woman saying to her Thy faith hath saved thee go in peace Luke 7. 50. with 44. 2. The old Saint but now in a desert Christ for wise ends stands aloof from the Saint's dores The Lord is a chastizing-Father or trying-One and no wonder if the Child be not quiet till the Father smile Thus David who had defiled his Conscience by sin
7. 7. the travel of a woman with child whose pangs are sudden as well as sure 1 Thes 5. 3. 2. From Instances and Exemplifications The old World had a new face though a sad and weeping one and that in the space of forty days Gen. 7. 17. The Sun was risen upon the Earth when Lot entred Zoar then the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven as it is Gen. 19 23. 24. There are seven years of Famine after seven years of Plenty in Egypt Gen. 41 29 30. The house of the Lord and the King's house and all the houses of Jerusalem and all the houses of the great men are burnt with fire Jer. 52. 13. In a morning shall the king of Israel be cut off Hos 10. 15. For in an hour so great riches is come to nought Rev. 18 17. 2. There is a sudden change in the face of things in regard of a pleasant and smiling-face of things to take place And this will appear 1. From Predictions and Intimations on this wise in Scripture So in Isa 66. 8. Who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such things Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day or shall a nation be bork at once For as soon as Zion travelled she brought forth her children This may refer to the Jews release from the captivity and Psal 126. may be a comment on it If it shall be extended further that phrase of the Apostle in Rom. 11. 15. doth give us to understand what a sudden and glorious change the Lord can make in the World by way of addition to his Church And as God can and will encrease the number of his people so likewise decrease the number of their adversaries so in Rev. 18 8. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day death and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire Again 2. From Instances or Exemplifications Joseph becomes an embellish't Jewel who a little before lay neglected in the Prison-rubbish Gen. 41. 14. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon The Israelites are no longer Scavengers and Drudges in Egypt when the Lord's time is come for their delivery a sudden change there is for their delivery after some delays the Egyptians were urgent upon the people that they might send them out of the Land in haste for they said We be all dead men Exod. 12. 33. The Month in Eâ—ther's time was turned unto them from sorrow to joy and from mourning into a good day Esth 9. 22. The truly good people of God at Damascus have no little joy when their intended Persecutor becomes on a sudden a good and Orthodox Preacher Acts 9. 20. A sudden change there was in Peter's case they saw him and were astonishâ—d Acts 12. 16. CHAP. II. VVHAT little reason have sinners to be bold and confident in their ways How soon may all their Pomp Policy Strength like a stately Ship be blown up when Providence shall send its fire-ball into the Gun-room Remarkable are passages in Scripture to this Nam malic qui adhuc adversus justos in aliis terrarum partibus saeviunt quanto serius tanto vehementius idem omnipotens mercedem sceleris exsolvit quia ut est erga pios indulgentissimus pater sic adversus impios rectissimus judex Lact. lib. 1. Inst c. 1. purpose Hos 5. 7. Now shall a month devour them with their portions Psal 64. 7. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow suddenly shall they be wounded Psal 73. 18 19. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places thou castedst them down into destruction how are they brought into desolation as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrors 2. As sinners have no reason to be bold and wanton having Providence for such an Enemy So Saints have no reason to be hopeless and heartless having Providence for such a Friend What though there be loss of Children plunderings by Chaldeans and Sabeans a body smitten with sore boils a state of elongation or alienation from friends in regard of love and friendship yea the terrors of God too within in the conscience as 't was Job his case yet it is but the turn of the hand of Providence and all is made up The Lord turned the captivity of Job ch 42. v. 10. And not only in personal cases is the Aphorism or Observation here useful but in the publick case of the Church of Christ So in Psal 46. 