The Mystery of Providence

I the condescension of God to your request for those mercies, Psalm 34 verse 6. This is the sweetest bit of any enjoyment, in which a man can consciously relish the return and answer of his prayers, and it greatly inflames the soul's love to God, Psalm 116 verse 1. I the design and end of God in all your comforts, know that it is not sent to satisfy the cravings of your sensual appetite, but to quicken and enable you for a more cheerful discharge of your duty, Deuteronomy 28, 47. I the way and method in which your mercies are conveyed to you. They all flow to you through the blood of Christ and the covenant of grace, 1 Corinthians 3 verses 22 and 23. Mercies derive their sweetness from the channel through which they run to us. I the distinguishing goodness of God in all the comfortable enjoyments of your lives. How many thousands better than you are denied these comforts, Hebrews 11, 37. I then all as comforts appointed to refresh you in your way to far better and greater mercies than themselves. The best mercies are still reserved till last, and all these are introductive to better. In all the sad and afflictive providences that befall you, I God as the author and orderer of them also. So he represents himself to us. Behold, I create evil and devise a device against you, Jeremiah 18, 11. Is there evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it? Amos 3, 6. Set before you the sovereignty of God. I him as a being infinitely superior to you, at whose pleasure you and all you have subsist. Psalm 115, verse 3. Which is the most conclusive reason and argument for submission. Psalm 46, 10. If we and all we have proceeded from his will, how right is it that we be resigned up to it? It is not many years ago since we were not, and when it pleased him to bring us upon the stage of action, we had no liberty of contracting with him on what terms we would come into the world, or refuse to be, except we might have our being on such terms as we desired. His sovereignty is gloriously displayed in his eternal decrees and temporal providences. He might have put you into what rank of creatures he pleased. He might have made you the most despicable creatures, worms or toads, or, if men, the most vile, abject and miserable among men. And when you had run through all the miseries of this life, have damned you to eternity, made you miserable forever, and all this without any wrong to you. And shall not this quiet us under the common afflictions of this life? Set the grace and goodness of God before you in all afflictive providences. O see him passing by you in the cloudy and dark day, proclaiming his name, the Lord God Merciful and Gracious, Exodus 34, 6. There are two sorts of mercies that are seldom eclipsed by the darkest affliction that befalls the saints in their temporal concerns, that is, sparing mercy in this world and saving mercy in that to come. It is not so bad now as it might be, and we deserved it should be, and it will be better hereafter. This the Church observed and reasoned herself quiet from it, Lamentations 3.22. Has he taken some? He might have taken all. Are we afflicted? It is a mercy we are not destroyed. O if we consider what temporal mercies are yet spared, and what spiritual mercies are bestowed and still continued to us, we shall find cause to admire mercy rather than complain of severity. I the wisdom of God in all your afflictions, behold it in the choice of the kind of your affliction, this and not another, the time, now and not at another season, the degree, in this measure only and not in a greater, the supports offered you under it, not left altogether helpless, the issue to which it is overruled, it is to your good, not ruin. Look upon these, and then ask your heart that question God asked Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry? 4.9. Surely when you consider all, what need you had of those rods, that your corruptions will require all this, it may be much more to mortify them, that without the perishing of these things you might have perished forever. You will see great reason to be quiet and well satisfied under the hand of God. Set the faithfulness of the Lord before you under the saddest providences. So did David. Psalm 119 verse 75. This is according to his covenant faithfulness. Psalm 89 verse 32. Hence it is that the Lord will not withhold a rod when need requires it. 1 Peter 1.6. Nor will he forsake his people under the rod when he inflicts it. 2 Corinthians 4.9. O what quietness will this breed! I see my God will not loose my heart if a rod can prevent it. He would rather hear me groan here than howl hereafter. His love is judicious, not fond. He consults my good rather than my ease. I the all-sufficiency of God in the day of affliction, see enough in him still whatever is gone. Here is the fountain still as full as ever, though this or that pipe is cut off, which was wont to convey somewhat of it to me. O Christians, cannot you make up any loss this way? Cannot you see more in God than in any or all the creature comforts you have lost? With what eyes then do you look upon God? Lastly, I the immutability of God, look on him as the rock of ages, the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1.17. I Jesus Christ as the same yesterday, today, and forever. O how quietly will you then behave yourselves under the changes of providence! It may be two or three days have made a sad change in your condition. The death of a dear relation has turned all things upside down. That place is empty where lately he was. As it is, neither shall his place know him any more. Job 7.10. While God is what he was and where he was, time shall make no change upon him. