The first Performance of Providence.
I.

ANd First, Providen­tial per­formance in our for [...]mation and prot [...]ction in the wom [...] Let us consider, how well Provi­dence hath performed the first work that ever it did for us, in our formatJon and protectJon in the womb. Certainly, this is a very glorious and ad­mirable performance; it's that the Psalmist ad­mires, Psal. 139. 15. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curJously wrought in the lower parts of the earth. The Womb is so called upon this account, because as curious Artists, when they have some choice piece in hand, perfect it in private, and then bring it into the light for all to gaze at; so it was here. And there are two things admirable in this performance of Providence for us.

The rare structure and excellent composition 1 of the body; Me [...]aphor [...] ab acupi­ctoribus [...] ope [...] [...]. Om [...]ia [...] est dominus pondere, numero, mensur [...] ▪ I am wonderfully made; that word Ru [...]hampti—is very full. The Vulgar renders it, painted as with a needle, (i. e.) richly em­broidered with nerves and veins. Oh the curi­ous workmanship that is in that one part the eye! How hath it forced some to acknowledge a God upon the examination of it! Providence, when it went about this work, had its model or pat­tern before it, according to which it molded every part, as it is, Ver. 16. In thy Book were all my members written. Hast thou an integral perfecti­on and sulness of members? It is because he wrote them all in his Book, or limned out thy [Page 36] body, according to that exact model which he drew of thee in his own gracious purpose, be­fore thou hadst a being: Had an eye, an ear, a hand, a foot been wanting in the platform, thou hadst now been sadly sensible of the defect: this world had been but a dungeon to thee, without those windows: thou hadst lived, as many do, an object of pity to others: if thou have low thoughts of this mercy, ask the blind, the deaf, the lame and the dumb, the value and worth of those mercies, and they will tell thee. There is a world of cost bestowed upon thy very body. Thou mightest have been cast into another mould, [...]ther in [...]rtJum [...]cept. [...]here are [...]me [...]embers [...]at are [...]tical, as [...] liver, [...]are and [...]rain, in [...]ese are [...]laced the [...]atural, [...]tal and [...]nimal [...]irits; [...]ese spi­ [...]ts are [...]rried by [...] Veins, [...]rteries [...] Nerves. [...]he Veins carry the natural Spirits from the Liver, the Arteries the vi­ [...]l Spirits from the Heart, the Nerves the animal Spirits from the [...]rain: other members are officJal, as the hands and feet: the superi­ [...]r doth rule the inferiour, and the inferiour support the superiour▪ [...] wisdom hast thou made them all. and created a Worm or a Toad. I re­member Luther tells us of two Cardinals, riding in great pomp to the Council of Constance, and by the way they heard a man in the fields bitter­ly weeping and wailing: when they came to him, they found him intently viewing an ugly Toad; and asking him, why he wept so bitterly, he told them, his heart was melted with this consideration, that God had not made him such a loathsome and deformed Creature; hoc est quod amarè fleo, said he: whereupon one of them cryes out, Well said the Father, Surgunt indocti, & rapJent Coelum, The unlearned will rise and take Heaven, and we with all our learning shall be cast into Hell. No part of the Common lump was so figured and polisht as man is. Galen gave Epicurus an hundred years time to imagine [Page 37] a more commodious scituation, configuration, or composition of any one member of a humane bo­dy. And if all the Angels had studied to this day, they could not have cast the body of man into a more curious mould.

And yet all this is but the enamelling of the 2 Case, or polishing the Casket wherein the rare Jewel lies. Providence hath not only built the house, but brought the Inhabitant (I mean the soul) into the possession of it. A glorious piece it is, that bears the very Image of God upon it, being all in all, and all in every part. How noble are its Faculties and Affections? How nimble, various and indesatigable are its Motions? How comprehensive is its Capacity? It's a Com­panion for Angels, nay, capable o [...] Espousals to Christ, and eternal Communion with God. It's the Wonder of Earth, and the Envy of Hell.

Suppose now (and why should you not sup­pose, what you so frequently b [...]hold in the world?) that Providence had so permitted and ordered it, that thy soul had entered into thy body with one or two of its faculties wounded and defective: Suppose its Vnderstanding had been crackt; what a miserable life hadst thou lived in this world? neither capable of service nor comfort. And truly, when I have considered those works of Providence, in bringing into the world in all Countreys and Ages some such spe­ctacles of pity; some deprived of the use of rea­son, and differing from Beasts, in little more than shape and [...]igure; and others, though sound in their understandings, yet deformed or defective in their bodies, monstrous, mishapen and loath­some Creatures; I can resolve the design of this [Page 38] Providence, into nothing beside a demonstra­tion of his Soveraign power; except they be designed as soils, to set off the beauty of other rare and exquisite pieces, and intended to stand before your eyes, as Monitors of Gods mercy to you, that your hearts (as oft as you beheld them) might be m [...]lted into thankfulness for di­stinguishing favour to you.

Look then (but not proudly) upon thy out­side and inside, see and admire what Providence hath done for thee, and how well it hath per­formed the first service that ever it did for thee in this world. And yet, this was not all it did for thee, before thou sawest this world. It pre­served thee, as well as formed thee in the womb: else thou hadst been as those Embryo's Job speaks of, Job 3. 11, 12. that never saw the light. Abor­tives go for nothing in the world, and there are multitudes of them, some that never had a rea­sonable soul breathed into them; but only the rudiments, and rough draught of a body: these come not into the account of men, but perish as the Beast doth. Others that dye in, or shortly after they come out of the Womb: and though their life was but for a moment; yet that mo­ment entails an Eternity upon them: and had this been your case, as it is the case of Millions, then (supposing your salvation) yet had you been utterly unserviceable to God in the world: None had been the better for you, nor you the better for any in the world. You had been ut­terly uncapable of all that good which through­out your life you have either done to others, or received from others.

And if we consider the nature of that obscure [Page 39] life we lived in tho womb; how small an acci­dent (had it been permitted by Providence) had extinguished our life, like a Bird in the shell? We cannot therefore but admire the tender care of Providence over us, and say with the Psalmist, Psal. 139. 13. Thou hast covered me in my Mothers womb: and not only so, but as it is, Psal. 22. 9. Thou art he that took me out of my Mothers womb. He preserved thee there to the fulness of time, and when that time was come, brought thee safely through manifold hazards, into that place in the world which he from Eternity espied for thee. Which leads us to the second performance.

The Second Performance of Providence.
II.

THe second great performance of Providence, Provide [...]tial per­formanc [...] with re [...]spect to the tim [...] and plac [...] of our Nativity for the people of God, respects the place, and time in which it ordered their Nativity to fall. And truly, this is no small concernment to every one of us, but of vast consequence, either to our good or evil, though it be little minded by most men. I am perswaded, the thoughts of [...]ew Christians penetrate deep enough into this Pro­vidence, but slide too slightly and supersicially over an Abysse of much mercy, rich and mani [...]old mercy wrapt up in this gracious performance of Providence for them.

Ah friends! can you think it an indifferent thing, into what part of the World the womb of Nature had cast you out? Is there no odds, upon what Spot of the Creation, or in what Age of the World your lot had fallen? It may be you [Page 40] have not seriously bethought your selves about this matter. And because this Point is so sel­dom toucht, I will therefore dive a little more particularly and distinctly into it, and endea­vour to warm your affections with a representa­tion of the many and rich benefits you owe to this one performance of Providence for you.

And we will consider it under a double respect or relation, as it respects your present comfort in this world, and as it relates to your eternal happiness in the world to come.

1 This performance of Providence for you, doth very much concern your present comfort in this world. All the rooms in this great house are not alike pleasant and commodious for the Inha­bitants of it. You read Psal. 74. 20. of the dark places of the Earth, which are full of the habitatJonr of cruelty: and many such dismal places are found in the habitable Earth. What a vast tract of the world lies as a waste Wilderness?

Suppose your Mothers had brought you forth in America, among the Salvage IndJans, who herd together as brute beasts; are scorched with heat, and starved with cold; being naked, destitute and defenceless. How poor, miserable and un­provided of Earthly comforts and accommodati­ons, are many Millions of the Inhabitants of this world? What mercies do you enjoy in respect of the amaenity, fertility, temperature and civi­lity of the place of your habitation? What is it but a Garden inclosed out of a Wilderness? I may without partiality or vanity say, God hath (even upon temporal accounts) provided you with one of the healthfullest, pleasantest, and in all respects, the best furnished room in all the [Page 41] great house of this world. Hear what our own Chronicler saith of it, Speed's Chron. It is the fortunate Island, the Paradise of pleasure, the Garden of God; whose Valleys are like Eden, whose Hills are as Le­banon, whose Springs are as Pisgah, whose Rivers are as Jordan, whose Wall is the Ocean, and whose Defence is the Lord Jehovah.

You are here provided of necessary and com­fortable accommodations for your bodies, that a great part of the world are unacquainted with. It is not with the poorest among us, as it is said to be with the poor RussJans, whose poverty pinches and bites with such sharp teeth, that their poo [...] cry at the doors, Give me and cut me, give me and kill me.

Say not, The barbarous Nations in this excel you; that they possess the Mines of Silver and Gold, which it may be you think enough to salve all other inconveniences of life. Alas poor Creatures! better had it been for them, if their Countrey had brought forth Bryers and Thorns instead of Gold, Silver, and precJous stones; for this hath been the occasion of ruining all their other comforts in this world: this hath invited their cruel avaritious enemies among them, un­der whose servitude they groan, and dye without mercy: and thousands of them have chosen death rather than life, on the terms they enjoyed it. And why might not your lot have fallen there as well as where it is? Are not they made of the same clay, and endowed with as good a nature as your selves? O what a distinction hath Di­vine Mercy made, where Nature made none! Consider ungrateful man, thou mightest have fallen into some of those Regions, where a tainted [Page 42] air frequently cloyes the jaws of death, where the Inhabitants differ very little from the Beasts in the manner of their living: but God hath provided for thee, and given the poorest among us far better accommodations of life, than the greatest among them are ordinarily provided with. O what hath Providence done for you?

2 But all that I have said is very inconsiderable, in compa [...]ison with the spiritual mercJes, and ad­vantages you here enjoy for your souls. Oh, this is such an advantageous cast of Providence for you, as obliges you to a thankful acknow­ledgement of it, to all Eternity. For let us here make but a few suppositions in the case before us, and the glory of Providence will shine like a Sun-beam full in your faces.

(1.) Suppose it had been your Lot to have fallen in any of those vast Continents possessed by Pagans and Heathens at this day, who bow down to the Stock of a Tree, and worship the Host of Heaven. This is the case of Millions, and Millions of Millions: [...]Jerwoods EnquirJes, [...]hap. 13. p. 118, 119 for Pagan Idola [...]rs (as that searching Scholar Mr. Bri [...]wood informs us) do not only fill the circumference of nine hundred miles in Europe, but almost the one half of Africa, more than the half of AsJa, and almost the whole of America.

Oh how deplorable had thy case been, if a Pagan Idolatress had brought thee forth, and Idolatry had been suckt in with thy Mothers milk! then in all probability, thou hadst been at this day worshipping Devils, and posting with full speed in the direct road to Damnation: for these are the people of Gods wrath, Jer. 10. 25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know the [...] [Page 43] not, and upon the familJes that call not upon thy name. How dreadful is that imprecation against them? [...]sal. 97. 7. which takes hold of them and all that's theirs, Confounded be all they that serve graven Images, that boast themselves of Idols.

(2.) Or suppose your Lot had fallen among Mahometans, who next to Pagans spread over the greatest tract of the Earth: for though ArabJa bred that unclean Bird, yet it was not that Cage, that could long contain him; for, not only the ArabJans, but the PersJans, Turks and Tartars, do all bow down their backs under that grand Im­postor. This poison hath dispersed it self through the veins of AsJa, over a great part of Africk, even the Circumference of seven thou­sand miles, and stops not there, but hath tainted a considerable part of Europe also.

Had your Lot fallen here, O what unhappy men and women had you been, notwithstanding the natural amenity and pleasantness of your native soil? You had then adored a grand Im­postor, and dyed in a fools Paradise. Instead of Gods lively Oracles, you had been (as they now are) deceived to your eternal ruine with such fond, mad and wild dreams, as whoso considers would think, the Authors had more need of mana­cles and fetters, than arguments or sober answers.

(3.) Or if neither of these had been your Lot, but you had been emptied by the womb of Nature into this little spot of the Earth which is ChristJanized by profession, but nevertheless for the most part over-run by Popish Idolatry, and AntichristJan delusions; what unhappy men and women had you been, had you suckt a Popish breast? For this people are to be the subjects of [Page 44] the VJals of Gods wrath to be poured out suc­cessively upon them, as you may read Rev. 16. and the Scriptures in round and plain language tell us, what their fate must be, 2 Thess. 2. 11, 12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delu­sJon, that they should belJeve a lye, that they all migh [...] be damned who belJeved not the truth, but had plea­sure in unrighteousness.

Nay, you might have fallen into the same Land in which your habitation now is, and yet have had no advantage by it as to salvation, if he that chose the bounds of your habitations, had not also graciously determined the times for you, Acts 17. 26. For▪

(4.) Suppose your Lot had fallen where it is during the Pagan State of England, who for many hundred years were gross and vile idolaters. Thick darkness over-spread the people of this Island, and as in other Countreys, the Devil was worshipped, and his lying Oracles zealously attended upon.

The shaking of the top of Jupiter's Oak in Dodona, the Caldron smitten with the rod in the hand of Jupiter's Image, the Lawrell and Fountain in Daphne: these were the Ordinances on which the poor deluded Wretches waited. So in this Nation they worshipped Idols also: the Sun and Moon were adored for Gods, [...]ide Ver­ [...]igan' s British Antiqui­ [...]i [...]s. with many other abominable Idols which our Ancestors worship­ped, and whose memorials are not to this day quite obliterated among us.

