(2.) Learn quietly to submit to divine providence ; do not murmur at things that are ordered by divine wisdom. We may no more find fault with the works of pro- vidence than we may with the works of creation. It is a sin as well to quarrel with (iod's j)rovidence, as to deny God's providence. If men do not act as we would have them, they shall act as God would have them. His ])rovidence is his master-wheel that turns these lesser wheels, and God will bring his glory out of all at last : Ps. xxxix. 9 , " I was dumb and opened not my mouth, because thou, Lord, didst it." It may be, we think sometimes we could order thinirs better if we had the government of the world in our hands ; but alas ! should we be left to our own choice, we should choose those things that are hurtful for us. Da- vid did earnestly desire the life of his child, which was the fruit of his sin ; now, had the child lived, it had been a perpetual monument of his shame. Let us be con- tent (iod should rule the world, learn to acquiesce in his will and submit to his pro- vidence. Doth any affliction befall you .-' remember God sees it is that which is fit for you, or it should not come ; your clothes cannot be so fit for you, as your crosses. God's providence may sometimes be secret, but it is always wise ; though we may not be silent under God's dishon- our, yet we should learn to be silent under his displeasure.
(3.) You that arc Christians, believe that all (iod's providence shall conspire for your good at last. The ])rovidences of (jod arc sometimes dark, and our eyes dim, and we can hardly tell what to make of them ; but when ye cannot unriddle providence, be- lieve it shall work together lor the good of the elect, Rom. viii. 28. Tiie wheels in a clock seem to move cross one to another, but they help forward the motion of the clock, and make the larum strike : so the providences of God seem to be cross wheels ; but for all that they shall carry on the godd of the elect. The pricking of a vein is in it- self evil aiul hurtful, but as it prevents a fever, and tends to the health of the patient, so it is good ; so affliction in itself is not
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joyous but grievous, but the Lord turns this to the good of his saints. Poverty sliall starve their sins, afflictions shall pre- pare them for a kingdom. Therefore, Christians, believe that God loves us, that he .will make the most cross providences to promote his glory and our good.
(4.) Let this be an antidote against im- moderate fear ; for nothing comes to pass but what is ordained by God's decree, and ordered by his providence. We sometimes fear what the issue of things will be, men grow high in their actings : let us not make things worse by our fear. iNIen are limited in their power, and shall not go one hair's breadth further than God's providence will permit ; he might let Sennacherib's army march towards Jerusalem, but he shall not shoot one arrow against it. 2 Kings xix. 35., " Then the angel of the Lord went fi)rth, and smote in the camp of the Assy- rians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand." Wlien Israel was compassed in between Pharaoh and the Red-sea, no question, some of their hearts did begin to tremble, and they looked upon themselves as dead men ; but providence so ordered it, that the sea was a safe passage to Israel, and a sepulchre to Pharaoh and all his host.
Use 2d. Comfort in respect of the church of God. God's providence reacheth in a more special manner to his church, Isa. xxvii. 2., " Sing ye unto her, a vineyard of red wine." God waters this vineyard with his blessings, and watcheth over it by his providence, " I the Lord keep it night and day." Such as think totally to ruin the church, must do it in a time when it is neither day nor night ; fin- the Lord keeps it by his providence night and day. What a miraculous conduct of providence had Israel ! God led them by a pillar of fire, gave them manna from heaven, set the rock abroach. God by his providence pre- serves his church in the midst of enemies ; which is as to see a sj)ark kept alive in the ocean, or a Hock of sheep among wolves. God saves his church strangely ; 1. By giv- ing unexpected mercies to his church, when she hioked for nothing but ruin, Ps. cxxvi. 1., " When the Lord turned again the cap- tivity of Sion, we were like them that dreamed." How strangely did (iod raise