3. The providence of God shall never fail of accomplishing its end. There is nothing wanting that might give us the fullest as- surance hereof. For,
(1.) The providence of God hath power with it. He is the Almighty that hath pro- mised ; he that ruloth in the earth dwelleth in the heaven, and doth whatsoever he will. Our God is in heaven, and doth whatso- ever he will. " I will work, and who shall let it?" Isa. xliii. 13. " Who can stay his hand, or say to him, what doest thou?" AVere it not for our unbelief, our case would be still the same, in greatest difficulties, as when the coasts are most clear. We mifrht say of difficulties, as the Psalmist of dark- ness ; ' there is no darkness with thee, to thee the day and night are both alike.' Difficulties are no difliculties with thee, nor is there difference betwixt hard and easy He can save with many or with few ; and with none as well as with some. We once read he had too many, but never that ho had too t'cw^ to bring about his work. O how do we disparage the power of (lod, when our difficulties make us doubt .'' Is he God, and not man ? Is he spirit and not flesh ? Wherefore .then dost thou doubt ? \\'liatever God hath said he can do : be- lieve he is a (iod, and thou wilt never say, how can these things be?
(2 ) The ])rovidcnce of God hath wisdonn with it. He is the only wise, he is the all- wise God. " The Lord knoweth how to
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deliver tlie godly out of temptations," 2 Pet. ii. 9. He knoweth what is good for his saints, and when it will be in season ; he understandeth what is proper and pertinent to every case ; wliat is proper toevery pur- pose, to every people, to every person, and for every season ; he knows when it is a season to abate, and when to exalt, — vj'^hen to afflict, and when to deliver, — when to pat on the yoke, and when to take oflF the yoke, — when to pull down, and when to build up ; every thing is beautiful in its season. If mercies come out of season, mercies would be no mercies ; and if trou- bles come in their season, troubles should be no troubles ; he knows the best method and means to his end; the fittest means; he sees sometimes, the unfittest to be the fittest; the most unlikely unpromising means, do often best serve God's end. Christians, if you would receive every dis- pensation, as coming from the hands of the wise Ciod ; you would never quarrel with your lot, nor say of any thing that befalls, I might be happy, but this stands in my way. If you would give God leave to be wiser tliau you, you would say wherever you are, it is good for me to be here, this is my way to my rest.
(3.) The providence of God hath faith- fulness with it, Ps. XXV. 10., " All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to them that keep his covenant and his testimonies," Ps. cxi. 8. His works are done in truth. God's works may be said to be done in truth in a double sense. In reality, in fidelity. 1st, In reality, not in species, or in shew only, for (iod's comforts are comforts in- deed; God's salvation, is salvation indeed. The devil will come with his gifts, com- forts, and deliverances, but they are for the most part but spectra like himself, — shows and apparitions, — quite another thing than that they seem to be ; sinners' comforts, deliverances, enjoyments, wherewith the devil feeds them, do leave them in as poor a case, and worse than they found them. You will never thank the devil for his kind- nesses when you have proved them what they are. If you do not find yourselves as fast bound in the midst of all your li- berties; if you be not wrapped up in as many sorrows, after all the joys he hath procured