(5.) Or suppose our Lot had fallen in those later miserable dayes, in which Queen Mary sent so many hundreds to Heaven in a fiery Chariot▪ and the poor Protestants sk [...]lked up and down in [Page 45] holes and woods, to preserve them from Popish Inquisitors, who like Blood-hounds, hunted up and down through all the Cities, Towns and Vil­lages of the Nat [...]on, to seek out the poor sheep of Christ for a prey.

But such hath the special care of Providence towards us been, that our turn to be brought upon the stage of this World was graciously re­served for better dayes: so that if we had had our own option, we could not have chosen for our selves, as Providence hath. We are not on­ly furnished with the best room in this great ho [...]se; but before we were put into it, it was swept with the beesom of National Reformation, from Idolatry, yea, and washed by the blood of Martyrs from Popish filthiness; and adorned with Gospel lights, shining in as great lustre in our dayes, as ever they did since the Apostles dayes. You might have been born in England for many Ages, and not have found a ChristJan in it: yea, and since ChristJanity was here owned, and not have met a Protestant in it. Oh what an Obliga­tion hath Providence laid you under, by such a merciful performance as this for you?

If you say, Object. All this indeed is true; but what is this to eternal salvation? Do not multitudes that enjoy these priviledges, eternally perish notwithstand­ing them? yea, and perish with an aggravation of sin and misery beyond other sinners?

True, Sol. they do so; and it is of very sad consi­deration that it should be so; but yet we cannot deny this to be a very choice and singular mercy, to be born in such a Land, and at such a Time. For let us consider what helps for salvation men here enjoy, beyond what they could enjoy, had [Page 46] their Lot fallen according to the fore-mentioned suppositions.

(1.) Here we enjoy the ordinary means of salvation, which elsewhere men are denyed and cut off from. So that if any among the Heathens be saved and brought to Christ, it must be in some miraculous or extraordinary way: for, How shall th [...]y belJeve in him of whom they have not heard▪ and how shall they hear without a Preacher? Rom. 10. 14. Alas! were there a desire awake­ned in any of their hearts after a Gospel disco­very of salvation, (which ordinarily is not, nor can be rationally supposed) yet, poor Creatures, they might travel from Sea to Sea, to hear th [...] Word, and n [...]t find it: whereas you can hardly miss the opportunities of hearing the Gospel: Sermons meet you frequently, so that you can scarcely shun or avoid the Ordinances and Instru­ments of your salvation. And is this nothing? Christ even forces himself upon us.

(2.) Here, in this Age of the World, the com­mon prejudices against Christianity are removed, by the advantage it hath of a publick profession among the people▪ and protection by the Laws of the Countrey. Whereas, were your habita­tion among Jews▪ Mahometans, or Heathen Idola­ters▪ you would find Christ and ChristJanity the common odJum of the Countrey▪ every one de­fying and deriding both name and thing; and such your selves likely had been, if your birth and education had been among them. For you may observe, that whatever is [...] traditionally delivered down from Father to Son, every one is fond of, and zealous in its defence. The Jews, Heathens and Mah [...]metans are at this [Page 47] day so tenacious of their errors, that with spit­ting, hissing, and clapping of hands, and all other signs of indignation and abhorrence they chase away all others from among them.

Is it not then a special mercy to you to be cast into such a Countrey and Age, where (as a learned Divine observes) the true Religion hath the same advantages over every false one, Mr. Pink [...] as in other Countreys they have over it? Here you have the presence of precious Means, and the absence of soul-destroying prejudices, two signal mercies.

(3.) Here, in this Age of the World, Chri­stianity bespeaks you assoon as you are capable of any sense, or impressions o [...] Religion upon you; and so by an happy anticipatJon, blocks up the passages, by which a false Religion would [...] certainly enter. Here you [...]uck in the first noti­ons and principles of Christianity, even with the Mothers milk: and certainly, such a prepossession is a choice advantage. Quo semel est imbuta re­cens servabit odorem Testa di [...]. Train up a Child in the way he should go, and when he is old [...]e will not depart from it▪ Prov. 22. 6.

(4.) Here you have, or may have the help and assistance of Christians to direct your way, resolve your doubts, support your burthens, and help you through those difficulties that attend the new birth. Alas! if a poor soul had any begin­nings or saint workings and stirrings after Christ and true Religion in many other Countreys, the hand of every man would presently be against him, and none would be found to relieve, assist or encourage, as you may see in that Example of Gal [...]acJus; the nearest relations would, in that [Page 48] case, prove the greatest Enemies, the Countrey would quickly hoot at him as a Monster, and cry Away with the Heretick to the Prison or Stake.

Whether these eventually prove blessings to your souls or no, certain I am, that in themselves they are singular mercies, and helps to salvation, that are denyed to Millions besides you. So that if Plato when he was near his death, could bless God for three things, viz. That he was a Man, and not a Beast: that he was born in Greece; and brought up in the time of Socrates: much more cause have you to admire Providence, that you are Men, and not Beasts; that you were born in England, and brought up in Gospel dayes here. This is a Land the Lord hath EspJed for you, as the expression is, Ezek. 20. 6. and concerning it, you have abundant cause to say, as in another case the Psalmist doth, Psal. 16. 6. The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, and I have a goodly heritage.

The Third Performance of Providence.
III.

THe next observable Performance of Providence, Providen­ [...]ial per­formances with re­spect to [...]he Stock [...]nd Fami­ly out of which we [...]prang. which must be heedfully adverted and weighed, is the designatJon of the stock and family out of which we should spring and rise. And truly, this is of special consideration, both as to our tempo­ral and eternal good; for whether the families in which we grew up, were great or small in Israel; whether our parents were of the higher or lower Class, and rank among men: yet if they [Page 49] were such as feared God and wrought righteous­ness, if they took any care to educate you religi­ously, and trained you up in the nurture and admo­nitJon of the Lord, you are bound to reckon it among your chief mercies, that you sprung from the loins of such parents: for from this Spring a double stream of mercy rises to you.

(1.) Temporal and external mercies to your outward man. You cannot but know, that as Godliness entails a blessing, so wickedness and unrighteousness a curse upon posterity. An in­stance of the former you have in Gen. 17. 18, 20. On the contrary, you have the threatning, Zech. 5. 4. and both together, Prov. 3. 33. The Curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but he Blesseth the habitatJon of the just. True it is, that both these imply the Childrens treading in the steps of their Parents, according to Ezek. 18. but how frequently is it seen, that wicked men breed their children vainly and wickedly; so that as it's said of Abijam, 1 Kings 15. 3. He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and so the curse is entail'd from genera­tion to generation. To escape this Curse, is a choice Providence.

(2.) But especially take notice, what a stream of spiritual blessings and mercies, [...]lows from this Providence to the Inner man. O it's no common mercy, to descend from pious Parents▪ Some of us do not only owe our natural life to them, as In­struments of our Beings, but our Spiritual and Eternal life also. It was no small mercy to Ti­mothy, to be descended from such Progenitors, 2 T [...]m. 1. 5. nor to. Augustine, that he had such a Mother as Monica, who planted in his mind the [Page 50] precepts of life with her Words, watered them with her Tears, and nourished them with her Example. We will a little more particularly in­spect this mercy, and in so doing, we shall find manifold mercies contained in it.

(1.) What a Mercy was it to us, to have Pa­rents that prayed for us before they had us, as well as in our Infancy, when we could not pray for our selves? Thus did Abraham, Gen. 15. 2. and Hannah, 1 Sam. 1. 10, 11. and some here like­ly are the fruits and returns of their Parents Prayers. This was that holy course they conti­nued all their dayes for you, carrying all your concerns, especially your Eternal ones before the Lord with their own; and pouring out their souls to God so affectionately for you, when their eye-strings and heart-strings were breaking. Oh put a value upon such Mercies; for they are precious. It's a greater Mercy, to descend from praying Parents, than from the loyns of Nobles. See Job's pious practice, Job 1. 5.

(2.) What a special Mercy was it to us, to have the excrescencies of corruption nipt in the bud by their pious and careful discipline? We now understand, what a critical and dangerous season Youth is, the wonderful proclivity of that Age to every thing that is evil. Why else are they called Youthful lusts? 2 Tim. 2. 22. When David asketh, Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? it's plainly enough implyed in the very Question, that the way he takes lieth through the pollutions of the world in his youth, Psal. 119. 9. When you find a David praying, that God would not remember the sins of his youth, Psal. 25. 7. and a Job bitterly complaining, that God [Page 51] made him to possess the sins of his youth, Job 13. 26. Sure, you cannot but reflect, with a very thank­ful heart, upon those happy means, by which the corruption of your nature was happily pre­vented, or restrained in your Youth.

(3.) And how great a Mercy was it, that we had Parents, who carefully instilled the good knowledge of God into our souls in our tender years? How careful was Abraham of this duty? Gen. 18. 19. and David? 1 Chron. 28. 9. We have some of us had Parents, who might say to us, as the Apostle, Gal. 4. 19. My little Children, of whom I travail again in birth till Christ be formed in you. As they longed for us before they had us, and rejoyced in us when they had us; so they could not endure to think, that when they could have us no more, the Devil should. As they thought no pains, care or cost too much for our bodies to feed them, cloath and heal them; so did they think no prayers, counsels or tears, too much for our souls, that they might be saved. They knew a parting time would come betwixt them and us, and did strive to make it as easie and comfortable to them as they could, by leav­ing us in Christ, and within the blessed bond of his Covenant.

They were not glad, that we had Health, and indifferent whether we had Grace.

They as sensibly felt the miseries of our souls as of our bodies; and nothing was more desira­ble to them, than that they might say in the great day, Lord, here am I, and the Children which thou hast given me.

(4.) And was it not a special Favour to us, to have Parents that went before us as Patterns of [Page 52] Holiness, and beat the path to Heaven for us by their Examples? Who could say to us, as Phil. 4. 9. What things ye have heard and seen in me, that do; and as 1 Cor. 11. 1. Be ye followers of us, as we are of Christ. The Parents life is the Childs copy. O 'tis no common mercy, to have a fair copy set before us, especially in the moulding age: we saw what they did, as well as heard what they said. It was Abraham's commendation, that he commanded his Children, and his houshold after him, to keep the way of the Lord. And such mercies some of us have had also.

Ah my friends, let me beg you, that you will set special remarques upon this Providence, which so graciously wrought for you: and that your hearts may be more throughly warmed in the sense of it, compare your condition with others, and seriously bethink your selves,

(1.) How many Children there be among us, that are drawn headlong to Hell by their cruel and ungodly Parents, who teach them to curse and swear assoon as they can speak? Many fami­lies there are, wherein little other language is heard, but what is the Dialect of Hell. These, like the old logs and small spray, are preparing for the fire of Hell, where they must burn toge­ther. Of such Children, that Scripture, Psal. 49. 19. will one day be verified, except they re­pent, They shall go to the generatJon of their fa­thers, where they shall not see light.

(2.) And how many families are there, though not so prophane, who yet breed up their Chil­dren vainly and sensually, as Job 21. 11, &c. take no care what becomes of their souls, so they can but provide for their bodies? If they can but [Page 53] teach them to carry their bodies, no matter if the Devil act their souls: If they can but leave them Lands or Moneys, they think they have ve­ry fully discharged their duties. O what will the language be, wherewith such Parents and Chil­dren shall great each other at the Judgement Seat, and in Hell for ever?

(3.) And how many be there, who are more sober, and yet hate the least appearances of Godli­ness in their Children? who instead of cherishing, do all that they can to break bruised reeds, and quench smoaking [...]lax, to stifle and strangle the first appearances, and offers they make towards Christ? Who had rather accompany them to their graves, than to Christ, doing all that in them lyes, Herod like, to kill Christ in the Cradle? Ah Sirs, ye little know, what a mercy ye do or have enjoyed in Godly Parents, and what a good Lot Providence cast for you in this Concernment of your bodies and souls.

If any shall say, This was not their case, Object. they had little help Heaven-ward from their Parents: To such I shall only reply three things.

(1.) If you had little furtherance, Sol. yet own it as a special Providence, that you had no hinde­rance; or, if you had opposition, yet

(2.) Admire the Grace of God, in plucking you out by a wonderful distinguishing hand of mercy from among them, and keeping alive the languishing sparks of Grace amidst the floods of opposition.

(3.) And learn from hence, if God give you a posterity of your own, to be so much the more strict and careful of relational duties, by how much you have sensibly felt the want of it in your selves▪

[Page 54] But seeing such a train of blessings, both as to this life, and that to come, follow upon an holy education of Children; I will not dismiss the Point, till I have discharged my duty, in exhort­ing Parents and Children to their duties.

1 And first for you that are Parents, or to whom the Education of Children is committed, I be­seech you mind, how concerning a duty lies on you: and that I may effectually press it, consider,

(1.) How near the Relation is betwixt you and your Children, and therefore how much you are concerned in their happiness or misery. Con­sider but the Scripture account of the dearness of such Relations, expressed (1.) By longings for them, as Gen. 15. 2. Gen. 30. 1. and (2.) By our joy when we have them, as Christ expresses it, John. 16. 21. (3.) The high value set on them, Gen. 42. 38. (4.) The sympathie with them in all their troubles, Mark 9. 22. and (5.) By our sorrow at parting, Gen. 37. 35. Now shall all this be to no purpose? For to what purpose do we desire them before we have them, rejoice in them when we have them, value them so highly, sympathize with them so tenderly, grieve for their death so excessively; if in the mean time no care be taken what shall become of them to Eternity?

(2.) How God hath charged you with their souls, as well as bodies: and this appears by two sorts of Precepts. (1.) Precepts directly laid up­on you, Deut. 6. 6, 7. and Eph. 6. 4. (2.) By Pre­cepts laid on them to obey you, Eph. 6. 1. which plainly implies your duty, as well as expresses theirs.