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever. Isaiah 40.6-8. O how composing are those views of God to our spirits under dark providences! Lastly, work up your hearts to those frames, and exercise those affections, which the particular providences of God that concern you call for. Ecclesiastes 7.14. As there are various affections planted in your souls, so there are various graces planted in those affections and various providences appointed to draw forth and exercise these graces. When the providences of God are sad and afflictive, either upon the church in general or your families and persons in particular, then it is seasonable for you to exercise godly sorrow and humility of spirit. For in that day and by those providences, God calls to it. Isaiah 22.12 and Micah 6.9. Now sensual pleasure and natural joy is out of season. Should we then make mirth? Ezekiel 21.10. If there is a filial spirit in us, we cannot be light and vain when our father is angry. If there is any real sense of the evil of sin which provokes God's anger, we must be heavy hearted when God is smiting for it. If there is any sense and compassion for the miseries that sin brings upon the world, it will make us say with David, I beheld the transgressors and was grieved. Psalm 119.158. It is sad to consider the miseries that they pull down upon themselves in this world and that to come. If there is any care in us to prevent utter ruin and stop God in the way of his anger, we know this is the means to do it. Amos 4.12. However sad and dismal the face of providence is, yet still maintain spiritual joy and comfort in God under all. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3.17.18 There are two sorts of comforts, natural and sensual, divine and spiritual. There is a time when it becomes Christians to exercise both. Esther 9.22 And there is a time when the former is to be suspended and laid by. Psalm 137.2 But there is no season wherein spiritual joy and comfort in God is unseasonable. 1 Thessalonians 5.16 Philippians 4.4 This spiritual joy or comfort is nothing else but the cheerfulness of our heart in God and the sense of our interest in Him and in His promises. And it is sure that no providence can render this unseasonable to a Christian. Let us suppose the most afflicted and calamitous state a Christian can be in, yet why should sad providences make him lay aside his comforts in God when those are but for a moment and these eternal? 2 Corinthians 4.17 Why should we give up our joy in God on account of sad providences without when at the very worst and lowest ebb, the saints have infinitely more cause to rejoice than to be cast down? There is more in one of their mercies to comfort them than in all their troubles to deject them. All your losses are but as the loss of a farthing to a prince. Romans 8.18 Why should they be sad as long as their God is with them in all their troubles? As Christ said, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Matthew 9.15 So say I, can the soul be sad while God is with it? Oh, I think that one promise, I will be with him in trouble. Psalm 91.15 Shall bear you up under all burdens. Let them be cast down that have no God to turn to in trouble. Why should we be sad as long as no outward dispensation of providence, however sad, can be interpreted as a mark or sign of God's hatred or enmity? There is one event to the righteous and wicked. Ecclesiastes 9.2-3 Indeed, if it were a sign of the Lord's wrath against a man, it would justify our dejection. But this cannot be so. His heart is full of love while the face of providence is full of frowns. Why should we be cast down under sad providences while we have so great security that even by the hands of these providences, God will do us good and all these things shall turn to our salvation? Romans 8.28 By these, God is but killing your lusts, weaning your hearts from a vain world, preventing temptations and exciting your desires after heaven. This is all the hurt they shall do you and shall that sadden us? Why should we give up our joy in God when the change of our condition is so near? It is but a little while and sorrows shall flee away. You shall never suffer again. God will wipe away all tears. Revelation 7.17 While then, you see there is no reason on account of providence to give up your joy and comfort in God. But if you will maintain it under the providences, then be careful to make sure of your interest in and title to God. Faith may be separated from comfort, but assurance cannot. Mortify your inordinate affections to earthly things. This makes providences that deprive and cross us so heavy. Mortify your opinion and affection and you will lighten your affliction. It is strong affection that makes strong affliction. Dwell much upon the meditation of the Lord's near approach, and then all these things will seem but trifles to you. