(3.) The wisdom of providence is our provision. And this is dis- covered in two things : (1.) In proportioning the quantity, not satisfying our extravagant wishes^ but answering our real needs, con- sulting our zcants, not our wantonness, Phil. iv. 19. " My God ^' shall supply all our wants ;" and this hath exactly suited the wishes of the best and wisest men, who desired no more at his hands. So Jacob, Gen. xxviii. 20. and Agur, Prov. xxx. 8, 9. Wise providence considers our conditions as pilgrims and stranger Sy and so allots the "viaticum, the provision that is needfiil for our pas- sage home. It knows the mischievous influence of fulness and re- dundancy upon most men, though sanctified : and how apt it is to make them remiss and forgetful of God, Deut. vi. 12. That their hearts, like the moon, suffer an eclipse when it is at the full ; and so suits and orders all to their best advantage. (2.) Its wisdom is much discovered in the manner of dispensing our portion to us : It many times suffers our wants to pinch hard, and many fears to arise out of design to magnify the care and love of God in the sup- ply, Deut. viii. 3. Providence so orders the case, that faith and prayer coming betwixt our wants and supplies, the goodness of God may be the more magnified in your eyes thereby.
And now, let me beg you to consider the good hand of providence, that hath provided for, and suitably supplied you and yours all your days, and never failed you hitherto ; and labour to walk suit- ably to your experiences of such mercies. In order whereunto let me press a few suitable cautions upon you.
1. Beware that you forget not the care and kindness of provi- dence which your eyes have seen in so many fruits and experiences thereof It was God's charge against Israel, Psal. cvi. 13. " That y they soon forgot his wondrous works." A bad heart and a sli}-
898 DIVINE CONDUCT ; OR,
peiy memory deprive men of the comfort of many mercies, and de- fraud God of the glory due for them.
2. Do not distrust Providence in future exigencies : Thus they did, Psal. Ixxviii. 20. " Behold, he smote the rock tliat the waters *' gushed out, and the streams overflowed : Can he give bread *' also ? Can he provide flesh for his people ? How unreasonable and absurd are these queries of unbelief, especially after their eyes had seen the power of God in such extraordinary ef- fects !
3. Do not murmur and regret under new straits : This is a vile temper ; and yet how incident to us when wants press hard upon us. Ah ! did we but rightly understand what the demerit of sin is, we would rather admire the bounty of God, than complain of the strait-handed ness of providence. And if we did but consider that there lies upon God no obligation of justice or gratitude to re- ward any of our duties, it would cure our murmurs. Gen. xxxii. 20.
4. Do not shew the least discontent at the lot and portion pro- vidence carves out to you: O that you would be well pleased and satisfied with all its appointments ! say, as Psalm xvi. 6. *' The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places ; yea, I have *^ a goodly heritage."" Surely that is best for you which provi- dence hath appointed, and one day you yourselves will judge it so to be.
5. Do not neglect prayer when straits befal you. You see it is Providence dispenses all, you live upon it ; therefore apply your- selves to God in the times of need. This is evidently included in the promise, Isa. xli. 17. as well as expressed in the command; Phil. iv. 6. " Remember God, and he will not forget you."
6. Do not distract your hearts with sinful cares, Mat. vi. 25, ^6 Consider tJi€ Jbzds of' the air, (saith Christ) not the fowls at the door, that are daily fed by hand ; but those of the air, that know not where to have the next meal ; and yet God provides for them. Remember your relation to Christ, and his engagements by pro- mise to you, and by these things, work your hearts to satisfaction and content with all the allotments of providence.
The eig-hth performance of Providence.
VII I. The next great advantage and mercy the saints receive from the hand of providence, is, i7i their preservationfiom the sJiares and temptations of sin, hy its preventing care over them. That providence wards ofl* many a dreadful stroke of temptation, and puts by many a mortal thrust which Satan makes at our souls, is a truth as manifest as the light that shineth. This is included in that promise, 1 Cor. X. 13. God will '*■ with the temptation make a way to escape.
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*' that ye may be able to bear it." Providence gives an out-let for the soul's escape^ when it is shut up into the dangerous straits of temptation. There are two eminent ways whereby the force and efficacy of temptation is broken in believers ; One is by the opera- tion of internal grace, Gal. v. 17. " The Spirit lusteth against the " flesh,'' so that ye cannot do the things that ye would ; i. e. Sanctification gives sin a miscarrying womb after it hath conceived in the soul. The other way, is by the external working of Pro- vidence : and of this I am here engaged to speak.
The providence of God is the great obex and hinderance to a world of sin, which else would break forth like an overflowing flood from our corrupt natures : It prevents abundance of sin, which else wicked men would commit, Gen. xix. 11. The So- domites were greedily pursuing their lusts ; God providentially hinders it, by smiting them Wind. Jeroboam intends to smite the prophet : Providence interposed, and withered his arm, 1 Kings xiii. 4. Thus you see, when wicked men have contrived, and are ready to execute their wickedness, providence claps on its mana- cles, " That their hands cannot perform their enterprizes, as it is, Job V. 12.
And so much corruption there remains on good men, that they would certainly plunge themselves under much more guilt than they do, if providence did not take greater care of them than they ^o of themselves: For though they make conscience of keeping themselves, and daily watch their hearts and ways, yet such is the deceitfulness of sin, that if providence did not lay blocks in their way, it would (more frequently than it doth) entangle and defile them. And this it doth divers ways :
(1.) Sometimes by stirring up others to interpose with seasonable counsels, which effectually dissuade them from prosecuting an evil design. Thus Abigail meets David in the nick of time, and dis- suades him from his evil purpose, 1 Sam. xxv. 34.