(3.) What shall comfort you at the parting [Page 55] time, if they dye through your neglect in a Christ­less condition? Oh this is the cutting considera­tion, My Child is in Hell, and I did nothing to prevent it; I helped him thither. Duty dis­charged, is the only root of comfort in that day.

(4.) If you neglect to instruct them in the way of Holiness, will the Devil neglect to instruct them in the way of Wickedness? No, no, if you will not teach them to pray, he will to curse, swear and lye. If ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring.

(5.) If the season of their youth be neglected, how little probability is there of any good fruit afterwards? that is the Moulding age, Prov. 22. 6. How few are converted in old age? A twig is brought to any form, but grown limbs will not bow.

(6.) You are instrumental causes of all their spiritual misery; and that (1.) By generatJon, (2.) ImitatJon, they lye spiritually dead of the Plague which you brought home among them, Psal. 51. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my Mother conceive (or warm) me.

(7.) There's none in the World so likely as you▪ to be Instruments of their Eternal good. You have peculiar advantages that none other hath; as (1.) The interest you have in their affections. (2.) Your opportunities to instil the knowledge of Christ into them, being daily with them, Deut. 6. 7. (3.) Your knowledge of their tempers: if therefore you neglect, who shall help them?

(8.) The consideration of the great day, sho [...]d move your bowels of pity for them. O [Page 56] remember that Text, Rev. 20. 12, &c. I saw the dead small and great stand before God. What a sad thing will it be, to see your dear Children at Christs left hand? O friends, do your utmost to prevent this misery. Knowing the terrors of the Lord, we perswade men.

2 And you Children, especially you that sprang from religious Parents, I beseech you, obey their Counsels; and tread in the steps of their pious Examples. To press this, I offer these Conside­ration.

(1.) Your disobedience to them, is a resisting of Gods Authority, Ephes. 6. 1. Children, obey your Parents in the Lord: there's the Command: your rebellion therefore runs higher than you think. It is not Man, but God that you disobey; and for your disobedience God will punish you. It may be, their tenderness will not suffer them, or you are grown beyond their correction: all they can do, is to complain to God; and if so, he will handle you more severely than they could do.

(2.) Your Sin is greater than the Sin of young Heathens and Infidels; and so will your Account be also. O better (if a wicked Child) that thou hadst been the off-spring of Salvage IndJans, nay, of Beasts, than of such Parents. So many Coun­sels disobeyed, Hopes and Prayers frustrated, will turn to sad aggravations.

(3.) It's usual with God, to retaliate mens disobedience to their Parents in kind: Common­ly our own Children shall pay us home for it. I have read in a grave Author, of a wicked Wretch that drag'd his Father along the house: the Father begg'd him, not to draw him beyond [Page 57] such a place: for, said he, I drag'd my Father no farther. O the sad, but just retributions of God!

And for you, in whose hearts Grace hath been planted by the blessing of Education, I beseech you to admire Gods goodness to you in this Pro­vidence. Oh what an happy Lot hath God cast for you! How few Children are partakers of your mercies?

See that you honour such Parents; the tie is double upon you so to do. Be you the joy of their hearts, and comfort of their lives, if liv­ing: if not, yet still remember the mercy while you live, and tread in their pious path; that you and they may both rejoice together in the great day, and bless God for each other to all Eternity.

The Fourth Performance of Providence.
IV.

THe next remarkable performance of Providence for the People of God in which I will instance, Providen­tial per­formances about ou [...] Conver­sion to God. shall be with respect to its ordering the Occasions, In­struments and Means of their Conversion.

In nothing doth Providence shine forth more glo­riously in this world, than it doth in this perfor­mance for the people of God. How curiously soever its hand had moulded your bodies, how tenderly soever it had preserved them, and how bountiful­ly soever it had provided for them; if it had hot also ordered some means or other for your Conversion, all the former favours and benefits it had done for you, had signified little. This, O [Page 58] this is the most excellent benefit you ever receiv­ed from its hand. You are more beholden to it for this, than for all your other mercies. And in opening this performance of Providence, I cannot but think your hearts must be deeply af­fected. This is a subject which every gracious heart loves to steep its thoughts in. It's cer­tainly the sweetest History that ever they re­peated: they love to think and talk of it. The Places where, and Instruments by whom this work was wrought, are exceedingly endeared to them for the works sake: yea, endeared to that degree, that for many years after their hearts have melt­ed, when they have but passed occasionally by those places, or but seen the faces of those per­sons, that were used as Instruments in the hand of Providence for their good. As no doubt, but * Jacob's Beth-el was ever after that night sweet to his thoughts: Gen. 48. 3. so other Saints have had their Bethels as well as he. O blessed Places, Times and Instrurments! O the deep, the sweet impressions, never to be razed out of the memory or heart, that this Providence hath made upon those on whom it wrought this blessed Effect at years of discretion, and in a more sensible way!

But lest any poor soul should be discouraged under the display of this Providence, because he cannot remember the Time, Place, Instruments and Manner wherein, and by which Conversion-work was wrought; I will therefore premise this necessary distinction, to prevent injury to some, whilst I design benefit to others.

Conversion, as to the subjects of it, may be considered two wayes; either as it is more sen­sibly wrought in persons of riper years, who in [Page 59] their youthful daies were more prophane and vile; or upon persons in their tender years, in­to whose hearts Grace was more insensibly, and undiscernably instilled by Gods blessing upon pi­ous Education. In the former sort, the distinct acts of the Spirit, as illuminating, convincing, humbling, drawing them to Christ, and sealing them are more evident and discernable: in the latter, more obscure and confused; they can remember, that God gave them an Esteem and liking of god­ly persons, Care of duty, and Conscience of sin; but as to the Time, Place, Instruments and Man­ner of the work, they can give but a slender ac­count of them: however, if the work be saving­ly wrought in them, there is no reason they should be troubled, because the Circumstances of it are not so evident to them, as they are to others. Let the substance and reality of the work appear, and there is no reason to afflict your selves, because of the inevidence of such Circumstances.

But yet where the Circumstances as well as Substance are clear to a man: when we can call to remembrance, the Time when, the Place where, the Instrument by whom that work was wrought, it must needs be exceeding sweet: and they can­not but yield a fresh delight to the soul every time they are reflected upon.

There are many of the following occasions, which it may be, we took for straglers when they first befell us: but they proved scouts sent out from the main body of Providence, which they make way for.

Now there be divers things in those Provi­dences, that are versant about this work, which [Page 60] are exceeding sweet, and taking; as namely,

1 The wonderful strangeness and unaccountable­ness of this work of Providence, in casting us in­to the way, and ordering the occasions, yea, the minu [...]est Circumstances about this work. Thus you find in Acts 8. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, &c. the Eunuch at that very instant when he was reading the Prophet Esay, hath an Interpreter, one among a thousand, that joins his CharJot, just as his mind was by a fit occasion prepared to receive the first light of the knowledge of Christ.

And how strange was that Change (how far soever it went) upon Naaman the SyrJan? re­corded 2 Kings 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. That the SyrJans in their incursion should bring away this girl, (likely her beauty was the inducement,) and shel must be presented to Naaman's Wife, and relate to her the power of God that accompanied the Pro­phet; though you find in that particular case there had never been an instance given before, Luke 4. 27. Doubtless, the whole of this affair was guided by the signal direction of Pro­vidence.

So for the Conversion of the Samaritans, it's observed John 4. 4. Christ must needs go that way, (i. e.) it lay just in the road betwixt Judea and Galilee, and at the sixth hour (i. e.) high noon, he rests himself upon Jacob's Well, still seeming to have no other design, but his own re­freshment, by sitting and drinking there: but O what a train of blessed Providences follow this, which seemed but an accidental thing! first the Woman of SamarJa, and then many more in that City are brought to believe in Christ, as you find Verse 29. and 41.

[Page 61] It is noted by MelchJor Adams in the Life of JunJus, Melch. A­dams Vit Theol. par 2. p. 194. how very an Atheist he was grown in his younger years; but in order to his Conversion to God, first, a wonderful preservation of his life in a publick tumult at Lyons in France must make way, which forces from him the acknowlegement of a Deity. Then his Father sends for him home, and with much gentleness perswades him to read the Scriptures; he lights upon the first of John, and with it he sensibly feels a Divine Supernatu­ral Majesty and Power seizing his soul, which brought him over by a compleat Conversion to Jesus Christ. Thus, as the Woman of Tekoa told David, doth God devise means to bring back his banished.

Lavater tells us, that many Spanish Souldiers, going into the Wars of Germany, were there con­verted to Christ, by falling into the CitJes and Towns, where godly Ministers and Christians were.

Mr. Robert Bolton, though an excellent Scholar, yet in his younger years he was a very irreligious person, and a jeerer of holy men; but being cast into the company of godly Mr. Peacock, was by him brought to repentance, and proved a famous Instrument in the Church of Christ.

A scrap of paper accidentally coming to view, hath been used as an occasion of Conver­sion. This was the case of a Minister of Wales, See Fir­min' s [...] Christia [...] p. 119. who had two Livings, but took little care of ei­ther. He being at a Fair, bought something at a Pedlers Standing, and rent off a leaf of Mr. Per­kin's Catechism to wrapt it in, and reading a line or two in it, God set it home, so as it did the work.

[Page 62] The Marriage of a Godly Man into a Carnal Family, hath been ordered by Providence, for the Conversion and Salvation of many therein. Thus we read, in the Life of that renowned English Worthy Mr. John Bruen, that in his second Match it was agreed, that he should have one years diet in his Mother-in-laws house: During his abode there that year (saith Mr. Clark) the Lord was pleased by his means, graciously to work upon her Soul, as also upon his Wises Sister, and half Sister, their Brothers Mr. WillJam and Thomas Fox, with one or two of the servants in that Family.

The reading of a good Book, hath been the means of bringing others to Christ. And thus we find many of the German Divines converted, by reading Luther's Books: yea, and what is more strange, [...]l [...]yden' s [...]omment. [...]. 475. Mr. Sleyden in his Commentary tells us, that VergerJus, though he were present an eye and ear-witness to that doleful case of Spira, which one would think should move a stone, yet still continued so firm to the Popes Interest, that when he fell into some suspicion among the Cardinals, he resolved to purge himself, by writing a Book against the German Apostates: but whilst he read the Protestant Books, out of no other design, but to con [...]ute them; whilst he is weighing the Ar­guments, is himself convinced and brought to Christ. He finding himself thus overcome by the truth, imparts his conviction to his Brother, a zealous Papist also: this Brother deplores the misery of his case, and seeks to reclaim him; but VergerJus entreating him to weigh well the Prote­stant Arguments, he also yields; and so both immediately betook themselves to preach Justi­fication [Page 63] by the free grace of God through the blood of Christ.

Yea, not only the reading of a Book, or hearing a Minister, but (which is most remarkable) the very mistake or forgetfulness of a Minister, [...] cap. 15. hath been improv'd by Providence for this end and purpose. Augustine once preaching to his Congregation, forgot the Argument which first he propos'd, and fell upon the Error of the Mani­chees beside his first intention: by which discourse, he converted one Firmus his Auditor; who fell down at his feet weeping, and confessing he had lived a Manichee many years. Another I knew, who going to preach, took up another Bible than that he design'd, in which, not only missing his No [...]es, but the Chapter also in which his Text lay, was put to some loss thereby: but after a short pause, he resolv'd to speak to any other Scripture that might be presented to him, and accordingly read that Text, 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise, &c. And though he had nothing prepar'd; yet the Lord helpt him to speak both methodically and pertinently from it: by which discourse, a gracious change was wrought upon one in the Congregation, who hath since given good Evidence of a sound Conver­sion, and acknowledged this Sermon to be the first and only Means thereof.

The accompanying of others in a Neighbour­ly civil Visit, hath been over-rul'd to the same end. Thus many of the Jews accompanied Mary unto Bethany, (designing only to manifest their civil respect) but there they met Christ, saw the things which he did, and believed on him, John 11. 45.

[Page 64] Mr. Firmin in his Real ChristJan, pag. 97, 98. tells us of one, who had liv'd many years in a Town where Christ had been as clearly, and as long preached, as in any Town in England. This man when he was about seventy six years of age, went to visit a sick Neighbour. ‘A Christian friend of mine (saith mine Author) came to see him also, and finding this old man there; whom he judged, to be one that lived upon his own stock: Civility, good Works, &c. he purposely fell into that discourse, to shew how many persons lived upon their duties, but ne­ver came to Christ. The old man sitting by the bed side, heard him; and God was pleased to convince him, that he was such a person, who had lived upon himself without Christ to that day; and would say afterwards, had I dyed before threescore and sixteen, I had pe­risht, for I knew not Christ.’

The committing of a godly man to Prison, hath been the method of Providence, to save the soul of a poor Keeper. So Paul, Acts 16. 27. was made a Prisoner, to make his Keeper a spiri­tual Free-man. The like success had Dr. Barnes in Queen Mary's dayes, who afterwards celebrated the Lords Supper in Prison with his converted Keeper.

The scattering of Ministers and ChristJans by Persecution from CitJes and Towns, into the igno­rant and barbarous parts of the Countrey, hath been the way of Providence, to find out, and bring home some lost sheep that were found there, to Jesus Christ, Acts 8. 1. 4. The like signal Event hath since followed upon the like scattering of godly Ministers, whereof are many [...]

