And I find it recorded (as on another account was noted before) of that holy man, Mr. Dod, that being late at night in his study, he was strongly moved (though at an unseasonable hour) to visit a gentleman of his acquaintance ; and not knowing what might be the design of providence therein, he obeyed and went. When he came to the house, after a few knocks at the door, the gentle- man himself came to him, and asked him whether he had any business with him ? Mr. Dod answered. No ; but that he could not be quiet till he had seen him. O sir, (replied the gentleman) you are sent of God at this hour, for just now (and with that takes the halter out of his pocket) I was going to destroy myself. And thus was the mischief prevented.
(S.) Sometimes by hindering the means and instruments, where-
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by the evil itself is prevented. Thus, when good Jeho?-haphat ha*! joined himself with that -wicked king, Ahaziah, to build ships at Ezion-geber, to go to Tarshish, God prevents the design, by breaking the ships with a storm, as you read^ 2 Chron. xx. 35, 36, 37.
We find also in the life of Mr. Bolton^ wi'ltten by Mr. Bagshaw, that whilst he was in Oxford, he had familiar acquaintance with Mr. Anderton, a good scholar, but a strong Papist, who knowing Mr. Boltoiis good parts, and perceiving that he was' in some out- ward wants, took this advantage, and used many arguments to persuade him to be reconciled to the church of Rome, and to go over with him to the English seminar?/ ; assuring him he should be furnished with all necessaries, and have gold enough. Mr. Bolton being at that time poor in mind and purse, accepted the motion ; and a day and place were appointed in Lancashire, where they should meet and take shipping and be gone : But Mr. Anderton came not, and so he escaped the snare.
(3.) Sometimes by laying some strong afflictions * on the body, to prevent a worse eviL And this is the meaning of Hos. ii. 6. " I will hedge up her way with thorns." Thus Basil was along time exercised with a violent head-ach, which (as he observed) was used by providence to prevent lust. Paul had a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him : And this affliction, what- ever it was, was ordained to prevent pride in him, 2 Cor. xiii. 7.
(4.) Sometimes sin is prevented in the saints, by the better in- formation of their minds at the sacred oracles of God ! Thus when sinful motions began to rise in David's mind, from the prosperity of the wicked, and his o^vn afflicted state, and grew to that height, that he began to think, all he had done in the way of religion was little better than lost labour ; he is set right again, and the temptation dissolved, by going into the sanctuary, where God shewed him how to take new measures of persons and things ; to judge of them, by their ends and issues, not their present appear- ances, Psal. Ixxiii. 12, 13, IX
(.5.) And sometimes the providence of God prevents the sins of his people, by removing them out of the way of temptation by death. In which sense we may understand the text, Isa. Ivii. 1. *' The righteous is taken away from the evil to come,'' the evil of sin as well as sufferings. When the Lord sees his people low- spirited, and not able to grapple with strong trials and temp-
♦ Some afflictions are T//xwo/a/, punishments ; Others are rraihia, chastise- ments : and these are both ooxifMa^iai, trials of grace, and '^DoOijXaxlacct, ?>"»• aervatives from sin.
THE MYSTERY OF PROVIDENCE. 401
tations, which are drawing on, it is, with respect to them, a pro- vidence to be disbanded by death, and set out of harm''s way.
Now consider and admire the providence of God, O ye saints ! who hath had more care of your souls, than ever ye had of them ! Had not the providence of God thus wrought for you, in a way of prevention, it may be you had this day been so many Magor- missabibs. How was the heart of David melted under that pre- venting providence, forementioned, in 1 Sam. xxv. 34. He blesses the Lord, the instrument, and that counsel by which his soul was preserved from sin. Do but seriously bethink yourselves of a few particulars about this ca.se. As,
(1.) How your corrupt natures have often impetuously hurried you on towards sin, so that all the inherent grace you had, could not withstand its force, if providence had not prevented it in some such method as you have heard, James i. 14. " Every man *' is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and en- *' ticed." You found yourselves but feathers in the wind of temp- tation.
(2.) How near you have been brought to the brink of sin, and et saved by a merciful hand of Providence ! may you not say with im in Prov. v. 14. "I was almost in the midst of all evil;"^ Or, as Psalm Ixxiii. 2. " My feet were almost gone, my steps had well " nigh slipt .?" O merciful Providence ! that steps in so oppor- tunely to your relief !
(3.) How many have been suffered to fall by the hand of temp- tations to the reproach of religion, and wounding of their own con- science to that degree, that they have never recovered their former peace again, but lived in the world devoid of comfort to their dy- ing day ?
(4.) How woful your case had been if the Lord had not merci- fully saved vou from many thousand temptations that have assault- ed you ? I tell you, you cannot estimate the mercies you possess by means of such providences. Are your names sweet, and your con- sciences peaceful, two mercies as dear to you as your two eyes? Why surely, you owe them, if not wholly, yet in great measure, to the aids and assistances Providence hath given you all along the way you have passed through the dangerous tempting world to this day.
Walk therefore suitably to this obligation of Providence also: And see,
(1.) That you thankfully own it. Do not impute your es- capes from sin to accidents, or to your own watchfulness or wis- dom.
(2.) See that you tempt not providence, on the other hand, by an irregular reliance upon its care over you, without taking all due
40r^ DIVINE COXDUCT ; oil)
care of yourselves. " Keep yourselves in the love of God," Judc 21. " Keep your hearts with ail diligence,'' Prov. iv. 23. Though providence keep yoUj yet it is in the way of your duty.
The ninth performance of Providence.