5 God is in the midst of her she shall not be moveâ— God shall help her and that right early And so in Rev. 11. the Witnesses are slain yet to the affrighting of the slayers they revive again the spirit of life from God entred into them ver 11. Let noâ— Christians then be despondent under their black Clouds the glorious Sun of Providence may quickly throw off its sable mantle and dart forth its Meridian beams to the admiration of those who have been without Sun-shine for many days OBSERVATION XLVII The Vse of means in matters is man's work the Issue or success of means is God's work CHAP. I. VVHAT hath been before said as touching the Lord's bringing about of matters his way or manner in working both gradually and on a sudden is not to be understood as if therefore the use of means were in vain on man's part the present Observation is a check to such a wrong Inference And whereas here it is said The use of means is man's work this is not so to be conceived as to deny a work of Providence in the very use of the means for there is a work of Providence in directing to the means and abilitating to use them The meaning then is nothing else but to point out man's duty and so to leave the result of matters to Providence And that the use of means is thus incumbent on man appeareth 1. Man will otherwise be found a violater of the Lord's Command Make thee an ark of Gopher-wood said God to Noah Gen. 6. â—4 Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him so did he v. 22. Noah had been a transgressor had he neglected Ark-work and expected preservation without the use of means to be made conscience of by him The use of means is commanded both for the outward and inward man in respect of temporals as well as spirituals so teacheth the Apostle 1 Thes 4. 11. And that ye study to be quiet and to do your own business and to work with your own hands as we commanded you And in Phil. 2. 12. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling 2. It 's an ill requital of the Lord's kindness that when he honours man to be instrumental in matters this condescention of God is abused slighted and not esteemed as it ought to be The great God needeth not the choisest Tool for any work It is of his goodness that as he works
in his Providence for man so by man as an under-agent or instrument for we are labourers together with God saith Paul 1 Cor. 3. 9. Instruments and Means are so far honoured as God is pleased in and by them to make a conveyance of good to persons 3. A man hath the more of quietness of heart in using the means albeit God work some other way for help Hezekiah had the greater ground for calmness of spirit having done his endeavour to check the Assyrian insolency he took counsel with his Princes and mighty men to stop the waters of the Fountains which were without the City and they did help him 2 Chron 32. 3. The Assyrians are not forced it seems to leave their siege by reason of this stratagem of Warr God helps another way the Lord sent an angel which out off all the mighty men of valour and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria so he returned with shame of face into his own land and when he was come into the house of his god they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword v. 21. 4. It 's a tempting of God to throw-by the use of what means are to be used God promiseth the Israelites the Land of Canaan and they do not fling away their Swords for then they might be said to fight against God in not fighting the Enemy And when they had Canaan for their possession they were to look after Corn and not expect Manna for Manna ceased and the old Corn of the Land supplies them the first year Josh 5. 12. When the Devil said to Christ Cast thy self down Mat. 4. 6. Jesus said unto him It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God v. 7. It is Hell's Divinity not what is taught in Christ's School To run to Miracles when Means are to be used In the next place The issue of means is God's work Four things are considerable 1. It belongs to God as his Prerogative-Royal to issue matters as he sees fit Vnto God the Lord belong the issues from death Psal 68. 20. The preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord Prov. 16. 1. The horse is prepared against the day of battel but safety is of the Lord Prov. 21. 31. 2. Probable means take not and improbable ones attain the End intended as the Lord is pleased Asa his Colledg of Physicians cure him not 2 Chron. 16. 12. Some have by inconsiderable means been recovered of sickness when others notwithstanding vast expences have slipt into their graves It is observable how an handful of men do sometimes beat a vast Army the Army of the Syrians came with a small company of men and the Lord delivered a very great Host into their hand 2 Chron. 24. 24. 3. Means used for matters lye dormant and take not till God be pleased effectually to undertake in his Providence Joseph was not so fool-hardy as not to use means for his liberty But think on me said he to Pharaoh's Butler when it shall be well with thee and shew kindness I pray thee unto me and make mention of me unto Pharaoh and bring me out of this house Gen. 40. 