[Page 65] A. Servant running away from his Master, (like­ly upon no other design but to live an idle life) yet falling into such places and companies, as Providence ordered (in a design to him un­known) hath thereby been brought to be the servant of Christ. This was the very case of One­simus, who run away from his Master Philemon, to Rome; where by a strange Providence (possibly a meer curiosity to see the Prisoners) he there falls into Paul's hands, who begat him to Christ in his bonds, Philemon, Ver. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

Going to hear a Sermon in jest, hath proved some mens Conversion in earnest. The above named Mr. Firmin in the fore-cited Book, tells us of anotorious drunkard, whom the drunkards called Father, that one day would needs go to hear what Wilson said, out of no other design it seems, but to scoff at that holy man: but in the prayer before Sermon, his heart began to thaw; and when he read his Text, which was John 5. 14. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee: he could not contain; and in that Sermon the Lord changed his heart, though so bitter an Enemy, that the Minister on Lecture-dayes was afraid to go to Church before his shopdoor. Lo, these are parts of his wayes, but how small a portJon is known of him?

The dropping of some grave and weighty word accidentally in the presence of vain carnal persons, the death of an Husband, Wife or Child, a fit of sickness, with a thousand other such like occasions, have been thus improved by Providence to the Conversion of souls.

And no less remarkable and wonderful are the designs of Providence in ordering the removes, [Page 66] and governing the motJons of Ministers, from place to place in order unto the Conversion of souls. Thus oftentimes it carries them to places where they intended not to go; God having (unknown to them) some Elect Vessels there, who must be Called by the Gospel.

Thus Paul and Timothy (a sweet and lovely pair) when they were travelling through PhrygJa and GalatJa, were forbid to preach the Word in AsJa, to which probably their minds inclined, Acts 16. 6. and when they essayed to go into BythinJa, the Spirit suffered them not, Ver. 7. But a man of MacedonJa (i. e. an Angel in the shape or habit of a man of that Countrey) appeared to Paul in a Vision, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us, Ver. 9. and there did God open the heart of LydJa.

I knew a pious Minister now with God, who falling in his Study upon a very rouzing subject, intended for his own Congregation, was strongly moved, when he had finished it, to go to a rude, vile, prophane people, about five miles off, and first preach it to them; after many wrestlings with himself, not being willing to quench any motion that might be supposed to come from the Spirit of God, he obeyed, and went to this people, who had then no Minister of their own, and few durst come among them. And there did the Lord, beyond all expectation, open a door, and several prophane ones received Christ in that place, and engaged this Minister to a Weekly Lecture among them, in which many souls were won to [...].

[...] [...]ame holy Man, at another time, being [...] a Journey, passed by a company of vain [Page 67] persons, who were wrestling upon a Green near the road: and just as he came against the place, one of them had thrown his Antagonist, and stood triumphing in his strength and activity. This good man rode up to them, and turning his speech to this person; told him, Friend, I see you are a strong man; but yet let not the strong man glory in his strength: You must know, that you are not to wrestle with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, and spiritual wickednes [...]es: how sad will it be, that Satan should at last trip up the heels of your hope, and give you an eternal overthrow? And after about a quarter of an hours serious discourse upon this subject, he left them, and went on his Journey; but this discourse made such an imperssion, that the person had no rest, till he opened his trou­ble to a godly Minister, who wisely following the work upon his soul, saw at last the blessed issue thereof in the gracious change of the per­son, whereof he afterwards gave the Minister a joyful account. O how unsearchable are the Methods of Providence in this matter?

Nay, what is yet more wonderful, the Provi­dence of God hath sometimes ordered the very malice of Satan, and wickedness of men, as an occasion of Eternal good to their souls. A very memorable Example whereof▪ I shall here give the Reader, faithfully re [...]ing what not many years past [...]ell out in my own observation in this place, to the astonishment of many spectators.

In the year 1673. there came into this Port a Ship of Poole, in her return from Virgini [...]; in which Ship was one of that place, a lusty young man of twenty three years of age, who was Chi­rurgeon [Page 68] in the Ship. This person in the voyage fell into a deep melancholy, which the Devil greatly improved to serve his own design for the ruine of this poor man; however, it pleased the Lord to restrain him from any attempts upon his own life, until he arrived here. But shortly after his arrival, upon the Lords Day early in the morning (being in bed with his Brother) he took a knife prepared for that purpose, and cut his own throat, and withal leapt out of the bed, and though the wound was deep and large, yet thinking it might not soon enough dispatch his wretched life, desperately thrust it into his st.|mach, and so lay wallowing in his own blood, till his Brother awaking, made a cry for help: hereupon a PhysicJan and a Chirurgeon coming in, found the wound in his Throat mortal; and all they could do at present, was only to stitch it and apply a plaister, with design, rather to enable him to speak for a little while, than with any ex­pectation of cure; for before that, he breathed through the wound, and his voice was inarti­culate.

In this condition I found him that morning, and apprehending him to be within a few minutes of Eterity, I laboured to work upon his heart the sense of his condition, telling him, I had but little him to do any thing for him, and therefore desired him to let me know, what his own ap­prehensions of his present Condition were: He told me, he hoped in God for Eternal Life; I replyed, that I feared his hopes were unground­ed, for that the Scripture tells us, No Murderer hath eternal life abiding in him, but this was self-murther, the grossest of all Murthers: and insist­ing [Page 69] upon the aggravation and heinousness of the fact, I perceived his vain confidence began to fall, and some meltings of heart appeared in him. He then began to lament with many tears his sin and misery, and asked me, if there might yet be hope for one that had destroyed himself, and shed his own blood. I replyed, the sin in­deed is great, but not unpardonable; and if the Lord gave him repentancae unto life, and [...]aith to apply Jesus Christ, it should be certainly pardoned to him: and finding him unacquainted with these things, I opened to him the nature and necessity of faith and repentance, which he greedily suckt in, and with great vehemency cryed to God, that he would work them upon his soul, and intreated me also to pray with him and for him, that it might be so. I prayed with him, and the Lord thawed his heart exceedingly in that duty: loth he was to part with me; but the duties of the day necessitating me to leave him, I briefly summed up what was most necessary in my parting counsel to him, and took my leave, ne­ver expecting to see him more in this world. But beyond my own and all mens expectation, he con­tinued all that day, and panted most ardently af­ter Jesus Christ: no discourses pleased him, but Christ and faith; and in this frame I found him in the evening. He rejoiced greatly to see me again, and entreated me to continue my discourses upon these subjects; and after all told me, Sir, the Lord hath given me repentance for this sin▪ yea, and for every other sin. I see the Evil of sin now, so as I never saw it before. O I loath my self: I am a vile creature in my own eyes. I do also believe; Lord help my unbelJef. I am [Page 70] heartily willing to take Christ upon his own terms. One thing only troubles me, I doubt this bloody sin will not be pardoned. Will Jesus Christ (said he) apply his blood to me, that have shed my own blood? I told him, Christ shed his blood even for them that with wicked hands had shed the blood of Christ; and that was a sin of deeper guilt than his. Well, (said he) I will cast my self upon Christ; let him do by me what he will. And so I parted with him that night.

Next morning the wounds were to be opened; and then, the opinion of the Chirurgeons was, he would immediately expire.

Accordingly, at his desire, I came that morn­ing and found him in a most serious frame. I prayed with him, and then the wound in his sto­mach was opened, but by this time the Ventricle it self was swoln out of the orifice of the wound, and lay like a livid discoloured Tripe upon his body, and was also cut through; so that all con­cluded, it was impossible for him to live; how­ever they stitcht the wound in the stomach, en­larged th [...] Orifice, and somented it, and wrought it again into his body, and so stitching up the skin, left him to the dispose of Providence.

But so it was, that both the deep wound in his throat, and this in his stomach healed: and the more dangerous wound sin had made upon his soul, was, I trust, effectually healed also. I spent many hours with him in that sickness; and after his return home, received this account from Mr. Samuel Hardy, a Minister in that Town. Part whereof I shall transcribe.

O how unsearchable are the wayes of Provi­dence, in leading men to Christ! Let none be encouraged by this to sin, that grace may abound. These are rare and singular Instances of the mercy of God, and such as no presumptuous sin­ner can expect to find. It's only recited here, to the honour of Providence, which works for the recovery of sinners in wayes that we understand not. O what a fetch hath Providence beyond our Understandings!

And as it orders very strange occasions to 2 awaken and rouse souls at first, so it works no less wonderfully in carrying on the work to perfecti­on; and this it doth two wayes.

(1.) By quickning and reviving dying convi­ctions and troubles for sin. Souls after their first awakening, are apt to lose the sense and impres­sion of their first troubles for sin; but Providence is vigilant to prevent it; and doth effectually pre­vent it sometimes, by directing the Minister to some discourse or passage, that shall fall as pat, as if the case of such a person had been studied by [Page 72] him, and designedly spoken to. How often have I found this in the cases of many souls, who have professed they have stood amazed, to hear the ve­ry thoughts of their hearts discovered by the Preacher, who knew nothing of them! Some­times by directing them to some proper rousing Scripture, that suites their present case. And sometimes by suffering them to fall into some new sin, which shall awaken all their former troubles again, and put a new efficacy and activity into the Conscience. The world is full of Instances in all these cases, and because most Christians have experience of these things in themselves, it will be needless to recite them here. Search but a few years back, and you may remember, that according to this Account (at least, in some par­ticulars) Providence ordered the matter with you. Have you not found some rod or other prepared by Providence, to rouze you out of your securi­ty? Why, this is so common a thing with Chri­stians, that they many times presage an affliction coming from the frames they find their own hearts in.

(2.) It gives also great assistance to the work of the Spirit upon the soul, by ordering, supporting, relieving and cheering means, to prop up and comfort the soul, when it is over-burthened, and ready to sink in the deeps of troubles. I remember Mr. Bolton gives us one Instance, which fits both these cases, the reviving of convictJons, and seaso­nable supports in the deeps of troubles. And it is of a person that by convictions had been fetcht off from his wicked companions, and entered into a reformed course of life; but after this, through the inticement of his old companions, [Page 73] the subtilty of Satan, and corruption of his own heart, did again relapse into the wayes of sin. Then was Providentially brought to his view that Scripture, Prov. 1. 24, 25, 26, &c. this renewed his trouble; yea, aggravated it to a greater height than ever; insomuch that he could scarce­ly think (as it seems by the relation) his sin could be pardoned. But in this plunge, that Text Luke 17. 4. was presented to him, which sweetly setled him in a sure and glorious peace.

Nor can we here forget that miraculous work of Providence, in a time of great extremity, which was wrought for that good Gentlewoman Mrs. Honeywood, (and is somewhere mentioned by the same Author) who under a deep and sad desertion, refused and put off all comfort, seem­ing to despair utterly of the grace and mercy of God. A worthy Minister being one day with her, and reasoning against her desperate conclu­sions, she took a Venice-glass from the Table, and said, Sir, I am as sure to be damned, as this glass is to be broken; and therewith threw it forcibly to the ground; but to the astonishment of both▪ the glass remained whole and sound, which the Minister taking up with admiration, rebuked her presumption, and shewed her what a wonder Providence had wrought for her satisfaction, and it greatly altered the temper of her mind. O how unsearchable are his wayes! and his paths past finding out! Lo, these are part of his wayes; but how small a portion do we know of him?

[Page 74] ANd now suffer me to expostulate a little with thy soul Reader, hast thou been duly sensible of thy obligation to Providence, for this inestimable favour? O what hath it done for thee! there are divers kinds of mercies convey­ed to men by the hand of Providence, but none like this: in all the Treasury of its benefits, none is found like this. Did it cast thee into the way of Conversion, and order the means and occasions of it for thee, when thou little thoughtest of any such thing? How dear and sweet, should the re­membrance of it be to thy soul! Methinks it should astonish and melt you every time you re­flect upon it. Such Mercies should never grow stale, or look like common things to you: for do but seriously consider the following parti­culars.

1 How surprizing the mercy was, which it per­formed for you in that day. Providence had a design upon you, for your eternal good, which you understood not. The time of mercy was now fully come; the Decree was now ready to bring forth that mercy, with which it had gone big from Eternity, and its gracious design must be executed by the hand of Providence, so far as concerned the external means and instruments: and how aptly did it cause all things to fall in with that design, though you knew not the mean­ing of it? Look over all the before mentioned Examples, and you shall see the blessed work of Conversion begun upon those souls, when they [Page 75] minded it no more, than Saul did a Kingdom, that morning he went out to seek his Fathers Asses, 1 Sam 9. 3, 20. Providence might truly have said to you in that day, as Christ said to Peter, John 13. 7. What I do thou knowest not now, but hereafter thou shalt know it. Gods thoughts are not as our thoughts; but as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are his thoughts higher than ours, and his wayes than our wayes. Little did Zacheus think, when he climbed up into the Sycamore-tree, to see Christ as he passed that way, what a design of mercy Christ had upon him, who took thence the occasion of becoming both his Guest and Sa­vJour, Luke 19. 5, 6, 7, 8. And as little did some of you think, what the aim of Providence was, when you went (some out of custom, others out of curiosity, if not worse ends) to hear such a Sermon. O how stupendious are the wayes of God!

What a distinguishing and seasonable mercy 2 was usher'd in by Providence in that day. It brought you to the means of salvation in a good hour. At that very nick of time, when the An­gel troubled the Waters, you were brought to the Pool; to allude to that, John 5. 4. Now the accepted day was come, the Spirit was in the Or­dinance, or Providence that converted you, and you were set in the way of it. It may be, you had heard many hundred Sermons before, but no­thing would stick till now, because the hour was not come. The Lord did, as it were, call in the Word for such a man, such a woman; and Pro­vidence said, Lord, here he is, I have brought him before thee. There were many others un­der that Sermon, that received no such mercy. [Page 76] You your selves had heard many before, but not to that advantage, as it is said, Luke 4. 27. There were many Lepers in Israel in the days of Elizeus, but to none of them was the Prophet sent, save unto Naaman the SyrJan. So there were ma­ny poor unconverted souls beside you under the Word that day, and it may be, to none of them was salvation sent that day, but to you. O bles­sed Providence, that set you in the way of mercy at that time!

