(1.) Consider what you owe to providence for your protection, by which your hfe hath been protected unto this day, with the usefulness and comfort thereof. Look abroad in the world, and you may daily see some in every place, who are objects of pity, be- reaved by sad accidents of all the comforts of life, whilst, in the mean time, providence hath tenderly presened you •)-, " keeping " all your bones, so that none of them are broken,'' Psal. xxxiv. SO. Is the elegant and comely structure of thy body not spoiled, thy members not distorted, and made so many seats of torment, the use- fulness of any part not destroyed ? Why, this is because providence never quitted his hold of thee since thou camest out of the womb, but, w4th a watchful eye, and tender hand, hath guarded thee in every place, and kept thee as its charge.
(2.) Consider how every member, which hath been so tenderly kept, hath nevertheless been an instrument of sin against the Lord : And that not only in the days of your unregeneracy, when " ye " yielded your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto " sin," (as the apostle speaks in Rom. vi. 13) but ever since you gave them up in covenant unto the Lord, as dedicated instruments to his service : And yet ho\f tender hath providence been over them ! You have often provoked him to afflict you in every part^ and lay penal evil upon every member that hath been instrumental
* aark's Lives, p. 262.
f The learned Alsted sets himself to enumerate the manifold hazards through which the life of man is carried on by the hand of providence, in .Theol. Catechet. p. 191, 192, &c. and piously concludes in these words. Lastly, that thou art wonder- fully delivered from numberless evils which continually threaten thee from every crea- ture. In all these, I say, which wc know oftimes fall out, and which are of such kind, as we may lay our account to meet with, we ought to acknowledge and ascribe to the providence of God solely.
THE MYSTERY OF TROVIDENCE. 405
in nioral evil ; but oh, how great have his compassions been towards you, and his patience admirable !
(3.) Consider what is the aim of providence in all the tender care it hath manifested for you ? Why doth it protect you so assi- duously, and suffer no evil to befal you ? Is it not that you should employ your bodies for God, and cheerfully apply yourselves to that service he hath called you to ? Doubtless, this is the end and level of these mercies ; for else to what purpose are they afforded you ? Your bodies are a part of Christ's purchase, as well as your souls, 1 Cor. vi. 19. They are committed to the charge and tutelage of angels, Heb. i. 14. who have performed many services for them. They are dedicated by yourselves to the Lord, and that upon the highest account, Rom. xii. 1. They have already been the subjects of manifold mercies in this world, Psal. xxxv. 10. and shall partake of singular glory and happiness in the world to come, Phil. iii. 21. And shall they not be employed, yea, cheerfully worn out in his service.? How reasonable is it they should be so ? Why arc they so tenderly preserved by God, if they must not be used for God ?
The tenth performance of Providence.
X. You have heard of many great things performed for you by Divine Providence, in the former particulars; but there is an eminent favour it bestows on the saints, which hath not yet been considered, and indeed is too Httle minded by us, and that is. The aid and assistance it gives the people of God in the great work of mortification ?
Mortification of our sinful affections and passions, is the one half of our sanctification, Rom. vi. 11. " Dead indeed unto sin, but " alive unto God."
It is the great evidence of our interest in Christ : See Gal. v. 24. Rom. vi. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
It is our safety in the hour o^ temptation. The corruptions in the world are through lust, 2 Pet. i. 4.
Our instrumental fitness for service depends much upon it, 2 Tim. ii. 21. John xv. 2. How great a service to our souls there- fore must that be^ by which this blessed work is carried on upon them ?
Now there are two means or instruments employed in this work. The Spirit, who effects it internally^ Rom. viii. 13. and providence which assists it exteimallij. The Spirit indeed is the principal agent, upon whose operation the success of this work depends ; and all the providences in the world can never effect it without him. But these are secondary and subordinate means, which, bv the blessing
406 DIVINE CONDUCT ; on,
of the Spirit upon them, have a great stroke in the work. Hot*' they are so serviceable to this end and purpose, I shall open in the following account.
(1.) More generally. The most wise God orders the dispensa- tions of providence in a blessed subordination to the work of his Spirit. There is a sweet harmony betwixt them in their distinct workings. They all meet in that one blessed issue which God hath, by the counsel of his will, directed them to, Eph. i. 11. Rom. viii. 28. Hence it is, that the Spirit is said to be in, and to order the motions of the wheels of providence, Ezek. i. SO. and so they move together by consent. Now, one great part of the Spirit's internal work being to destroy sin in the people of God ; see how conform- able to his design, external providences are steered and ordered in the following particulars.
(1.) There is, in all the regenerate, a strong propension and inclination to sin, and in that lies a principal part of the power of sin. Of this Paul sadly complains, Rom. vii. 23. " But I see " another law in my members, warring against the law of my '' mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which '^ is in mv members.'" And every believer daily finds it to his grief, O it is hard to forbear those things that grieve God. God hath made a hedge about us, and fenced us against sin by his laws ^ but there is a proneness in nature to break over the hedge, and that against the very reluctations of the Spirit of God in us. Now, see in this case, the concurrence and assistance of providence for the prevention of sin ; look, as the Spirit internally resists those sinful inclinations, so providence externally lays bars and blocks in our way to hinder and prevent sin. And this is the meaning of those places lately cited, Hos. ii. 6. and 2 Cor. xii. 7. So Job xxxiii. 17, 18, 19- There is many a bodily distemper inflicted on this very score, to be a clog to prevent sin : O bear them patiently upon this consideration. Basil was sorely grieved with an inveterate head-ach, he earnestly prays it might be removed : But no sooner was he freed of this clog, but he felt the inordinate motions of lust ; which made him pray for his head-ach again ; so it might be with many of us, if our clogs were cut off.