2. There is a great deal of vanity in it : all the thoughtfulness in the world will not make one liair white or black : all our dis- contents will not prevail with God to call back (or as the word may be rendered) make void his word, Isa. xxxi. 2. He is in one mind, Job xxiii. 15. The thoughts of his mind are from ever- lasting, Psalm xxxiii. 11.
Set before you those choice scripture-patterns of submission to the Lord's will, in as deep, yea, much deeper points of' self-denial than this before you, and shame yourselves out of this quarrelling temper with providence.
You know what a close trial that providence was to Abraham that called him from his native country and father's house, to go he knew not whither ; and yet it is said in Isa. xli. 2. He came to God's foot, as readily obeying his call as a servant when his master knocks for him with his foot.
Paul's voyage to Jerusalem had a dismal aspect upon himself; he could expect nothing but bonds and prisons, as he tells us. Acts XX. 23. and a great trial it was to the saints, who could not tell how to give up such a minister, yet he resigns up his will to God's, Acts XX. 22. and so do they, Acts xxi. 14. " The will of the Lord be done."
But far beyond these, and ail other patterns, what an example hath our dear Lord Jesus set before us in the deepest point of self- denial that ever was in the world. When the Father gave the cup of sufferings into his hand in the garden, Mark xiv. 36. a cup of wrath, the wrath of the great and terrible God, and that with- out mixture ; the very taste whereof put nature into an agony and astonishment, a sore amazement, a bloody sweat, and forced from him that vehement and sad cry, " Father, if it be possible let this " cup pass ;"' yet still with submission, " nevertheless, not my will, " but thine be done." O blessed pattern of obedience and resig- nation to the pleasure of God ! What is your case to this ?
Study the singular benefits and advantages of a will resigned up, and melted into the will of God.
1. Such a spirit hath a continual sabbath within itself: the thoughts are established, Prov. xvi. 3. And truly, till a man come to this, he doth but too much resemble the devil, who is a restless spirit seeking rest, but finding none.
It was an excellent expression of Luther to one that was much
perplexed in his spirit about the doubtful events of some affairs of
his that were then depending, Dominus tua omnia faciat, et tu nihil
facias, sed sis sabbatum Christi : i. e. The Lord shall do all for
THE MYSTEUY OF PROVIDEXCE. 495
thee, and thou shalt do nothing, but be the Sabbath of Christ. It is by this means that the Lord gives his beloved sleep^ Psal. cxxvii. S. He means not the sleep of the body, but of the spirit. Fideles (saith one upon that ])lace) etsi vitam agant laboriosam., compositis tamcn^ et tranquillis animis in Jidei silentio se continent^ ac ,si dor- mirent : i. e. Though believers live in the midst of many troubles here, yet with quiet and composed minds they keep themselves in the silence of faith, as though tliey were asleep.
2. Besides, it fits a man's spirit for communion with God in all liis afflictions, and this alleviates and sweetens them beyond any thing in the world.
3. And surely a man is never nearer the mercy he desires, or the deliverance he expects (as one truly observes) than when his «ouI is brought into a submissive temper. David was never nearer the kingdom than when he became as a weaned child.
Lastly, ThinJc how repttgnant an unsubmissive temp)er is both to your prayers and professions.
You pray that the will of God may be done on earth as it is in lieaven ; and yet when it seems to cross your wills or interests, you struggle and fret against it. You profess to have committed your souls to his keeping, and to leave your eternal concerns in iiis hands ; and yet cannot commit things infinitely less valuable unto him. How contradictory are these things !
Your profession, as Christians speaks you to be led by the Spirit, but this practice speaks you to follow the perverse counsels of your own spirits. O then, regret no more, dispute no more, but lie down meekly at your Father's feet, and say in all cases, and at all times, The will of the Lord be done.
And thus I have, through the aid of providence, performed what I designed to speak from this scripture. I acknowledge, my perfor- mances have been accompanied with much weakness, yet have en- deavoured to speak of providence the things that are right. Blessed be the Lord who hath thus far assisted and protected me in this work.
How providence will dispose of my life, liberty, and labours for the time to come, I know not ; but I cheerfully commit all to him who hath performed all things for me.
JLN consideration of the great and manifold advantages resulting from an humble and heedful observation of providence, I cannot but judge it the concernment of Christians that have time and ability for such a work to keep written memorials, or journals^ of providences by them for their own and others use and benefit. For
>\'ant of coUectin.g and communicating such observations, not only ourselves, but the church of God is damnified and impoverished.
Some say, the art of medicine was thus acquired and perfected: when any one had met with some yslyq physical herb, and accidentally discovered tlie virtues of it, he would post it up in some public place ; and so the physician, attained his skill by a collection of those posted experiments and receipts*
I am not for posting up all that a Christian knows or meets with in his experience, for (as I have said before) Non est religio, ubi orru nia, patent. Religion doth not lay all open ; but yet there is a pru- dent, humtle and seasonable communication of our experiences and observations of providence, which is exceeding benefical both to ourselves and our brethren.
If Christians in reading the scriptures Would judiciously collect and record the providences they meet with there, and (if des* titute of other helps) but add those that have fallen out in their own time and expei*ience ; O what a precious treasure would these make ! How would it antidote their souls against the spreading atheism of these days, and satisfy them beyond what many other arguments can do, that The Lo?'d he is God, the Lord he is God,