What a weighty and important mercy was Providentially directed to your souls that day. There are mercies of all sizes and kinds in the hands of Providence to dispense to the sons of men: its left hand is full of blessings, as well as its right. It hath health and riches, honours and pleasures, as well as Christ and Salvation to dispense. The world is full of its left hand fa­vours; but the blessings of its right hand are in­valuably precious, and few there be that receive them. It doth thousands of kind offices for men; but among them all, this is the chiefest, to lead and direct them to Christ. For consider,

(1.) Of all mercies, this comes through most and greatest difficulties, Eph. 1. 19, 20.

(2.) This is a spiritual mercy, excelling in dignity of nature all others, more than gold ex­cels the dirt under your feet, Rev. 3. 18. One such gift, is worth thousands of other mercies.

(3.) This is a mercy immediately slowing out of the fountain of Gods electing love, a mercy never dropt into any, but an Elect Vessel, 1 Thess. 1. 4, 5.

(4.) This is a mercy, that infallibly secures Calvation; for as we may argue from Conversion to [Page 77] Election, looking back, so from Conversion to Salvation, looking forward, Heb. 6. 9.

(5.) Lastly, This is an Eternal mercy, that which will stick by you, when Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Estate, Honours, Health and Life shall fail thee, John 4. 14.

O therefore set a special Mark upon that Pro­vidence, that set you in the way of this mercy. It hath performed that for thee, which all the Ministers on Earth, and Angels in Heaven could never have performed. This is a Mercy, that puts weight and value into the smallest Circum­stance that relates to it.

The Fifth Performance of Providence.
V.

THus you hear, how instrumental Providence hath been, in ordering the Means and Oc­casions of the greatest Mercies for your souls. Let us now take into consideration, Providen­tial per­formances with re­spect to our Civil Calling. another excel­lent Performance of Providence respecting the good of your bodies and souls too, in respect of that Imployment and Calling it hath ordered for you in this world; for it hath not only an Eye upon your well being in the world to come, but upon your well being in this world also; and that very much depends upon the Station and Vocation to which it calls you.

Now the Providence of God with respect to our civil Callings, may be displayed very takingly in the following particulars.

[Page 78] 1 In directing you to a Calling in your Youth, and not suffering you to live an idle, useless and sinful life, as many do, who are but burthens to the Earth, fruges consumere nati, the Wens of the body politick, serving only to disfigure and drein it, to eat what others earn. Sin brought in sweat, Gen. 3. 19. but now, not to sweat in­creaseth sin, 2 Thess. 3. 12. He that lives idly, cannot live honestly; as is plainly enough inti­mated, 1 Thess. 4. 11, 12. But when God puts men into a lawful Calling, wherein the labours of their hands or heads is sufficient for them, it is a very valuable mercy: for thereby they eat their own bread, 2 Thess. 3. 12. Many a sad Temptation is happily prevented; and they are ordinarily furnished by it, for works of mercy to others, and surely it is more blessed to give, than to receive.

2 In ordering you to such Callings and Imploy­ments in the world, as are, not only lawful in themselves, but most suitable to you. There be many persons imployed in sinful Trades and Arts, meerly to furnish other mens lusts: they do not only sin in their Imployments; but their very Imployments are sinful: they trade for Hell, and are Factors for the Devil. DemetrJus and the Crafts-men at Ephesus, got their Estates by make­ing Shrines for DJana, Acts 19. 24, 25. ( i. e.) little cases, or boxes with folding leaves, within which the Image of that Idol sate enshrined. These were carried about by the People in Pro­cession, in honour of their Idol. And at this day, how many wicked Arts and Imployments are there invented, (and multitudes of persons main­tained by them) meerly to gratifie the pride [Page 79] and wantonness of a debauched age?

Now to have an honest lawful imployment, wherein you do not dishonour God in benefiting your selves, is no small mercy.

But if it be not only lawful in it self, but suited to your genJus and strength, there is a dou­ble mercy in it. Some poor Creatures are en­gaged in Callings, that eat up their time and strength, and make their lives very uncomfor­table to them: they have not only spending and wasting Imployments in the world; but such as allow them little or no time for their general Cal­ling: and yet all this doth but keep them and theirs alive. Oh therefore, if God have [...]itted you with an honest Imployment, wherein you have Iess toil than others, and more time for Hea­venly Exercises, ascribe this benefit to the special care of Providence for you.

In setling you in such an Imployment and Cal­ling 3 in the world, as possibly neither your selves nor Parents could ever expect you should arrive to. There are among us such persons, as on this account are signally obliged to Divine Pro­vidence. God hath put them into such a way, as neither they nor their Parents ever projected. For, look as the Flower-de-luce in the Campass, turns now this way, then that way, and never ceases moving, till it settle to the North point; just so it is in our setlement in the world. A Child is now designed for this, then for that, but at last setles in that way of Imployment which Provi­dence designed him to. How strangely are things wheeled about by Providence! not what we, or our Parents, but what God designed shall take place. Amos was very meanly employed at [Page 80] first, but God designed him for a more honoura­ble and comfortable Calling, Amos 7. 14, 15. Da­vid followed the Ewes, and likely never raised his thoughts to higher things in the dayes of his youth; but God made him the Royal Shepherd of a better flock, Psalm 78. 70, 71. Peter and Andrew were imployed as Fisher-men, but Christ calls them from that to an higher Calling, Matth. 4. 18, 19. to be fishers of men. Pareus when h [...] was fourteen years old, was by the instigation of his Step-mother, placed with an Apothecary; but Providence so wrought, that he was taken off from that, and sitted for the Ministry; wherein he became a fruitful and eminent Instrument to the Church. James Andreas was by reason of his Fathers inability to keep him at School, de­signed for a Carpenter; but was afterwards by the perswasion of friends, and assistance of the Church-stock sent to Stutgard, and thence to the Univer­sity, and so arrived to a very eminent station of service to the Chruch. A master builder Oeco­lampadJus was by his Father designed for a Mer­chant; but his Mother by earnest entreaties, pre­vailed to keep him at School: and this Man was a blessed Instrument in the reformation of Reli­gion, I might easily cite multitudes of such In­stances; but a taste may suffice.

4 In securing your Estates from ruine, Job 1. 10. Hast thou not made an hedge about him, and all that he hath? This is the Enclosure of Providence, which secures to us, what by its favour we acquire in the way of honest industry.

5 In making your Calling sufficient for you. It was the prayer of Moses f [...]r the Tribe of Judah, Exod. 33. 7. Let his hands be sufficJent for him: [Page 81] and it is no small mercy, if yours be so to you. Some there be that have work, but not strength to go through with it; others have strength, but no imployment for it. Some have hands, and work for them; but it's not sufficient for them and theirs. If God bless your labours, so as to give you and yours necessary supports, and com­fort in the world by it, it's a choice Providence, and with all thankfulness to be acknowledged.

Object. 1. Object. IF any that fear God shall complain, That although they have a Calling, yet it is an hard and laborious one, which takes up too much of their time, which they would gladly imploy in other, and better work. I answer,

(1.) It's like, Sol. Wisdom of Providence foresaw this to be the most suitable and proper Imploy­ment for you; and if you had more ease and rest, you might have more temptations than now you have: the strength and time which is now taken up in your daily labours, wherein you serve God, might otherwayes have been spent upon such lusts wherein you might have served the Devil.

(2.) Hereby it may be, your health is the better preserved, and natural refreshments made the sweeter to you, Eccle [...]. 5. 12. The sleep of a labouring man is sweet to him, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich, will not suffer him to sleep.

(3.) And as to the service of God, if your hearts be spiritual, you may enjoy much Com­munion with God in your very Imployments, and you have some intervals and respits for that pur­pose. [Page 82] Have you not more spare hours, than you imploy to that end?

Object 2. [...]bject. 2. BVt all my labours will scarcely suffice, to procure me and mine the Necessa­ries of life. I am kept short and low to what others are; and this is a sad affliction.

Though the Wisdom of Providence hath or­dered you a lower, [...]. and poorer condition than others, yet (1.) Consider how many there be that are lower than you in the world: you have but little of the world; yet others have less. Read the description of those persons, Job 30. 4, &c. (2.) If God have given you but a small portion of the world; yet if you be godly, he hath promised never to forsake you, Heb. 13. 5 (3.) Providence hath ordered that condition for you, which is really best for your eternal good. If you had more of the world than you have, your heads and hearts might not be able to manage it to your advantage. A small Boat must have but a narrow Sail. You have not wanted hitherto the necessaries of life, and are commanded, having food and rayment (though none of the finest) to be therewith content. A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked, Psal. 37. 16. better in the AcquisitJon, sweeter in the FruitJon, and more com­fortable in the Account.

Well then, if Providence hath so disposed of you all, that you can eat your own bread, and so advantagiously directed some of you to im­ployments, that afford not only necessaries for [Page 83] your selves and families, but an overplus for works of mercy to others, and all this brought about for you in a way you did not project; let God be owned, and honoured in this Providence. Will you not henceforth call him, My Father, the Guide of my youth? as it is Jer. 3. 4. Surely, it was the Lord that guided you to setle as you did in those dayes of your youth: You reap at this day, and may to your last day, the fruits of those early Providences in your youth.

NOw see that you walk answerably to the obligations of Providence in this particu­lar; and see to it in the fear of God, that you abuse not any of those things to his dishonour, which he hath wrought for your comfort. To prevent which, I will here drop a few needful Cautions, and shut up this particular.

Be not slothful and idle in your VocatJons. 1. Cautio [...] It's said, Augustus built an Apragapolis, a City void of business; but I am sure God never erected any City, Town or Family to that end. The Com­mand to Adam, Gen. 3. 19. no doubts reaches all his posterity: and Gospel-Commands back and second it upon Christians, Rom. 12. 11. and 1 Thess. 4. 11. If you be negligent, you cannot be innocent. And yet,

Be not so intent upon your particular Callings, 2. Cautio [...] as to make them interfere with your general Calling. Beware you lose not your God in the Crowd and hurry of Earthly business. Mind that solemn warning, 1 Tim. 6. 9. But they that will be rich fall into TemptatJon, and a snare, and [Page 84] into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destructJon and perditJon. The inhabitants of O Enoc, a dry Island near Athens, bestowed much labour to draw in a River to water it, and make it fruitful; but when the Sluces were opened, the waters slowed so abundantly, that it overflowed the Island, and drowned the Inhabitants. The application is obvious. It was an excellent say­ing of Seneca, rebus non me trado, sed commodo. I don't give, but lend my self to business.

Remember alwayes, [...]. Caution the success of your Cal­lings and earthly Imployments is by Divine bles­sing, not humane diligence alone, Deut. 8. 18. Thou shalt remember the Lord they God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth. The Devil himself was so far Orthodox, as to acknowledge it, Job 1. 10, Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hand, &c. Recommend therefore your affairs to God by prayer, according to Psal. 37. 4, 5. Delight thy self also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. And touch not with that which you can­not recommend to God by Prayer for a blessing.

Be well satisfied in that Station and Imploy­ment in which Providence hath placed you, [...]. Caution and do not so much as wish your selves in another, 1 Cor. 7. 20. Let every man abide in the same Cal­ling, wherein he was called. Providence is wiser than you, and you may be confident hath suited all things better to your Eternal good, than you could do, had you been left to your own option,

The Sixth Performance of Providence.
VI.

THus you see, the care Providence hath had over you in your youth, in respect of that Civil Imployment to which it guided us in those dayes.

We will in the next place consider it as our Guide, Providen­tial per­formances with re­spect to [...] our Civil [...] Relations. and the Orderer of our RelatJons for us. That Providence hath a special hand in this mat­ter, is evident both from Scripture assertions, and the acknowledgements of holy men, who in that great concernment of their lives, have still owned, and acknowledged the directing hand of Providence. Take an instance of both. The Scripture plainly asserts the dominion of Provi­dence over this affair in Prov. 19. 14. A prudent Wife is from the Lord: and Prov. 18. 22. Whos. findeth a Wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord. So for Children, see Psal. 127. 3. Lo, Children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the Womb is his reward.

And it hath ever been the practice of holy men, to seek the Lord for direction and counsel, when they have been upon the change of their condition. No doubt but Abraham's encourage­ment in that case was the fruit of prayer, Gen. 24. 7. His pious servant also, who was im­ployed in that affair, did both earnestly seek counsel of God, Gen, 24. 12. and thankfully ac­knowledge his gracious Providence in guiding it, Ver. 26, 27.

[Page 86] The same we may observe in Children, the fruit of marriage, 1 Sam. 1. 20. Luke 1. 13, 14. Now the Providence of God may be divers wayes displayed for the engaging of our hearts in love to the God of our mercies.

(1.) There is very much of Providence seen in appointing the Parties each for other. In this, the Lord goes oftentimes beyond our thoughts and projections; yea, and oftentimes crosses mens desires and designs to their great advantage. Not what they fancy; but what his infinite wis­dom judges best, and most beneficial for them takes place. Hence it is, that probabilities are so often dashed; and things remote and utterly improbable are brought about, in very strange and unaccountable methods of Providence.

(2.) There is much of Providence seen in the harmony and agreeableness of tempers and dispositions; from whence a very great part of the tranquillity and comforts of our lives results: or at least, though natural tempers and educations did not so much harmonize before, yet they do so after they come under the Ordinance of God, Gen. 2. 24. They two shall be one flesh, not one only in respect of Gods institutJon, but one in re­spect of love and affectJon, that those who so lately were meer strangers to each other, are now endeared to a degree beyond the nearest re­lations in blood. Vbi supra, For this cause shall a man leave Father and Mother, and shall cleave to his Wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

(3.) But especially, Providence is remarka­ble, in making one instrumental to the eternal good of the other, I Cor. 7. 16. How knowest thou, O Wife, but thou maist save thy Husband? or [Page] how knowest thou, O Man, whether thou shalt save thy Wife? Hence is that grave Exhortation to the Wives of unbelieving Husbands, 1 Pet. 3. 1. to win them by their conversation, which should be to them in stead of an ordinance.

