More especially, he rules and governs the men of this world. He sits in all the councils of men, though they see him not; he orders all their decrees : there is no de- cree can pass unless God gives his vote. He rules in all the actions of men ; even those things that are acted through our improvidence come not to pass without the providence of God. He rules in all the changes that are in the world ; he changes the times and the seasons; he changes kingdoms and governments ; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings : he makes war, and creates peace ; he bendeth the bow, and breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder, and burnetii the chariots in the fire ; peace and war, health and sickness, plenty and famine, life and death, are all the disposurcs of his hand. He orders all the events and causalities of the world : even from the greatest to the smallest. With- out him not a sparrow shall fall, nor a hair of the head shall perish ; though there be to men, yet to the Lord there are no causali- ties or contingencies. But all things come to pass according as his hand and counsel had before determined.
2. The design of providence — as it re- spects the elect — is the accomplishment of God's good purpose and promise. Provi- dence governs the world, and the purpose and promise governs providence. All the works of providence have rationem medioi-wn adfincm. God doth nothing in Aain ; it is not consistent with the wisdom of God to do any thing for nothing. God would have his people look farther than to the things that are before them, because all those things have a farther aspect themselves. All the works of providence have a double as- pect; they look backward to the purpose and promise, and they look forward to the end for which they are ; as they look back- ward, so they have truth in them, exactly answering the purpose and promise from
FAREWELL DISCOURSE ON HIS EJECTION.
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wliich they liavc their birtli. As tliey look forward to their eiid, so tliey luivc good iu them, Jiiid tliJit good — their subservience to tlieir end, — is the reason of their being. Here note two things.
(1.) That the subserviency of things to tlicir end, is the goodness of them ; if the end be good, the means must — as such — be good also ; if what God hath purposed and promised be good, then all things that fall in between, having the respect of means to their accomplishment, must upon that account be good. If our crosses and af- flictions do subserve the bringing about of God's good will and good word, we must say concerning them, ' good are the works of the Lord.' It is not how any thing looks or feels at present, but what it means, and to what it tends. If the potion be bitter, and yet it tends to health, — if the messen- ger be ill-looked and ill-favoured, and yet come upon a good errand, — you may bid liim w^elcome. And thus all the pro\'i- dences of God are good. If you should ask of any providence, Wherefore art thou come ? comest thou peaceably ? comest thou for good ? they must all answer, yes, peace- ably ; for good, and no hurt. 'Tis but to help all that good into thy hand which hath been in the heart, and hath proceeded out of the mouth of thy God that loves thee. There is not a messenger of Satan that comes to buffet thee but is also a messenger from God that comes to thee for good. The verv thorns in thy flesh shall serve thee for plasters, thine eye-sores shall be thine eye- Balve, and thy very maladies thy medicines.
(2.) Tliat this relative goodness of all the works of providence, is the reason of their bcinc. Therefore God doth what he doth, that hereby he may do what he hath said and intended. I do not say that the reason of God's taking this or that means, is al- ways from any thing in itself, or for its na- tural tendency to such an end above any thing else ; God hath his choice of means, he can choose liere or there at ]tl<>asure, can make use of what he will to serve his design ; but the reason why tilings are, is this, God in hif5 wisdom, saw their ordina- bility to this good end, aiid thereupon in his providence, he orders and brings them to pass. So that no\\, whatever befalls a
Christian, lie hath this to allay and take oft the grievousness and sharpness of it ; this had never been, but for the good will and good word of the Lord to me. The Lord God hath said he will bless me, and do me good ; he will heal me, and sanctify, and save me, and now he is about it ; by this, he Is working that salvation for me. Chris- tians, you have no reason to say, if the Lord be with me, why am I thus ? why so poor, why so pained, why so persecuted, so scorn- ed and trampled upon ? sure, if the Lord had meant my good, it would have been better than it is with me ; no, no, 'tis be- cause the Lord is with thee, and means thee well, that he deals in this manner with thee. The design of his providence to- wards thee, is the accomplishment of his promise.