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4.5 Exercise heavenly mindedness, and keep your hearts upon things eternal under all the providences with which the Lord exercises you in this world. Noah walked with God, Genesis 6.9, yet met with as sad providences in his day as any man that ever lived since his time. But alas, we find most providences rather stops than steps in our walk with God. If we are under comfortable providences, how sensual, wanton, and worldly do our hearts grow. And if sad providences befall us, how cast down or disturbed we are. And this comes to pass partly through the narrowness but mostly through the deceitfulness of our spirits. Our hearts are narrow and know not how to manage two businesses of such different natures as earthly and heavenly matters are without detriment to one of them. But certainly such a frame of spirit is attainable that will enable us to keep on in an even and steady course with God whatever befalls us. Others have attained it, and why not we? Prosperous providences are for the most part a dangerous state to the soul. The moon never suffers an eclipse but it's full. Yet Jehoshaphat's grace suffered no eclipse from the fullness of his outward condition who had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 17 verses 5 and 6 David's life was as full of cares, turmoils, and encumbrances as most men we read of. Yet how spiritual the attitude of his heart was. That excellent book of Psalms which was mostly composed amidst those turmoils will acquaint us. The apostles were cast into as great necessities and suffered as hard things as ever men did. Yet how raised and heavenly their spirits were amidst all. And certainly, if it were not possible to maintain heavenly mindedness in such a state and posture of affairs God would never exercise any of his people with such providences. He would never give you so much of the world to lose your hearts in the love of it or so little to distract you with the care of it. If therefore we were more deeply sanctified and the tendencies of our hearts heavenward more ardent and vigorous if we were more mortified to earthly things and could but keep our due distance from them our outward conditions would not at this rate draw forth and exercise our inward corruptions nor would we hazard the loss of so sweet an enjoyment as our fellowship with God for the sake of any concern our bodies have on earth. Under all providences maintain a contented heart with what the Lord allots you be it more or less of the things of this world. This grace must run parallel with all providences. Learn how to be full and how to suffer want and in every state to be content. Philippians 4 verses 11 and 12 In this duty all men are concerned at all times and in every state not only the people of God but even the unregenerate also. I will therefore address some considerations proper to both and first to the unregenerate to stop their mouths from complaining and charging God foolishly when providence crosses them. Let them seriously consider these four things first that hell and eternal damnation are the portion of their cup according to the tenor of law and gospel threatenings. Whatsoever therefore is short of this is to be admired as the fruit of God's stupendous patience and forbearance toward them. Ah poor souls! Do you not know that you are men and women condemned to wrath by the plain sentence of the law? Mark 16 16 John 3 36 and 2 Thessalonians 1 verses 6 and 7 And if so surely there are other matters to exercise your thoughts desires fears and cares about than these. Alas if you cannot bear a frown of providence a light cross in these things how will you bear the everlasting burnings? A man that is to lose his head tomorrow is not very concerned about what bed he lies on or how his table is furnished the night before. Consider though you are condemned persons and have no promise to entitle you to any mercy yet there are very many mercies in your possession at this day. Be your condition as afflictive as it will is life nothing especially considering where you must sink to when that thread is cut. Are the necessary supports of life nothing? Does not providence minister to you these things that you daily disoblige it and provoke God to send you to your own place? But above all are the gospel and precious means of salvation nothing by which you yet are in a capacity of escaping the damnation of hell? O what would the damned say if they were but put into your condition once more? What and yet fret against God because everything else does not suit your desires? Consider that if ever you are rescued out of that miserable condition you are in such cross providences as these you complain of are the most probable means to do it. Alas prosperity and success is not the way to save but to destroy you. Proverbs 1 verse 32 You must be bound in fetters and held in cords of affliction if ever your ear is to be open to instruction. Job 36 verses 8 through 10 Woe to you if you go unsmoothly in the way in which you are and meet with no crosses. Lastly consider that all your troubles under which you complain are pulled down upon your heads by your own sins. You turn God's mercies into sin and then fret against God because he turns your sins into sorrow. Your ways and doings procure these things to you. Lay your hand therefore upon your mouth and say Wherefore does a living man complain? A man for the punishment of his sins. Lamentations 3 verse 39 But now I