Or if both be gracious, then what singular as­sistance and mutual help is hereby gained to the furtherance of their Eternal good? Whilst they live together as Heirs of the grace of life, I Pet. 3. 7. O blessed Providence! that directed such into so intimate relation on Earth, who shall inherit together the common SalvatJon in Heaven!

(4.) How much of Providence is seen in Children the fruit of MarrJage? To have any Po­sterity in the Earth, and not be left altogether as a dry tree: To have comfort and joy in them, is a special Providence, importing a special mer­cy to us. To have the breaches made upon our Families repaired, is a Providence to be owned with a thankful heart. When God shall say to a man, as he speaks in another case to the Church, Isa. 49. 20. The Children which thou shalt have after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, the place is too strait for me, &c

And these Providences will appear more af­fectingly sweet and lovely to you, if you but compare its allotments to you, with what it hath allotted to many others in the world. For do but look abroad, and you shall find,

(1.) Multitudes unequally yoked, to the im­bittering of their lives, whose Relations are clogs and hinderances both in Temporals and Spirituals. Yea, we find an account in Scripture of gracious persons, a great part of whose com­fort in this world hath been split upon this [Page 88] Rock. Abigail was a discreet and vertuous W [...] ­man, but very unsuitably matched to a churlish Nabal; see 1 Sam. 25. 25. What a temptation to the neglect of a known duty, prevail'd upon the renowned Moses, by the means of Zipporah his Wife? Exod. 4. 24, 25. David had his scoffing Michal, 2 Sam. 6. 20. And patient Job no small addition to all his other afflictions, from the Wife of his bosom, who should have been a support to him in the day of his trouble, Job 19. 17.

No doubt, but God sanctifies such rods to his Peoples good. If Socrates knew how to improve his affliction in his Zantippe, to the increase of his patience; much more will they who converse with God under all Providences, whether sweet or bitter. Nevertheless this must be acknow­ledged to be a sad stroke upon any person, and such as maims them upon the working hand, by unfitting them for duty, 1 Pet. 3. 7. and cuts off much of the comfort of life also.

(2.) How many are there, who never enjoy the comfortable fruits of Marriage? but are de­nyed the sight, at least, the enjoyment of Chil­dren, Jer. 22. 30. Thus saith the Lord, write this man Childless, &c. or if they have Children, yet cannot enjoy them, Hosea 9. 12. Though they bring up Children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left; who only bear for the grave, and have their expectations raised for a greater affliction to themselves.

(3.) And it is no rare or unusual thing to see Children and near Relations the greatest Instruments of affliction to their Parents and Friends: so that after all their other sorrows [Page 89] and troubles in the World, nearest Relations bring up the rear of sorrows (as One speaks) and prove greater griefs than any other. Mr. T. C. in his Isa [...]gog [...] O how many Parents have complained with the Tree in the Fable, that their very hearts have been rived asunder with those Wedges that were cut out of their own bodies? What a grief was Esau to Isaac and Rabecka? Gen. 26. 34, 35. What a scourge were Absalom and Amnon to David?

Well then, if God have set the solitary in Fa­milJes, as it is Psal. 68. 6. built an house for the desolate, given you comfortable relations, which are springs of daily comfort and refreshment to you, you are upon many accounts engaged to walk answerably to these gracious Providences. And that you may understand wherein that deco­rum and agreeable comportment with these Pro­vidences consists, take up the sense of your duty in these brief hints.

(1.) Ascribe to God the glory of all those 1 Providential works which yield you comfort. You see a wise, directing, governing Providence, which hath disposed and ordered all things be­yond your own projections and designs. The way of man is not in himself, nor is it in him that walketh to direct his own steps, Jer. 10. 23. Not what you projected, but what an higher counsel than yours determined, is come to pass. Good Jacob when God had made him the Father of a Family, ad­mired God in the mercy, Gen. 32. 10. With my staff (said he) I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. And how doth this mer­cy humble and melt him? I am not worthy of the least of all the mercJes, and of all the [...], which thou hast shewed unto thy servant.

[Page 90] 2 Be exact in discharging the duties of those Re­lations which so gracious a Providence hath led you into. Abuse not the effects of so much mer­cy and love to you. The Lord expects praise, where ever you have comfort. This aggravated David's sin, that he should dare to abuse so great love and mercy, as God had shewn him in his Family Relations, 2. Sam. 12. 7, 8, 9.

3 Improve Relations to the end Providence de­signed them. Walk together as Co-heirs of the grace of life: study to be mutual blessings to each other: so walk in your Relations, that the parting day may be sweet. Death will shortly break up the Family; and then nothing but the sense of duty discharged, or the neglects par­doned, will give comfort.

The Seventh Performance of Providence.
VII.

YOu have heard how well Providence hath performed its part of you, providen­ [...]ial provi­ [...]ion for us [...]nd ours. in planting you into families, who once were solitary. Now let us in the next place view another gracious performance of Providence for us, in making provisJon from time to time for us and our FamilJes. I the rather put these Providences together in this place, because I find the Scripture doth so, Psalm 107. 41. He setteth the poor on high from af­flictJon, and maketh him familJes like a flock.

You know the Promises God hath made to his People, Psal. 34. 10. The young LJons shall lack, [Page 91] and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord, shall not want any good thing. And have you not also seen the constant performance of it? Cannot you give the same answer, if the same question were propounded to you that the Disciples did, Luke 22. 35. Since I sent you forth, lacked ye any thing? and they said, nothing. Can ye not with Jacob, call him, the God that fed you all your life long? Gen. 48. 15. Surely he hath given bread to them that fear him, and been ever mindful of his Cove­nant, Psal. 111. 5.

To display this Providence, we will consider it in the following particulars.

(1.) The assiduity and constancy of the care of Providence for the Saints, Lam. 3. 23. His mercJes are new every morning. It is not the supply of one or two pressing needs, but all your wants, as they grow from day to day through all your dayes, Gen. 48. 15. The God that fed me all my life long. The care of Providence runs parallel with the line of life. See Isa. 46. 3, 4. Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are born by me from the belly, which are carryed from the Womb: and even to your old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry. you: I have made, and I will bear, even I will carry, and will deliver you. So that as God bid Israel, Micah 6. 5. to remember from Shittim [...] unto Gilgal, that they might know the faithfulness of the Lord; so would I perswade thee, Reader, to re­cord the wayes of Providence, from first to last, throughout thy whole course of this day, that thou maist see what a God he hath been to thee.

[Page 92] (2.) The seasonableness, and opportuneness of its provisions for them: for so runs the promise, Isa. 41. 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 so hath the performance of it been. And this hath been made good to di­stressed Saints sometimes in a more ordinary way, God secretly blessing a little, and making it suf­ficient for us and ours: Job tells us of the secret of God upon his Tabernacle, Job 29. 4. ( i. e.) his secret blessing is in their Tabernacles; by reason whereof it is that they subsist; but it is in an unaccountable way that they do so. And some­times in an extraordinary way it breaks forth for their supply. So you find in 2 Kings 17. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. the Cruse and Barrel sail not.

Mr. Samuel Clarke, [...], Vol. [...]. 342. in the Life of that painful and humble servant of Christ Mr. John Fox, re­cords a memorable Instance of Providence, and it is this, That towards the end of King Henry the Eighth his Reign he went to London, where he quickly spent that little his friends had given him, or he had acquired by his own diligence, and began to be in great want. As one day he sate in Paul's Church, spent with long fasting▪ his countenance thin, and his eyes hollow, aft [...] the ghastful manner of dying men, every one shun­ning a Spectacle of so much horror: There came one to him, whom he had never seen be­fore, and thrust an untold summ of money into his hand, bidding him, be of good cheer, and accept that small gift in good part from his Countrey-man; and that he should make much of himself, for that within a few dayes new hopes [Page 93] were at hand, and a more certain condition of livelihood. Three dayes after the Dutchess of Richmond sent for him to live in her house, and be Tutor to the Earl of Surrey's Children, then under her care.

Mr. Isaac Ambrose a worthy Divine, whose la­bours have made him acceptable to his genera­tJon, in his Epistle to the Earl of Bedford pre­fixed to his Last things, gives a pregnant Instance in his own case; his words are these; For mine own part, ( saith he) however the Lord hath seen cause to give me but a poor pittance of outward things, for which I bless his name; yet in the income thereof, I have many times observed so much of his peculiar Providence, that thereby they have been very much sweetned, and my heart hath been raised to ad­mire his grace. When of late under an hard di­spensation (which I judge not meet to mention) wherein I suffered conscientiously) all streams of wont­ed supplyes being stopt, the waters of relief for my self and family did run low▪ I went to bed with some staggerings and doubtings of the Fountains let­ting out it self for our refreshing; but e're I did awake in the morning, a Letter was brought to my bed side, which was signed by a choice friend Mr. Anthony Ash, which reported some unexpected breakings out of Gods goodness for my comfort. These are some of his lines—Your God who hath given you an heart thankfully to record your experi­ences of his goodness, doth renew experiences for your encouragement. Now I shall report one, which will raise your spirit toward the God of your mer­cies. Whereupon he sweetly concludes, One morsel of Gods provision, especially when it comes in un­expected and upon prayer, when wants are most, will [Page 94] be more sweet to a spirituall relish, than all former enjoyments were.

(3.) The Wisdom of Providence in our pro­visions. And this is discovered in two things: (1.) In proportioning the quantity, not satisfying our extravagent wishes, but answering our real needs; consulting our wants, not our wantonness, Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your wants; and this hath exactly suited the wishes of the best and wisest men, who desired no more at its hand. So. Jacob, Gen. 28. 20. and Agur, Prov. 30. 8, 9. Wise Providence considers our condition as Pil­grims and Strangers, and so allots the VJaticum provision, that is needful for our passage home. It knows the mischievous influence of fulness and redundancy upon most men, though sanctified; and how apt it is to make them remiss, and for­getful of God, Deut. 6. 12. that their hearts, like the Moon, suffers an Eclipse when it is at the full; and so [...]a [...]ts 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 scars to arise, out of design to magnifie the care and love of God in the supply, Deut. 8. 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 our eyes thereby.

And now let me beg you to consider the good hand of Providence, that hath provided for, and suitably supplyed you and yours all your dayes, and never failed you hitherto: and labour to walk suitably to your experiences of such mercies. In order whereunto, let me press [Page 95] a few suitable Cautions upon you.

Beware, that you forget not the care and 1 kindness of Providence which your eyes have seen in so many fruits and experiences thereof. It was Gods charge against Israel, Psal. 106. 3. that they soon forgat his wondrous works. A bad heart and a slippery memory, deprive men of the com­fort of many mercies, and defraud God of the glory due for them.

Do not distrust Providence in future exigen­cies. 2 Thus they did, Psal. 78. 20. Behold, he smote the rock, that 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 effects?

Do not murmur and regret under new straits. 3 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-handedness of Provi­dence. And if we did but consider, that there lyes upon God no obligation of Justice or Gra­titude to reward any of our duties, it would cure our murmurs, Gen. 32. 10.

Do not shew the least discontent at the lot 4 and portion Providence carves out to you. O that you would be well pleased and satisfied with all its appointments. Say as Psal. 16. 6. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Surely that is best for you, which Providence hath appointed, and one day you your selves will judge it so to be.

[Page 96] 5 Do not neglect Prayer when straits befall you. You see it's 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. 41. 17. as well as expressed in the Command, Phil. 4. 6. Remember God, and he will not forget you.

6 Do not distract your hearts with sinful cares, Matth. 6. 25, 26. Consider the fowls 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 pro­mise to you, and by these things work your hearts to satisfaction and content with all the allot­ments of Providence.

The Eighth Performance of Providence.
VIII.

THe next great advantage and mercy the Saints receive from the hand of Providence, [...]roviden­ [...]al per­ [...]rmances [...] our [...]reserva­ [...]on from [...] power [...] Tem­ [...]tation. is in their preservatJon from the snares, and tempta­tJons of sin, by its preventing care over them. That Providence wards off many a deadly 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. 10. 13. God will with the temptatJon make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Providence gives an out-let for the souls escape, when it is shut up into the [Page 97] dangerous straits of Temptation. There are two eminent wayes whereby the force and effica­cacy of temptation is broken in believers. One is by the operation of internal grace, Gal. 5. 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 Providence; 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. 19. 11. The Sodomites were greedily pursuing their lusts: God providentially hinders it, by smiting them blind. Jeroboam intends to smite the Prophet; Providence interpos'd, and wither'd his arm, 1 Kings 13. 4. Thus you see, when wicked men have contrived, and are ready to execute their wickedness, Providence claps on its manacles, that their hands cannot perform their enterprises, as it is Job 5. 12.

And so much corruption there remains in 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 do of themselves: for though they make con­science of keeping themselves, and daily watch their hearts and wayes, 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 wayes.

[Page 98] (1.) Sometimes by stirring up others to interpose with seasonable counsels, which effectu­ally disswade them from prosecuting an evil design. Thus Abigail meets David in the nick of time, and disswades him from his evil pur­pose, 1 Sam. 25. 34.

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 [...]ew knocks at the door, the Gentleman himself came to him, and askt him, whether he had any business to him: Mr. Dod answered, no: but that he could not be quiet till he had seen him. O Sir, (reply'd the Gentleman,) you are sent of God at this hour, for just now (and with that, takes the Halter out of his pokcet,) I was going to destroy my self. And thus was the mischief prevented.

(2.) Sometimes by hindering the Means and Instruments, whereby the Evil it self is prevent­ed. Thus, when good Jehosaphat had joyned himself with that wicked King AhazJah, to build Ships at EzJon-Gaber to go to Tarshish, God pre­vents the design, by breaking the Ships with a storm, as you read, 2 Chron. 20. 35, 36, 37.

