So it was with David, after God had made him such a promise, and in the time thereof so faithfully performed it, that never was mercy better secured to any man ; for they are called, " the sure mer- " cies of David," Isa. Iv. 3. yet providence delayed the accom- plishment of them so long, and suffered such difficulties to inter- vene, that he not only despairs to see the accomplishment of them, but even concludes God had forgotten them too. Psalm xiii. 1. " How *^ long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever.^*" And what he speaks here, by way of question, he elsewhere turns into a positive conclusion, Psalm xvi. 11. " All men are liars : I shall one " day perish by the hand of Saul." And the causes of these des- pondencies and sinkings of heart, are partly from ourselves, and partly from Satan. If we duly examine our own hearts about it, we shall find that these sinkings of heart are,
1. The immediate effects of unbelief We do not depend and rely upon the word with that full trust and confidence that are due to the infallible word of a faithful and unchangeable God. You may see the ground of this faintness in that scripture, Psalm xxvii. 13. " I had fainted unless I had believed," Faith is the only cor- dial that relieves the heart against these faintings and desponden- cies ; where this is wanting, or is weak, no wonder our hearts sink at this rate, when discouragements are before us.
2. Our judging and measuring things by the rules of sense ; this is a great cause of our discouragements. We conclude, according to the appearances of things will be their issues. If Abraham
^74 DIVI^^3 conduct ; on,
had done so in that great trial of his faith, he had certainlj'^ lost his footing ; " but against hope," i. e. against natural probability, '' he believed in hope, giving glory to God," Rom. iv. 18. If Paul had done so, he had fainted under his trials, 2 Cor. iv. 16, 18. " We faint not, (saiih he) whilst we look not at the things " that are seen :" q. d. That which keeps up our spirits in our look- ing off from things present and visible, and measuring all by ano- ther rule, viz. The power and fidelity of God firmly engaged in the promises.
3. In all these thmgs Satan manages a design upon us. Hence he takes occasion to suggest hard thoughts of God, and to beat ofF our souls from all confidence in him, and expectations from him. He is the great make-bate betwixt God and the saints. He re- ports the difficulties and fears that are in our ways with advan- tage, and labours to weaken our hands and discourage our hearts in waiting upon God. And these suggestions gain the more cre- dit with us because they are confirmed and attested by sense and feeling.
But here is a desperate design carrying on under very plausible pretences against our souls. It concerns us to be w^atchful now, and maintain our faith and hope in God. How blessed is he that can resign all to God, and quietly wait for his salvation. To as- sist the soul in this difficulty, I shall offer some farther help, be- side what hath been formally given under the Ji^^st caution, in the following considerations.
Though providence do not yet perform the mercies you wait for, yet you have no ground to entertain hard thoughts of God ; for it is possible God never gave you any ground for your expectation of these things from him. It may be you have no promise to bottom your hope upon ; and if so, why shall God be suspected and disho- noured by you in a case wherein his triitli 2CCi^faitlifulness were never engaged to you } If we are crossed in our outward concernments, and see our expectations of prosperity dashed ; if we see such or such an outward comfort removed, from which we promised our- selves much ; why must God be accused for this .? These things you promised yourselves ; but where did God promise you prosperity and the continuance of those comfortable things to you ? Produce bis promise, and shew wherein he hath broken it. It is not enough for you to say, there are general promises in the scripture, that " God will with-hold no good thing," and these are good things which providence with-holds from you; for that promise, Psal. xlviii. 11. hath its limitations, it is expressly limited to such as "UDaTk uprightly ,• and it concerns you to examine whether you have
THE MYSTKRY OF niOVIDEXCE. 4<i5
done so before you quarrel with providence for non-performance of it. Ah! friend, search thine own heart, reflect upon thine own ways; secst thou not so many flaws in thine integrity, so many turnings aside from God, both in- heart and hfe, that may justify God not only in withholding what thou lookest for,, but in removing all that thou enjoyest ? And besides this limitation as to the object^ it is limited (as all other promises relating to exter- nals are) in the mattei*s or things promised by the wisdom and will of God, which is the only rule by which they are m.easured out to men in this world, i. e. such mercies, in such proportions as he sees needful and most conducible to your good ; and these given out m such times and seasons as are of his own appointment, not yours.
God never came under an absolute, unlimited tie for outward comforts to any of us ; and if we be disappointed, we can blame none but ourselves. Who bid us expect rest, ease, delight, and things of this kind in this world .? He hath never told us we shall be rich, healthy, and at ease in our habitations ; but on the con- trary, he hath often told us, we must expect troubles in the wofld^ John xvi. 33. And that *' through many tribulations we must " enter into his kingdom,'' Acts xiv. 22. All that he stands bound to us by promise for, is to be zoith us in trouble, Psalm xci. 15. to supply our real and absolute needs, Isa. xli. 17. " When " the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their " tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God " of Israel will not forsake them ;'' and to sanctify all these pro- vidences to our good at last, Rom. viii. 28. " All things shall work " together for good to them that love God.'" And, as to all these tilings, not one tittle ever did, or shall fail.
Second Consideration.