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
was not by and by setled The holy Dove builds not the Nest of Comfort amongst Thorns and Nettles these must down ere Consolations come from above David cries out of broken bones Psal 51. 8. he is an humble supplicant for the light of God's countenance and the joy of salvation v. 8 9 10 11. and no wonder for broken bones are not by and by healed and the nigh-shipwrack't vessel by and by rigg'd Job's quiet and comfort was handed in by degrees God answereth him out of a Whirlwind chap. 38. and after vindicates him from the calumnies of his friends accepts his performances and turns his captivity as it is declared in chap. 42. 3. From the wise Ends of God in the gradual process of Mercies What these are may be touched 1. To correct for sin The Chariot of Providence moves no faster because men throw the logs of sin in the way There is no reason for men to complain that God is slow in delivering when they are swift in sinning The hand of the Lord is not shortned that it cannot save c. but your sins have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you Isa 59. 1 2. The Israelites Wilderness-sins made the Wilderness-journey forty years which might have been performed in forty days 2. To exercise faith prayer patience by this gradual process Jacob is a Wrestler before he is a Prevailer Hannah prays believes and waits ere she hath a Samuel There is a connexion of Duties with Mercies though not a connexion of Merit on our part If Providence give in Mercies before seeking of them there is ground to adore Soveraign Mercy no reason to neglect Duty for time to come 3. To fit for Mercies The Scabbard must be fitted for the Sword otherwise the Sword though it have a golden Hilt will cut the Scabbard or fall out of it to the danger of him who girds it on There is the strong Wine of Mercies which weak heads are not able to bear It 's hard for a man to go over the high golden Bridg of Mercies and not be giddy-headed The Israelites were not by and by fitted for Canaan nor Joseph for Egypt's Dignity nor David for the Royal Diadem noâ— a Novice for â—…e Ministry lest being lifted up with pride be fall into the condemnation of the devil as the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 3. 6. 4. To teach the lesson of thankfulness For 1. The gradual process of Providence in Mercies doth lay forth the Mercy by piece-meal before the eye God could have created the World in one day but he took six to the end men might take the fuller view of the glorious work of Creation The same method in the work of Providence serves to the like end Moses when the Israelites are to take possession of Canaan doth rehearse the several stages of their journey Numb 33. A Mercy indeed is better viewed in its walk than in its leap 2. God's bestowing things gradually doth inure to the exercise of the grace of Thankfulness Every little of mercy doth deservedly call forth the Lord's praises The slaying of Sihon King of the Amorites and Og King of Bashan was a preamble for further thankfulness to the Israelites Deut. 3. 1 2. 3. The very laying of the foundation of the Temple was ground for the Priests and Levites praising and giving thanks unto the Lord as is recorded Ezra 3. 10 11. 3. Hâ—reby Parties are taught how to value the full crop of Mercy The Husbandman's joy in the Harvest transcends his joy for pleasant showers before the Harvest His waiting makes way for his prizing what he waits for Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth James 5. 7. Canaan after a long Wilderness-journey is the more valued by the Israelites CHAP. II. 1. FROM the gradual process of Providence in Judgments behold the folly and stupidity of sinners They are secure though Judgments have had their real as well as verbal Preface God hath shewed the Rod and smitten with it and yet they promise themselves Golden Mountains when they are ascending desolate ones like Agag who said Surely the bitterness of death is past 1 Sam. 15. 33. It was said of Ephraim Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not yea gray-hairs are here and there upon him yet he knoweth it not Hos 7. 9. Oh how sad is the case of stupid sinners who consider not how lesser Judgments are but par-boilings for greater ones 2. From the gradual process of Providence in Mercies learn 1. To observe the first foot-steps of Mercy Men should be as forward in their observation as Providence is in operation The way to see the great things of Providence is not to despise the day of small things Zech. 4. 10. 2. To watch against Pride and Impatiency if a Mercy come not by and by Behold his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him but the just shall live by his faith Hab. 2. 4. It 's wisdom for persons to crush that which may crush the Mercy An head swollen with pride and vanity will not be receptive of the Crown of Mercy 3. To improve the first-fruits of Mercy He that improves the dawnings of Mercy may behold the glorious day of Mercy Jesus answered and said unto Nathaniel Because I said unto thee I saw thee under the fig-tree believest thou Thou shalt see greater things John 1. 50. OBSERVATION XLVI PROVIDENCE doth make a sudden change of the face of things or There is a Leap as well as a soft and gentle Walk of Providence in matters CHAP. I. VVHAT hath been before said of the gradual process of Providence is not so to be understood as contradictory to the Liberty and Royal Prerogative of the Lord in sudden alterations Moreover the gradual Caeterum si respicimus ad Dei consilium nunquam motam facit novit enim omnes temporum articulos in ipsâ tarditate semper accelerat utcunque non apprehendat hoc caro Calv. in Hab. c. 2. v. 23. workings of Providence are consistent with sudden alterations made by Providence A strong wind unexpected comes and the Trees full of ripe fruit have their thin and lean face in a moment Now that there are such sudden alterations both as to Judgments and Mercies may be evidenced as followeth 1. There is a sudden change of the face of things in regard of a black and ruful face of things to take place and this will appear 1. From the full and elegant similitudes by which this sudden change is painted forth in its genuine and proper colours So in Isa 30. 13. Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall swelling out in a high wall whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant Other full and pregnant allusions there are as to the withering of the grass when the spirit of the Lord bloweth on it Isa 40. 7. the cutting off like the foam on the waters Hos
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