We find also in the Life of Mr. Bolton, written 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. Bolton's good parts, and perceiving that he was in some outward wants, took this advan­tage, [Page 99] and used many arguments to perswade him to be reconciled to the Church of Rome, and to go over with him to the English Seminary, 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 was appointed in Lancashire, where they should meet and take ship­ping and be gone: but Mr. Anderton came not, and so he escaped the share.

(3.) Sometimes by laying some strong af­fliction upon the body, Some af­flictions are [...] pu­nishments, others are [...], [...] chastise­ments, and these are both [...], tryals of grace, and [...], preserva­tives from sin. to prevent a worse evil. And this is the meaning of Hosea 2. 6. I will hedge up her way with thorns. Thus Basil was a long time exercised with a violent head-ach, which (as he observed) was used by Providence to pre­vent Lust. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, a mes­senger of Satan sent to busset him: and this af­fliction, whatever it was, was ordained to pre­vent pride in him, 2 Cor. 12. 7.

(4.) Sometimes sin is prevented in the Saints, by the better information 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 own 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 them by their ends and issues, not their present appearances, Psal. 73. 12, 13, 17.

[Page 100] (5.) And sometimes the Providence of God prevents the sins of his people, by removing them out of the way of Temptations by death. In which sense we may understand that Text, Isa. 57. 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 tryals and temptati­ons which are drawing on, it is with respect to them a merciful Providence, to be disbanded by death, and set out of harms 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 preventing Providence fore-mentioned in 1 Sam. 25. 34. He blesses the Lord, the Instrument, and the Counsel by which his soul was preserved from sin. Do but seriously bethink your selves of a few particulars about this case. 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, Jam. 1. 14. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed. You found your selves but feathers in the wind of temptation.

(2.) How near you have been brought to the brink of sin, and yet saved by a merciful hand of Providence. May you not say with him in Prov. 5. 14. I was almost in the midst of all evil: [Page 101] or as Psal. 73. 2. My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slidden. O merciful Provi­dence! that stept in so opportunely to your relief.

(3.) How many have been suffered to fall by the hand of Temptations to the reproach of Re­ligion, and wounding of their own Consciences, to that degree, that they have never recovered former peace again; but lived in the world de­void of comfort to their dying day?

(4.) How woful your case had been, if the Lord had not mercifully saved you from many thousand temptations, that have assaulted you? I tell you, you cannot estimate the mercies you possess by means of such Providences. Are your names sweet, and your Consciences 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. Don't impute your escapes from sin to accidents, or to your own watchfulness or wisdom.

(2.) See that you tempt not Providence on the other hand, by an irregular relyance upon its care over you, without taking all due care of your selves. Keep your selves in the love of God, Jude 21. Keep your hearts with all diligence, Prov. 4. 23. Though Providence keep you, yet it is in the way of your duty.

The Ninth Performance of Providence.
IX.

THus you see what care Providence hath had over your souls, Providen­ [...]ial pre­ [...]entions of bodily [...]angers. in preventing the spiritual dangers and miserJes that else would have befallen you in the way of temptatJons: in the next place I will shew you, that it hath been no less careful for your bodJes, Psal. 17. 8. Thou keep­ [...]st me as [...]he apple [...]f thine eye. The eye [...]ath five Tunicks [...] guard it [...]gainst danger. (1.) Ara­ [...]i [...]a tunica, [...]ike a Spiders web. (2.) Retiformis, like a net. (3.) Uvea, like a ber­ [...]y. (4.) Cornea, like an horn. (5.) Adnata tunica, the cover or lid of the eye; here is guard upon guard, resembling the various wayes Providence hath to secure us from ruine. and with how great tenderness it hath car­rJed them in its arms through innumerable hazards▪ and dangers also. He is called the keeper of Israel that never slumbereth nor sleepeth, Psal. 121. 4. the preserve of men, Job. 7. 20. To display the glory of this Providence before you, let us take into consideration, The perils into which the best of men sometimes fall, and the way and means by which Providence preserves them in those dangers.

There are manifold hazards into which we are often cast in this World. The Apostle Paul gives us a general account of his dangers, in 2 Cor. 11. 26. And how great a wonder is it, that our life hath not been extinguished in some of those dangers we have been in? For,

[Page 103] (1.) Have not some of us fallen, and that often into very dangerous sicknesses and diseases, in which we have approached to the very brink of the grave? and have or might have said with HezekJah, See Job 33. 18, 19, 20, 21. & 28. Isa. 38. 10. I said in the cutting off of my dayes, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years. Have we not often had the sentence of death in our selves? and our bodies at that time been like a leaky Ship in a storm (as One aptly resembles it) that hath taken in water on every side, Mr. T. Goo [...] ­win in his Aggrava­tion of sin against mercy, p. 30. till it was rea­dy to sink? Yet hath God preserved, careened, and lanched us out again as well as ever. Oh what a wonder is it, that such a crazy body should be preserved for so many years, and sur­vive so many dangers! Surely, it is not more admirable to see a Venice-glass pass from hand to hand in continual use for forty or fifty years, The Eye is but a small part of the body, yet Physicians reckon no less than thirty dis­eases incident to it. Nascuntur in [...]o leucoma, glaucoma, lippitudo, xerophthalmJa, sicus, lithJasis, epiphora & trignita id genus vitJa. and still to remain whole, notwithstanding many knocks and falls it hath had. If you enjoy health or recover out of sicknesses, it is because he puts none of these diseases upon thee, or because he is the Lord thy PhysicJan, Exod. 125. 26.

(2.) And how many deadly dangers hath his hand rescued some of you from, in those years of confusion and publick calamity, when the Sword was bathed in blood, and made horrid slaughter, when it may be, your lives were of­ten given you for a prey? This David put a spe­cial remarque upon, Psal. 140. 7. O God the Lord, the strength of my salvatJon; thou hast covered my head in the day of Battel.

[Page 104] Beza being in France in the first Civil War, and there tossed up and down for two and twenty months, recorded six hundred deliverances from dangers in that space, for which he solemnly gave God thanks in his last Testament. If the Sword destroyed you not, it was because God did not give it a Commission so to do.

(3.) Many of you have seen wonders of salva­tion upon the deeps, where the hand of God hath been signally stretched forth for your rescue and deliverance. This is elegantly expressed in Psal [...] 107. 23, 24▪ 25, 26, 27. (which I have See my Seaman' s Companion, p. 41. else­where opened at large) concerning which, you may say in a proper sense, what the Psalmist doth metaphorically, Psal. 124. 1. & 4. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul. To see men that have spent so many years upon the Seas, (where your lives have continually hang­ed in suspense before you) attain to your years, when you could neither be reckon'd among the living nor the dead (as Seamen are not) Oh, what cause have you to adore your great pre­server! Many thousands of your Companions are gone down, and you yet here to praose the Lord among the Living. You have bordered nearer to Eternity all you [...] dayes than others, and often been in eminent perils upon the Seas, sure­ly such, and so many Salvations call aloud upon you for most thankful acknowledgements.

(4.) To conclude, how innumerable hazards and accidents, (the least of which hath cut off others) hath God carried us all through! I think I may safely say, your privative and positive mercies of this kind are more in number than the [Page 105] hairs of your heads. Many thousands of these dangers we never saw, nor were made particu­larly sensible of; but though we saw them not, our God did, and brought us out of danger, be­fore he brought us into fear. Some have been evident to us, and those so remarkable, that we cannot think, or speak of them to this day, but our souls are freshly affected with those mercies.

It is recorded of our famous Jewell, Clark's Lives, p. 262. that about the beginning of Queen Mary's Reign, the Inquisition taking hold of him in Oxford, he fled to London by night; but providentially losing the Road, he escaped the Inquisitors who pursued him: however, he fell that night into another eminent hazard of life, for wandering up and down in the snow, he fainted, and lay starv­ing in the way, panting and labouring for life, at which time Mr. Latimer's servant found and saved him.

It were easie to multiply Examples in this kind, Histories abounding with them; but I think there are few of us, but are furnisht out of our own experience abundantly; so that I shall rather chuse to press home the sense of these Providences upon you, in order to a suita­ble return to the God of your mercies for them, than add more Instances of this kind. To this purpose, I desire you seriously to weigh the fol­lowing particulars.

(1.) Consider what you owe to Providence for your protection, by which your life hath been protracted unto this day, with the usefulness and comfort thereof. Look abroad in the world, and you may daily see some in every place, who [Page 106] are Objects of pity, bereaved by sad accidents of all the comforts of life, The learn­ed Alsted sets him­self to enumerate the mani­fold ha­zards through which the life of man is carrJed in the hand of Provi­dence, in Theol. Catechet. p. 191, 192, &c. and pJously concludes in these words, Denique, qu [...]d ab innumeris malis, quae ab omnibus creaturis omni tempore tibi impendent, mirabiliter libera [...]is; in his omnibus inquam, quae s [...]imus [...]rebro evenire solita, ac proinde it a se habent, ut nobis quoque possint evenire, solam Dei providentiam debes suspicere & praedicare. whilst in the mean time Providence hath tenderly preserved you, keeping all your bones, so that not one of them is broken, Psal. 34. 20. Is not the Elegant and Comely Structure of thy Body spoiled, thy members d [...] ­storted, or made so many seats of Torment, the usefulness of any part deprived? why, this is be­cause Providence never quitted its hand of thee since thou camest out of the womb, but with 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 dayes of your unregeneracy, when ye yJelded your members as Instruments of unrighte­ous [...]ess unto sin, (as the Apostle speaks in Rom. 6. 13.) but even since you gave them up in Covenant unto the Lord, as dedicated Instruments to his service: and yet how 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 in moral evil; but O 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; [Page 107] why doth it protect you so assiduously, and suffer no evil to befall you? Is it not that you should imploy your bodies for God, and cheerfully ap­ply your selves 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 Christs purchase, as well as your souls, 1 Cor. 6. 19. They are committed to the charge and Tutelage of Angels, Heb. 1. 14. who have performed many services for them. They are dedicated by your selves to the Lord, and that upon the highest account, Rom. 12. 1. They have alrea­dy been the subjects of manifold mercies in this world, Psal. 35. 10. and shall partake of singu­la [...] glory and happiness in the world to come, Phil. 3. 21. And shall they not then be employ­ed, yea, cheerfully worn out in his service? How reasonable is it they should be so? Why are they so tenderly preserved by God, if they must not be used for God?

The Tenth Performance of Providence.
X.

YOu have heard many and great things per­forme [...] for you by Divine Providence, [...]viden­ [...] Assi­ [...]ces in [...] work [...] Mortifi­ [...]on 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 little minded by us, and that is, The Aid and assistance it gives the people of God in the great work of MortificatJon.

Mortification of our sinful affections and pas­sions, is the one half of our Sanctification, Rom. 6. 11. dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God.

It's the great Evidence of our Interest in Christ. See Gal. 5. 24. Rom. 6. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

It's our safety in the hour of Temptation. The corruptions in the world are through lust, 2 Pet. 1. 4.

Our Instrumental fitness for service, depends much upon it, 2 Tim. 2. 21. John 15. 2. How great a service to our souls therefore must that be, by which this blessed work is carried on up­on them?

Now there are two Means or Instruments im­ployed in this work. The Spirit, who effects it internally, Rom. 8. 13. And Providence, which as­sists it externally. 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. [Page 109] But these are secondary and subordinate means, which by the blessing of the Spirit upon them, have a great stroke in the work. How 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 dispensations 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. 1. 11. Rom. 8. 28. Hence it is, that the Spirit is said to be in, and order the motions of the wheels of Providence, Ezek. 1. 20. 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 conformable to his design external Providences are steer'd and order'd in the fol­lowing particulars.

(1.) There is in all the regenerate a strong propension and inclination to sin, and in that lyes a principal part of the power of sin. Of this Paul sadly complains, Rom. 7. 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 my members: and every be­liever daily [...]inds it to his grief. O 'tis hard, 'tis hard to forbear those things that grieve God. God hath made an 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 [Page 110] of sin; look, as the Spirit internally resists those sinful inclinations, so Providence externally layes barrs and blocks in our way to hinder and pre­vent sin: and this is the meaning of those places lately cited, Hosea 2. 6. & 2 Cor. 12. 7. So Job 33. 17, 18, 19. There is many a bodily distem­per inflicted on this very score, to be a clog to prevent sin: Oh bear them patiently upon this consideration. Basil was [...]orely grieved with an inveterate head-ach, he earnestly prayes, it might be removed; God removed it: 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 off.

A Question may be moved here, [...]. Whether it be the genJus and property of a gracJous spirit, to for­bear sin, because of the rod of afflictJon? They have surely higher motives and nobler principles than these. This is the temper of a carnal and sla­vish spirit.

Indeed it is so, when this is the sole or prin­cipal restraint from sin: when a man abhorrs not sin, because of the intrinsick [...]ilth, but only be­cause of the troublesome consequents and effects. But this is vastly different from the case of the Saints under sanctified afflictions; for as they have high [...]r motives and nobler principles, so they have lower and more sensible ones too; and these are, in their kind and place, very useful to them. (2.) Besides, you must know, that afflicti­ons work in another way upon gracious hearts to restrain them from sin, or warn them against sin, th [...]n they do upon others. It is not so much [Page 111] the smart of the rod which they feel, as the to­kens of Gods displeasure, which affrights and scares them, Job 10. 17. Thous renewest thy wit­nesses against me, &c. and this is that which prin­cipally affects them. See Psal. 6. 1. O Lord, re­buke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure: and Jer. 10. 24. O Lord, cor­rect me, but with judgement, not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing: and surely this is no low and common argument.