must turn to the Lord's people who have least pretenses of all men to be dissatisfied with any of God's providences and yet are but too frequently found in that attitude. And to them I shall offer the following considerations. Consider your spiritual mercies and privileges with which the Lord Jesus has invested you and complain at your providential lot if you can. One of these mercies alone has enough in it to sweeten all your troubles in this world. When the apostle considered them his heart was overwhelmed with astonishment so that he could not forbear in the midst of all his outward troubles to cry out Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. Ephesians 1 verse 3 O who that sees such an inheritance settled upon him in Christ can never open his mouth again to complain at his providential lot. Consider your sins and that will make you contented with your lot. Yea, consider two things in sin what it deserves from God and what it requires to mortify and purge it in you. It deserves from God eternal ruin. The merit of hell is in the least vain thought. Every sin forfeits all the mercies you have and if so, rather wonder your mercies are so many than that you have no more. Besides, you cannot doubt but your corruptions require all the crosses, wants and troubles that are upon you and it may be a great deal more to mortify and subdue them. Do you not find after all the rods that have been upon you a proud heart still, a vain and earthly heart still? O how many bitter portions are necessary to purge out this tough malignant disease. Consider how near you are to the change of your condition. Have but a little patience and all will be as well with you as your hearts can desire. It is no small comfort to the saints that this world is the worst place that they shall ever be in. Things will get better every day with them. If the traveler has spent all his money yet it does not much trouble him if he knows himself to be within a few miles of his own home. If there are no candles in the house we do not much trouble over it if we are sure it is almost break of day for then there will be no use for them. This is the case with us for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Romans 13 11 I have done with the directive part of this discourse but before I proceed further I judge it necessary to leave a few cautions to prevent the abuse of providence. If providence delays the performance of any mercy to you that you have long waited and prayed for yet see that you do not despond nor grow weary of waiting upon God for that reason. It pleases the Lord often to try and exercise his people this way and make them cry, How long Lord, how long? Psalm 13 verses 1 and 2 These delays both for spiritual and temporal reasons are frequent and when they befall us we are too apt to interpret them as denials and fall into a sinful despondency of mind though there is no cause at all for it. Psalm 31 verse 12 and Lamentations 3 verses 8 and 44 It is not always that the returns of prayer are dispatched to us in the same hour they are asked of God yet sometimes it falls out so. Isaiah 65 verse 24 and Daniel 9 verse 23 But though the Lord means to perform for us the mercies we desire yet he will ordinarily exercise our patience to wait for them and that for these reasons. One is that our time is not the proper season for us to receive our mercies in. Now the season of mercy is a very great circumstance that adds much to the value of it. God does not judge as we do we are all in haste and will have it now. Numbers 12 verse 13 For the Lord is a God of judgment blessed are all they that wait for him. Isaiah 30 verse 18 Another reason is that afflicted providences have not accomplished that design upon our hearts they were sent for when we are so earnest and impatient for a change of them until then the rod must not be taken off. Isaiah 10 verse 12 Again the more prayers and searchings of heart come between our needs and supplies our afflictions and reliefs the sweeter are our reliefs and supplies thereby made to us. Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us. This is the Lord we have waited for him we will rejoice and be glad in his salvation. Isaiah 25 verse 9 This recompenses the delay and pays us for all the expenses of our patience. But though there are such weighty reasons for the stop and delay of refreshing comfortable providences yet we cannot bear it our hands hang down and we faint I am weary of my crying my throat is dried mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. Psalm 69 verse 3 For alas we judge by sense and appearance and do not consider that God's heart may be towards us while the hand of his providence seems to be against us. If things continue as they are we think our prayers are lost and our hopes perished from the Lord. Much more when things grow worse and worse and our darkness and trouble increase as usually they do just before the break of day and change of our condition then we conclude God is angry with our prayers. See Gideon's reply. Judges 6.13 This even staggered a Moses faith. Exodus 5 verses 22 and 23 Oh what groundless jealousies and suspicions of God are found at such times in the hearts of his own children. Job 9 verses 16 and 17 and Psalm 77 verses 7 through 9 But this is our great evil and to prevent it in future trials I will offer a