2. Christ's providential working is not only most pure and holy, but also most wise and judicious. Ezek. i. 20. " The wheels are " full of eyes :" They are not moved by a blind impetus *, but in deep counsel and wisdom. And, indeed, the wisdom of Providence manifests itself principally in the choice of such states for the people of God, as shall most effectually promote their eternal happiness. And herein it goes quite beyond our understandings and compre- hensions. It makes that medicinal and salutiferous, which we judge as destructive to our comfort and" good, as poison. I remember, it is a note of Suarez -f, speaking of the felicity of the other world : " Then (saith he) the blessed shall see in God all things and cir- " cumstances pertaining to them, excellently accommodated and " attempered ;" then shall they see that the crossing of their de- sires was the saving of their souls ; and that otherwise they had perished. The most wise Providence looks beyond us? It eyes the end, and suits all things thereto, and not to our fond desires.
3. The providence of Christ is most supreme and sovereio-n. " Whatsoever he pleaseth, that he doth in heaven and in earth, " and in all places," Psal. cxxxv. 6. " He is Lord of lords, and " King of kings,'*'' Rev. xix. 16. The greatest monarchs on earth are but as little bits of clay J, as the worms of the earth to him : they all depend on him, Prov. viii. 15, 16. " By me kings reign, " and princes decree justice ; by me princes rule, nobles, even all " the judges of the earth."
* Nbn ceeco impetu voluuniur rotce.
f Beatus in Deo videt res omnes accommodates ad se pertinentes, et omnes circumstan- tias, accommodatas. Suarez.
\ His head, (Cant. v. 1 1.) gold of gold ; which intimates the incomparable excel- lency of Christ's kingdom ; gold on his head, is an ensign of royalty, of which crowns were made : therefore the expression, Gold of gold, seems to be of the same import with King of kings. JSrig/itnuin on Cant.
218 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SEEM. XT II.
4. Providence is profound and inscrutable. The judgments of Christ are " a great deep, and his footsteps are not known," Psal. xxxvi. 6. There are hard texts in the works as well as in the words of Christ. The wisest heads have been at a loss in inter- preting some Providences, Jer. xii. 1, 2. Job xxi. 7. The angels had the hands of a man under their wings, Ezek. i. 8. i. e. they wrought secretly and mysteriously.
5. Providence is irresistible in its designs and motions ; for all providences are but fulfillings and accomplishments of God's im- mutable decrees. Eph. i. 11. " He works all things according to *' the counsel of his own will." * Hence Zech. vi. 1. the instru- ments by which God executed his wrath, are called " chariots " coming from betwixt two mountains of brass," i. e. *(* " the <e firm and immutable decrees of God." When the Jews put Christ to death, they did but do what " the hand and counsel of " God had before determined to be done," Acts iv. 28. so that none can oppose or resist providence. " I will work, and who "shall let it?" Isa. xliii. 13.
6. The providences of Christ are harmonious. There are secret chains, and invisible connections betwixt the works of Christ. We know not how to reconcile promises and providences together, nor yet providences one with another; but certainly they all work together, Roin. viii. 28. as adjuvant causes, or con-causes standing under, and working by the influence of the first cause. He doth not do, and undo ; destroy by one providence, what he built by another. But, look, as all seasons of the year, the nipping frosts, as well as the halcyon days of summer, do all conspire and conduce to the harvest ; so it is in providence.
7. And lastly, The providences of Christ work in a special and peculiar way for the good of the saints. His providential is subor- dinated to his spiritual kingdom. " He is the Saviour of all men, " especially of them that believe," 1 Tim. iv. 1. These only have the blessings of providence. Things are so laid and ordered, as that their eternal good shall be promoted and secured by all that Christ doth.
Inference 1. If so, See then, in the first place, to whom you are 'beholden for your lives, liberties, comforts, and all that you enjoy in this world. Is it not Christ that orders all for you ? Pie is, indeed, in heaven, out of your sight ; but though you see him not, he sees you, and takes care of all your concerns. When one told Silen- tiarius of a plot laid to take away his life, he answered, Si Deus mei curam non habet, quid vivo ? " If God take no care of me, how
* By mountains he understands the bidden counsels of God. Calvin* f Firmissima et imcrutabilia Dei consilia. Drusius.
SERM. XVII, THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 219
" do I live f how have I escaped hitherto ? u In all thy ways ac- " knowledge him," Prov. iii. 6. It is he that hath espied out that state thou art in, as most proper for thee. It is Christ that doth all for you that is done. He looks down from heaven upon all that fear him ; he sees when you are in danger by temptation, and casts in a providence, you know not how, to hinder it. He sees when you are sad, and orders reviving providences, to refresh you. Pie sees when corruptions prevail, and orders humbling providences to purge them. Whatever mercies you have received, all along the way you have gone hitherto, are the orderings of Christ for you. And you should carefully observe how the pro- mises and providences have kept equal pace with one another, and both gone by step with you until now.