14. Joseph here doth his duty yet did not the chief Butler remember Joseph but forgat him v. 23. And though the Butler forgat Joseph yet God remembers Joseph sends a dream into the King's head a great noise there is at Court hereupon and this noise awakens the Butler from his sleepy forgetfulness I remember saith he my faults this day Gen. 41. 9. and so the old key which lay a rusting is now scouâ—'d up and opens the Plisondoors for Joseph 4. Means used have sometime a quite contrary issue to what they are intended or might in probability usher in Christ's innocency his reply to the charge about King-ship John 18. 36. the distwasive by Pilate's Wife Mat. 27. 19. the testimony of Pilate's conscience Mat. 27. 24. all these center not in the absolving of Christ but he must suffer That means have a quite contrary issue hath before been demonstrated in distinct Observations how Furtherances become Hindrances and Hindrances Furtherances and there ore it may suffice here to touch on this as proof of the second branch of the Aphorism here The accommodation of the Whole follows CHAP. II. 1. SEE the error of those who more or less cast off the use of means There is a temptation this way and a folly in closure with the temptation The demonstration of the folly may here be insisted on and that two ways besides what hath been said and may be in next Head 1. How repugnant is this to the dictates of common Reason Reason dictates for the use and the proportionable use of means in matters The common Proverbs do evidence so much as we must not lie in the ditch and cry God help There is no sailing over the sea in an Egg-shell To set the Fox to keep the Geese is a wild course There are the sparklings of Reason in these Adagies and if there be not light enough from these sparklings go we to Solomon's Proverbs and we mâ—y learn there how Drunkenness Gluttony Drowsiness are to be abandoned and the Virtues contrary to these to be followed in order to comfortable livelihood in the world Prov. 23. 20 21. And in Prov. 22. 3. A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself but the simple pass on and are punished According then to the dictate of a wise Solomon the use of means to prevent evils is according to the Rules of Prudence 2. How contradictory is this course oftentimes to the parties own practises There was one who had taken up a conceit That if God would save him he should be saved and if not the use of all means were in vain The party falls sick sends for a Physician who knowing the disease of the Patient's Mind as well as the Disease of the Body replies That if God have a purpose to recover you you shall be recovered and if not all my labour will be lost And so in this Glass gave the party a view of the ugly error he had taken up in regard of the disuse of means for the Soul Virel rehearseth Relig. Christ Compend lib. 2. c. 2. a story of a certain Noble-man who was on his march with a well-accoutred Army and it hapned that he led his Army by the house of a faithful Pastor well known before to this Noble-man This honest man willeth him to look up to and rely on God to favour his warlike Expeditions he by and by enters his plea about Divine Providence as if he had said God had decreed all Events and therefore the Decree of God could not be altered by his prayers That good Pastor replies I would advise you therefore That you lay aside the Horses and Arms as unprofitable for as much as the ssue of Warr hangs on the Providence of God
therefore to stop the mouth from slandering the Observation take notice of what follows 1. Is the particular thing thou prayest for warranted for kind Pride and Passion make wild petitions for the kind of them see Luke 9. 54. Mat. 20. 21 22. 2. What is thy end in praying for things though warranted see James 4. 3. 3. Do you pray in Christ's Name and after a serious sort See John 14. 13. Luke 18. 13. James 5. 16. 4. Is not Prayer contradicted by an unworthy walking Some are like black clouds still black and that notwithstanding thunder and lightning breaks from them see Isa 1. 15. Isa 58. 4. 5. Do you not lye under some mistake about God's Providence in answer to prayer For hearing of prayer is not to be defined by God's doing all we wish for but what God sees best for us God answers when the thing may not be given in for kind Paul was heard when not heard 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9. The denial of one thing is the way that Providence may take for granting another A man prays for Health and Mortification to the World God by the want of Health mortifies to the World 6. The question is Wâ—…ther Providence may not yet make a sure and full return of the goods you have left in the hand of Providence Wait then still on God let the Lord alone to answer when and how he pleaseth God hath answered some when it 's probable they gave off thinking that an answer in such sort would have been given in see Luke 1. 