O hpw ravishing and delightful a sight is that ! to behold, at one view the whole design of providence, and the proper place and use of every single act, which we could not understand in this world : For what Christ said to Peter, John xiii. 7. is as applicable to some proviilences in which we are now concerned, as it was to that particular action ; ^ What I do, thou knowest not now ; but
f When the records of eternity shall be exposed to view, all the counsels and results of the profound wisdom looked into: how will it transport, when it shall be discerned ! Lo, thus were the designs laid ; here were the apt junctures and admirable dependencies of things, which when acted upon the stage Qf time, setna-f ipd io perplexed ar.u iutricatf. Howe's blcssedii-jsa, }>, 1.G,
THE MYSTERY OF PllOVIDEXCE. 349
^' hereafter thou shalt know it.'" All the dark, intricate, puzzling providences at which we were vsometimes so stui.iblcd, and sometimes amazed, which we could neither reconcile with the promise, nor witli each other, nay, which we so unjustly censured and bitterly bewailed as if they had fallen out quite cross to our happiness, we shall then see to be unto us, as the difficult passage through the wilderness was unto Israel, •' the right way to a city of habitation,"* Psal. cvii. 7.
And though our present views and reflections upon Provi- dence be so short and imperfect, in comparison of that in heaven ; yet such as it is, under all its present disadvantages, it hath so much excellency and sweetness in it, that I may call it a little heaven, or, as Jacob called his Bethel, the gate of heaven. It is certainly an high- way of walking with God in this world ; and as sweet communion may a soul.enjoy with him in his providences^ as in any of his ordi- nances'*. How often have the hearts of its observers been melted into tears of joy at the beholding of its wise and unexpected pro- ductions? How often hath it convinced them upon a sober recol- lection of the events of their lives, that if the Lord had left them to their own counsels, they had as often been their own tormentors, if not executioners ? Into what, and how many fatal mischiefs had they precipitated themselves, if Providence had been as short sight- ed as they ? They have given it their hearty thanks for considering their interest more than their importunity^ and not suffering them to perish by their own desires.
The h^nefits of adverting to the works of providence are manifold and unspeakable ; as in its place we shall shew you. But not to entangle the thread of the discourse, I shall cast it into this method.
Firsts I shall prove, that the concernments of the saints in t}ii:i world are certainly conducted by the wisdom and care of special providence.
Secondly^ I will shew you in what particular concernments of theirs this providential care is evidently discovered.
Thirdly., That it is the duty of saints to advert to, and heedfully observe these performances of providence for them in all their con- cernments.
Fourthly., In what manner this duty is to be performed by them.
Fifthly., What singular benefits result to them from such obser- vations.
* I.uther was bold to prescribe to God, but at last said, Surely the Lord deepised this arrogance of mine, and said, I am God, and not to be ruled by you.
855 DivivE coxct'ot; on,
And then apply the v/liole in sucli uses as offer themselves from the point.
The first general head.
First, I shall undertake the proof and defence of tliis great truth, That the affairs of the saints in this world are certainly conducted b?/ the K'isdom and care of special providence.
And herein I address myself with cheerfulness to perform (as I am able) a service for that providence, which hath throughout my life performed all things for me, as the text speaks.
There is a twofold consideration of providence, according to its twofold object and manner of dispensation ; the one is general, ex« ercised about all creatures, rational and irrational, animate and in- animate ; the other special and peculiar. Christ hath an uiBversal empire over all things, Eph. i. 9.9.. The head of the whole world by way of dominion ; but an head to the church by way of union and special i7ifluence, John xvii. 9. " The Saviour of all men, but " especially of tliem that believe," 1 Tim. iv. 10. The church is his special care and charge ; he rules the world for her good, as an head consulting the welfare of the body.
Heathens generally deny Providence: and no wonder, since they denied a God ; For the same arguments that prove one, will prove the other. Aristotle, the prince of heathen philosophej's, coukl not, by the utmost search of reason, find out the world^s original, and therefore concludes, it was from eternity. The Epi- cureans did, in a sort, acknowledge a God, but yet denied a pro- vidence, and wholly excluded him from any interest or concern in the affairs of the world, as being inconsistent with the felicity and tranquilHty of the Divine Being, to be diverted and cumbered with the care and labour of government. This assertion is so repugnant to reason, that it is a wonder themselves blush not at its absurdity : But I guess at the design, and one of them speaks it out in broad language. Itaque imposuistis cervicihus nosti'is sempiternum domi- vum, quern dies et nodes timeremus. Quis enim non timeat omnia proTiclentemo et cogitantem, et animadvertentem, et omnia ad se pcrtbiere putantcm., curiosum et plenum negotii Deum ? Veil, apud Cicer. de natura deorum. They foresaw that the concession of a providence would imj)ose an eternal yoke upon their necks, by making them accountable for all they did to an higher tribunal; and that they must necessarily pass the time of their sojourning liere in fear, wliilst all their thoughts.^ zcords, and u^'ai/s were strictly noted and recorded, in order to an account by an all-seeing and righteous God: And therefore laboured to persuade themselves that was not, which they had no mind should be. But these athe-
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istical and foolish conceits flill flat before the tindeniable evidence of this so great and clear a truth. Now,
My business here is not so much to deal with professed atheists, who deny tlie existence of God ; and consequently, deride all evi- dences brought from scripture, of the extraordinary events that fall out in lavour of that people that are called his ; but rather to convince those that professedly own all this ; yet never having tasted religion by experience, suspect, at least, that all these things which \ve call special providences to th^ saints, are but natural cve?Us, or mere contingencies : and thus, wliilst they profess to owh a God and; a providence, (which profession is but the effect of their education) they do, in the mean time, live like atheists : and both tliink and act as if there were no such things : and really I doubt this is the case of the far greatest part of men of this generation.