How is it (if the saints' concerns are not ordered by a special divine providence) that natural causes unite and associate them" selves for their relief and benefit, in so strange a manner as they are found to do P It is undeniably evident, that there are marvellous co-incidences of providence, confederating and agreeing as it were to meet and unite themselves to bring about the good of God':? chosen. There is a like face of things shewing itself in divers places at that time when any work for the good of the church is come upon the stage of the world. As when the Messiah, the capital mercy, came to the temple, then Simeon and Anna were brought thitber by providence, as witnesses to it. So in reformation-work, when the images were pulled down in Holland, one and the same spirit of zeal possessed them in every city and town, that the work was done in a night. He that heedfully reads the history of Jo- seph's advancement to be lord of Egypt, may number in that story twelve remarkable acts or steps of providence, by which he ascended to that honour and authority : If but one of them had failed, in all likelihood the event had done so too ; but every one fell in its or- der, exactly keeping its own time and place. So in the church'?* deliverance from the plot of Haman, we find no less than seven acts of providence concurring strangely to produce it, as if they had all met by appointment and consent to break that snare for them ; one thing so aptly suiting with and making way for another, that every heedful observer must needs conclude, this cannot be the effect of casualty, but wise counsel. Even as in viewing the accurate structure of the body of a man, the figure, position, and mutual respects of the several members and vessels, have convinced some (and is sufficient to convince all) that it was the effect of divine wisdom and power. In like manner, if the admirable adapting of the means and instruments employed for mercy to the people of God be lieedfuily considered, who can but confess, that as there are tools of all sorts and sizes in tlie shop of providence, so
35^ DIVINE COXBUCT ; OR,
there is a most skilful hand that uses them ; and that they could no more produce such effects of themselves, than the axe, saw, or chisel can cut or carve a rude log into a beautiful figure, Avithout the hand of a skilful artificer.
We find by manifold instances, that there certainly are strong combinations and predispositions of persons and things, to bring about some issue and design for the benefit of the church, which themselves never thought of: They hold no intelligence, commu- nicate not their counsels to each ether, yet meet together and work together as if they did : Which is, as if ten men should all meet together at one place, and in one hour, about one and the same business, and that without any fore-ap|X)intment betv.ixt them- selves : Can any question, but such a meeting of means and instru- ments is certainly, though secretly, over-ruled by som-e wise in- visible agent.
If the concerns of God's people be not governed by a special providence, Whence is it, that the most apt and poicerful meaiiSj employed to destroy them, are rendered ineffectual ; and ivealc, con- ienqjtible means eraploijed for their defence and con fort, crowned ^itii success ? This could never be, if things were wholly swayed by the course of nature. If we judge by that rule, we must conclude the more apt and poAverful the means are, the more successful and prosperous thev must needs be ; and where they are inept, weak, and contemptible, nothing can be expected from them. Thus rea- son lays it according to the rules of nature ; but providence crosses its hands, as Jacob did in blessing the sons of Joseph, and orders quite contrary issues and events. Such was the mighty power and deep policy used by Pharaoh to destroy God's Israel, that to the eye of reason it was as impossible to survive it, as for crackling thorns to abide unconsumed amidst devouring flames ; by which emblem, their miraculous preservation is exprest, Exod. iii. 2. the bush was all in a flame, but no consumption of it. The heathen Roman emperors, who made the world tremble, and subdued the nations under them, have employed all their power and policy against the }K)or, naked, defenceless church to ruin it ; yet could not accom- phsh it, Rev. xii. 3, 4. O the seas of blood that heathen Rome shed in the ten persecutions ! Yet the church lives ! and when the dra- gon gave his power to the beast, Rev. xiii. 2. i. e. the state of Rome became anti-christian, 0 what slaughters have been made by the beast in all his dominions ! so that the Holy Ghost repre- sents him as drunken with the l)lood of tlie saints. Rev. xvii. 6. And yet all will not do : The gates, i. e. the powers and }X)licies of hell cami,ot prevail agitinst it. How manifest is the care and
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toWer of* providence lierein ? Had half that power been employed against any other people, it had certainly swallowed them up im- mediately, or in the hundredth part of the time worn them out*. How soon was tlie Persian monarchy swallowed up by the Gre- cian, and that again by the Roman ? Dioclesian and Maximine^ in the height of their persecution, found themselves so baffled by providence, that they both resigned the government j and lived as private men. But in this wonderful preservation, God makes good that promise, Jer. xxx. 11. " Though I make a full end of ** all nations, yet will I not make a full end of thee." And that in Isa. liv. 17. " No weapon formed against thee shall prosper .'^