up queen Esther to preserve alive the Jews, when Haman had got a bloody warrant sign- ed for their execution? — 2. Strangely, by saving in that very way in which we think he will destroy. God works sometimes by contraries. He raiseth his church by bring- ing it low. The blood of the martyrs hath watered the church, and made it more fruitful, Exod. i. 12., " The more they af- flicted them, the more they multiplied." The church is like that plant which Gre- gory Nazianzen speaks of, it lives by dying, and grows by cutting. — 3. Strangely, in that he makes the enemy to do his work When the people of Ammon and Mo.ab, and Mount Seir came against Judah, God set the enemy one against another, 2 Cliron. XX. 23., " The children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir utterly to slay and destroy them ; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another." In the powder-trea- son he made the traitors to be their own betrayers ; God can do his work by the enemy's hand. God made the Egyj)tian8 send away the people of Israel laden with jewels, Exod. xii. 36. The church is the apple of God's eye, and the eyelid of his providence doth daily cover and defend it. Use 3d. Let the merciful providence of God cause thankfulness. We are kept a- live by a wonderful working providence. Providence makes our clothes warm tis, our meat nourish us ; we are fed every day out of the alms-basket of God's providence. That we are in health, — that we have an e- state, — it is not our diligence, but God's pro- vidence, Deut. viii. 18., "Thoushalt remem- ber the Lord thy God, for he it is that giv- eth thee power to get wealth." Especially if we go a stej) higher, we may see cause of thankfulness, — that we should be born and bred in a gospel-land, — that we should live in such a place where the Sun of Rigliteou.s- ness shines, — this is a signal providence ! Why might we not have been born in such places where Paganism prevails ? That Christ should make himself known to us, and touch our hearts with his Spirit when he passeth by others : whence is this, but from the miraculous providence of God, which is the effect of his free grace ?
OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS.
Use ith. See here that which may make lis lono^ for that time when the great mys- tery of God's providence sliall be fully un- folded to us. Now we scarce know what to make of God's providence, therefore are ready to censure what we do not under- stand ; but in heaven we shall see how all God's providences (sickness, losses, suffer- ings) carried on our salvation. Here we see but some dark pieces of God's provi-
dence, and it is impossible to judge of God's works bv pieces ; but when we come to heaven, and see the full body and portiait- ure of God's providence drawn out into its lively colours, it will be a glorious sight to behold ; then we shall see how all God's providences helped to fulfil his promises. Never a ])rovidence but we shall see had either a wonder or a mercy in it.
OF THE COVEr^ANT OF WORKS.
Quest. XII. I proceed to the next ques- tion, JV/int special providence did God exer- cise towards man in the estate wherein he was created %
Axs. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience, for- bidding him to eat of the tree of know- ledge, upon pain of death.
For this, consult with Gen. ii. 16, 17., " And the Lord commanded the man, say- ing, ' Of every tree of the garden thou may- est freely eat ; but of the tree of the know- ledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat ; for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.' " The subject then of our next discourse is the covenant of works. This covenant was made with Adam and all mankind ; for Adam was a public per- son, and the representative of the world.
Quest. For what reason did God make a covenant with Adam and his posterity in in- nocency ?
Ans. 1. To show his sovereignty over us : we were his creatures, and as God was the gi'eat monarch of heaven and earth, God might impose upon us terms of a covenant. — 2. God made a covenant with Adam, to bind him fast to God : as God bound him- self to Adam, so Adam was bound to God by the covenant.
Quest. What was the covenant ?
Ans. God commanded Adam not to cat of the tree of knowledge; God gave Adam leave to eat of all the other trees of the garden. God did not envy him any happiness ; only meddle not with this tree of knowledge, because God would try Adam's obedience.