(2.) Notwithstanding this double sence of Gods command, and preventive afflictions, yet sin is too hard for the best of men: their cor­ruptions carry them through all to sin. And when it is so, not only doth the Spirit work internally, but Providence also works externally in order to their reductJon. The wayes of sin are not only made bitter unto them, by the remorse of Con­science, but by those afflictive rods upon the out­ward man, with which God also follows it; and in both these respects, I find that place expound­ed, Eccles. 10. 8. Whoso breaketh an hedge, a Ser­pent shall bite him. If, as some expound it, the hedge be the Law of God, then the Serpent is the remorse of Conscience, and the sharp teeth of af­flictJon, which he shall quickly feel, if he be one that belongs to God.

The design and aim of these afflictive Provi­dences, is to purge and cleanse them from that pollution into which temptations have plunged them, Isa. 27. 9. By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin. To the same purpose is that place, Psal. 119. 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word. These afflictions have [Page 112] the same use and end to our souls, that frosty weather hath upon those clothes that are laid a bleaching; they alter the hue, and make it whiter, which seems to be the allusion in those words, Dan. 11. 35. And some of them of under­standing shall fall to try them, and to purge, and to make them white.

And here it may be querJed, [...]. Upon what account afflictions are said to purge away the iniquities of the Saints. Is it not unwarrantable, and very disho­nourable to Christ, to attribute that to affliction, which is the peculiar honour of his blood?

It is confessed, [...]. that the blood of Christ is the only Lavatory, or Fountain opened for sin, and that no afflictions how many, or strong, or con­tinual soever they be, can in themselves purge away the pollution of sin, as we see in wicked men, who are afflicted and afflicted, and again afflicted; and yet, nevertheless sinful: and the Torments of Hell, how extream, universal and continual soever they are, yet shall never fetch out the stain of one sin.

But yet, this hinders not, but that a sancti [...]ied affliction, may in the efficacy and vertue of Christs blood, produce such blessed effects upon the soul. Though a Cross without a Christ, never did any man good, yet thousands have been beholden to the Cross, as it hath wrought in the vertue of his death for their good. And this is the case of those souls that this discourse is concerned about.

(3.) We find the best hearts, if God bestow any comfortable enjoyment upon them, too ap [...] to be over-heated in their affections towards it▪ [Page 113] and to be too much taken up with these outward comforts. This also sheweth the great power and strength of corruption in the people of God, and must by some means or other be morti [...]ied in them.

This was the case of HezekJah, his heart was too much affected with his treasures; so that he could not hide a vain-glorious temper, as you find Isa. 39. 2. and so good David, Psal. 30. 7. he thought his Mountain, ( i.e. his Kingdom, and the splendour and glory of his present state) had stood so fast, that it should never be moved.

The same good man, how did he let out his heart and affections upon his beautiful Son Absa­lom? as appears by the doleful lamentation he made at his death, prizing him above his own life, which was a thousand times more worth than he.

So Jonah, when God raised up a Gourd for him to shelter him from the Sun, how excessively was he taken with it, and was exceedingly glad of it?

But will God suffer things to lye thus? Shall the Creature pu [...]oin, and draw away our affe­ctions from him? No, this is our corruption, and God will purge it. And to this end he sends forth Providence to smite those Creatures, on which our affections are either inordinately or excessively let out, or else to turn them into rods, and smite us by them.

[...]s HezekJah too much pu [...]ed up with his full Exchequer? Why, those very BabylonJans to whom he boasted of it, shall empty it, and make a prey of it, Isa. 39. 6.

Is David hugging himself in a fond conceit of [Page 114] the stability of his Earthly Splendor? Lo, how soon God beclouds all, Psal. 30. 7. Is Absalom doted on, and crept too far into his good Fathers heart? this shall be the Son of his sorrow, that shall seek after his Fathers life.

Is Jonah so transported with his Gourd? God will prepare a Worm to smite it, Jonah 4. 6, 7.

How many Husbands, Wives and Children hath Providence smitten upon this very account? It might have spared them longer, if they had been loved more regularly, and moderately. This hath blasted many an Estate, and hopeful project; and it is a merciful dispensation for our good.

(4.) The strength of our unmortified Cor­ruption shews it self in our pride, and the swel­ling vanity of our hearts when we have a name and esteem among men; when we are applauded and honoured, when we are admired for any gift or excellency that is in us, this draws forth the pride of the heart, and shews the vanity that is in it. So you read, Prov. 27. 21. As the [...]ining pot for silver, and the [...]urnace for▪ gold, so is a man to his praise: (i.e.) as the [...]ornace will discover what dross is in the metal when it is melted, so will praise and commendations, discover what pride is in the heart of him that receives them. This made a good man say, He that praises me, wounds me. And which is more strange, this cor­ruption may be felt in the heart, even when the last breath is ready to expire. It was the saying of one of the German Divines, when those about him recounted for his encouragement the many services he had done for God, auferte ignem (saith he) adhuc enim paleas habeo. Take away the sire, [Page 115] for there is still the chaff of pride in me. To crucifie this corruption Providence takes off the bridle of restraint from ungodly men, and sometimes permits them to traduce the names of Gods servants, as Shimei did David's. Yea, they shall fall into disesteem among their friends, as Paul did among the CorinthJans; and all this to keep down the swelling of their spirits at the sense of those excellencies that are in them: The design of these Providences being nothing else, but to hide pride from man. Yea, it deserves a spe­cial remarque, that when some good men have been engaged in a publick and eminent work, and have therein, it may be, too much sought their own applause, God hath withheld usual as­sistance at such times from them, and caused them to salter so in their work, that they have come off with shame and pity at such times, how ready and presential soever they have been at other times. It were easie to give divers remarkable examples to confirm this Observation. But I pass on.

(5.) The corruption of the heart shews it self, in raising up great expectations to our selves from the Creature, and projecting abundance of felicity and contentment from some promising and hopeful enjoyments we have in the world. This we find to have been the case of holy Job in the dayes of his prosperity, Job 28. 19. Then I said, I shall dye in my nest, I shall multiply my dayes as the sand. But how soon were all these expe­cta [...]ions dasht by a gloomy Providence, that be­nighted him in the Noon-tide of his prosperity: and all this for his good, to take off his heart more fully from creature expectations. We [Page 116] often find, the best men to over-reckon themselves in worldly things, and over-act their confidences about them. They that have great and well-grounded expectations from Heaven, may have too great and ungrounded expectations from the Earth. But when it is so, it's very usual for Providence to undermine their Earthly hopes, and convince them by experience how vain they are. Thus Haggai 1. 9. the peoples hearts were intently set upon prosperous Providences, full Harvests, and great Increase; whilst in the mean while no regard was had to the Worship of God, and the things of his House; therefore Providence blasts their hopes, and brings them to little.

(6.) Corruption discovers it self in depen­dance upon Creature comforts, and sensible props. Oh how apt are the best men, to lean upon these things, and stay themselves upon them! Thus did Israel stay themselves upon Egypt, as a feeble man would lean upon his staff; but God suffered it both to fail them, and wound them, Ezek. 29. 6, 7, 8. So for single persons, how apt are they to depend upon their sensible supports? Thus we lean on our Relations, and the inward thoughts of our hearts are, that they shall be to us so many springs of comfort to refresh us throughout our lives; but God will shew us by his Providence our mistake and error in these things. Thus an Husband is smitten, to draw the soul of a Wife nearer to God in dependence upon him, 1 Tim. 5. 5. So for Children, we are apt to say of this or that Child, as Lamech of Noah, Gen.5. 29. This same shall comfort us; but the wind passes over these slowers and they are [Page 117] withered, to teach us, that our happiness is not bound up in these enjoyments. So for our Estates, when the world smiles upon us, and we have got a warm nest, how do we prophesie of rest and peace in those acquisitions, minding, with good Baruch, great things for our selves; but Providence by a particular or general calami­ty over-turns our projects, as Jer. 45. 4, 5. and all this to reduce our hearts from the Creature, to God our only rest.

(7.) Corruption discovers its strength in good men, by their adherence to things below, and lothness to go hence. This often proceeds from the engaging enjoyments and pleasant fru­itions we have here below. Providence morti [...]ies this inclination in the Saints, (1.) By killing those ensnaring comforts before-hand, making all or most of our pleasant things to dye before us. (2.) By imbittering this world to us, by the trou­bles of it, (3.) By making life undesirable, through the pains and infirmities we feel in the body, and so loosing our root, in order to our more easie fall by the fatal stroke.

And thus I have finished the Second General Head; but before I pass from this, I cannot but make a pause, and desire you with me, to stand in an holy amazement, and wonder at the deal­ings of God with such poor worms as we are! Surely God deals familiarly with men! his con­descensions to his own clay are astonishing! All that I shall note at present about it, shall be un­der these three heads, wherein I find the matter of my present meditations summed up by the Psalmist, Psal. 144. 3. Lord what is man, that thou t [...]kest knowledge of him? or the son of man, that [Page 118] thou makest account of him? And in this Scripture you have represented,

1 The immense and transcendent goodness of God, who is infinitely above us and all our thoughts, Job 11. 7, 8, 9. Canst thou by searching, find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as Heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than Hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the Earth, and broader than the Sea. 2 Chron. 2. 6. The Heaven and Hea­ven of Heavens cannot contain him. Exod. 15. 11. He is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. When the Scripture speaks of him com­paratively, see how it expresses his greatness, Isa. 40. 15, 16, 17. Behold the Nations are as the drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold he taketh up the Isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the Beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt-offering. All Nations before him are as nothing, and they are ac­counted to him less than nothing and vanity. When the holJest men have addrest themselves to him, see with what humility and deep adoratJon they have spoken of him and to him! Isa. 6. 5. Wo is me for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts. Nay, what aspects the very Angels of Heaven have of that glorJous Majesty, you may see, Ver. 2, 3. Each one had six wings, with twain [...]e covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain be did fly. And one cryed un­to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole Earth is full of his glory.

[Page 119] The baseness, vileness and utter unworthiness 2 of Man, yea, the holiest and best of men before God, Psal. 39. 5. Verily every man, at his best estate, is altogether vanity. Every man, take where you will: and every man in his best estate, or stand­ing in his freshest glory, is, not only vanity, but altogether vanity. Col Adam col Hebel, every man [...]s every vanity. For do but consider the best of men in their ExtractJon, in their ConstitutJon, and in their outward ConditJon.

(1.) In their ExtractJon, Eph. 2. 3. By nature Children of wrath even as others. The blood that [...]uns in our veins, is as much tainted as theirs in Hell.

(2.) Consider them in their ConstitutJon and [...]atural temper, and it is no better, yea, in many a worse temper than in Reprobates: and though grace depose sin in them from the Throne; yet▪ Oh what offensive and God provoking corrupti­ons daily break out of the best hearts!

(3.) Consider them in their outward ConditJon, [...]nd they are inferiour (for the most part) to [...]thers, 1 Cor. 1. 26, 27, 28, &c. and Matth. 1. 25. I thank thee O Father (saith Christ) that [...]ou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent, [...]nd hast revealed them unto Babes.

And now let us consider and admire, that ever 3 his great and blessed God should be so much [...]ncerned as you have heard he is in all his Pro­ [...]dences about such vile despicable Worms as [...]e are! He needs us not, but is perfectly blessed [...]nd happy in himself without us. We can add [...]othing to him, Job. 22. 2. Can a man be profitable God? No, the holiest of men add nothing to [Page 120] him; yet, see how great account he makes of us. For,

1 Doth not his eternal electing love bespeak the dear account he made of us, Eph. 1. 4, 5. How ancient, how free, and how astonishing is this act of grace! This is that design which all Providences are in pursuit of, and will not rest till they have executed.

2 Doth not the gift of his only Son out of his bosome speak this truth, That God makes great account of this vile thing Man? Never was man so magnified before. If David could say, Psal. 8. [...]. When I consider the Heavens the work of thy hands, the Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained, Lord, what is man? How much more may we say? when we consider thy Son, that lay in thy bosome, his infinite excellency, and unspeakable dearness to thee; Lord, what is man, that such a Christ should be delivered to death for him! for him, and not for fallen Angels! Heb. 2. 16. for him when in a state of enmity with God! Rom. 5. 8.

3 Doth not the assiduity of his Providential care for us, speak his esteem of us? Isa. 27. 3. [...] any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. H [...] withdraweth not his eye from the righteous, Job▪ 36. 7. no, not a moment all their dayes; for did he so, a thousand mischiefs in that moment woul [...] rush in upon him, and ruine him.

4 Doth not the tenderness of his Providenc [...] speak his esteem of us? Isa. 66. 13. as one whom his Mother comforteth, so will I comfort you. He comforts his ( viz. by refreshing Providences) a [...] an indulgent Mother her tender Child. So Isa▪ [Page 121] 31. 5. As birds flying, viz. to their nests, when their young are in danger, so he defends his. No [...] tenderness in the Creature can shadow forth the tender bowels of the Creator.

Doth not the variety of the fruits of his Pro­vidence 5 speak it? Lam. 3. 23. Our mercJes are new every morning. See Psal. 40. 5. It is a foun­tain from which do stream forth spiritual and temporal, ordinary and extraordinary, publick and personal mercies, mercies without number.

Doth not the ministration of Angels in the 6 Providential Kingdom speak it? Heb. 1. ult. Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth, &c.

Doth not the Providence, which this day calls 7 us to celebrate the memory of, Preached Novemb. V. bespeak the great account God hath for his people? O if not so, why had we not been given up as a prey to their teeth! See Psal. 124. If the Lord had not been on our side, then wicked men, there compar'd to fire, water, wild beasts, had devoured us. O blessed be God for that teeming Providence that hath already brought forth more than seventy years liberty and peace to the Church of God. I shall move in behalf of this Providence, that you would do by it, as the Jows by their Purim, Esth. 9. 27, 28. and the rather, because we seem now to be as near danger by the same Enemy as ever since that time: and if such a mercy as this be forgotten, God may say as Judges 10. 13. I will deliver you no more.