13. with 18. OBSERVATION XLIX When God takes down the Scaffold of this World the Sacred Play of Providence will be at an end CHAP. I. THAT an Income of Providence attends Prayer hath been shewed the full crop or harvest by way of return to prayer will be in another world as the Apostle intimates 2 Tim. 1. 18. with Mat. 25. 34 35. Here in this World there is a gracious display of Providence and when this World hath its period Providence as such consider it viis modis will have its period likewise and this appears 1. From the opposition of the day of God's judging the World to the day the long day of Providence which men had in the World There is a day for labouring in the Vineyard after comes the Even when the labourers are called Mat. 20. 8. The son of man saith Christ shall send forth his angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father Mat. 13. 41 42 43. And would we know when this shall be The 40 th verse resolves it In the end of this world Hence Paul inforceth the duty of not abusing the day of Providence but right improving of it from this consideration because God hath appointed a day in the which he will judg the world in righteousness Acts 17. 31. with 30. 2. From the Lord the Fountain of Providential Dispensations who hath purposed to send forth the streams another way This may be considered 1. In regard of the godly 2. In regard of the wicked 1. In regard of the godly They shall immediately and without interruption enjoy God in the Heavens so 1 Thes 5. 17. In this world the godly see the Lord as in a glass and that but darkly 1 Cor. 13. 12. There are two glasses in which the godly behold the Lord here 1. The glass of their Civil Affairs their food liberty relations and the publick concerns of temporal life This glass will be broken for as Christ saith In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the angels of God in heaven Mat. 22. 30. and as the Apostle saith Meats for the belly and the belly for meats but God shall destrâ—y both it and them 1 Cor. 6. 13. There will â—e no need of food and consequently of Provdence as a Caterer The Belly or Body remaineth in regard of substance though functions and offices of it as in this life are served with an Eternal Writ of Ease But 2. There is another glass and that is of Divine Ordinances or Sacred Institutions these are as the Galleries to the Presence-Chamber A change there will be as to these then cometh the end when he Christ as now he lets out himself though he abide for ever as Lord and Head shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the father 1 Cor. 15. 24. 2. In regard of the wicked they are no longer now the Trustees of outward good things as formerly They who thrust from them the Providence of God wooing and woing them to repentance are now thrust into the prison and no coming from thence till the uttermost farthing be paid Mat. 5. 26. Abraham said to the impenitent rich man whether he were King Prince Duke Earl Lord Knight Esquire Gentleman Merchant it matters not to determine for all may be included none excluded if rich in the World's Goods and not in Faith he said Son remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Luke 16. 25. CHAP. II. 1. LEARN who they are who submissively long after the change of changes or the great or last Change of Providence they are those who have had experience of a blessed change of Providence on their hearts here and who have profited by the various changes of Providence in this world So the Apostle While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 18. See also 2 Cor. 5. 1 2 3 4. Rev. 22. 20. 2. It 's wisdom then to work before the night cometh when no man can work as our Saviour Christ phraseth it John 9. 4. Two things are here considerable 1. Secure we Spiritual Riches whilest the Gospel-Mine is open Be not foolish Virgins who have their Bags and Cossers but no Treasure in them They had their Lamps of Profession but no Oyl in their Vessels they may justly be shut out of Heaven whose hearts were shut against the real admission of Christ by his grace on earth Mat. 25. 3 11 12. Oh! Eternity is no trifle Men should be in good earnest for it The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11. 12. And now is the season or never to look after the means of grace and grace by the means Abraham tells the rich man who would have a Preacher sent from Hell They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them Luke 16. 29. 2. Honour God with Temporal Riches as you have opportunity Are there no Ministers of the Gospel poor Scholars who may be