few proper considerations in the case. First the delay of your mercies is really for your advantage. You read and therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious. Isaiah 30 verse 18 What is that? Why it is nothing else but the time of his preparation of mercies for you and your hearts for mercy that so you may have it with the greatest advantage of comfort. The foolish child would pluck the apple while it is green but when it is ripe it drops off of its own accord and is more pleasant and wholesome. Secondly it is a greater mercy to have a heart willing to refer all to God and be at his disposal then to enjoy immediately the mercy we are most eager and impatient for. In that God pleases you in this you please God. A mercy may be given you as the fruit of common providence but such an attitude of heart is the fruit of special grace. So much as the glorifying of God is better than the satisfaction and pleasure of the creature so much is such a frame better than such a fruition. Thirdly expected mercies are never nearer than when the hearts and hopes of God's people are lowest thus in their deliverance out of Egypt and Babylon. Ezekiel 37 verse 11 So we have found it in our own personal concerns at evening time it shall be light. Zechariah 14 7 When we look for increasing darkness light arises. Fourthly our unfitness for mercies is the reason why they are delayed so long. We put the blocks into the way of mercies and then repine that they make no more haste to us. Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear but your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear. Isaiah 59 1 and 2 Fifthly consider that the mercies you wait for are the fruits of pure grace. You do not deserve them nor can claim them upon any title of desert and therefore have reason to wait for them in a patient and thankful frame. Lastly consider how many millions of men as good as you by nature are cut off from all hope and expectation of mercy forever and there remains to them nothing but a fearful expectation of wrath. This might have been your case and therefore do not be of an impatient spirit under the expectations of mercy. Do not pry too curiously into the secrets of providence nor allow your shallow reason arrogantly to judge and censure its designs. There are hard texts in the works as well as in the word of God. It becomes us modestly and humbly to reverence but not to dogmatize too boldly and positively upon them. A man may easily get a strain by overreaching. When I thought to know this said Asaph, it was too painful for me. Psalm 73 verse 16 I thought to know this there was the arrogant attempt of reason, there he pried into the mystery of providence but it was too wonderful for me it was useless labor as Calvin expounds it. He pried so far into that puzzling mystery of the afflictions of the righteous and prosperity of the wicked till it began envy towards them and despondency in himself. Psalm 73 verses 3 and 13 and this was all he got by summoning providence to the bar of reason. Holy Job was guilty of this evil and frankly ashamed of it. Job 42 verse 3 I know there is nothing in the word or in the works of God that is repugnant to sound reason but there are some things in both which are opposite to carnal reason as well as above right reason and therefore our reason never shows itself more unreasonable than in summoning those things to its bar which transcend its fear and capacity. Many are the mischiefs which ensue upon this practice. By this we are drawn into an unworthy suspicion and distrust of the faithfulness of God in the promises. Sarah laughed at the tidings of the son of promise because reason contradicted and told her it was naturally impossible. Genesis 18 verse 13 and 14 Hence comes despondency of mind and faintness of heart under afflictive providences. Reason can discern no good fruits in them nor deliverance from them and so our hands hang down in a sinful discouragement saying all these things are against us. First Samuel 27 verse 1 Hence flow temptations to deliver ourselves by indirect and sinful means. Isaiah 30 verses 15 and 16 When our own reason fills us with a distrust of providence it naturally prompts us to sinful expedience and there leaves us entangled in the snares of our own making. Beware therefore that you do not lean too much to your own reasonings and understandings. Nothing is more plausible nothing more dangerous. Chapter 10 The Advantages of Meditating on Providence Having given direction for the due management of this great and important duty what remains but that we now set our hearts to it and make it the constant work of every day throughout our lives. Oh what peace, what pleasure, what stability, what holy courage and confidence would result from such an observation of providence as has been recommended. But alas we may say with reference to the voices of divine providence as it is written For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. Job 33 verse 14 Many a time providence has spoken instruction in duty, conviction for iniquity, encouragement under despondency, but we do not regard it. How greatly are we all wanting in our duty and comfort by this neglect. It will be needful therefore to spread before you the loveliness and excellence of walking with God in a due and daily observation of his providences that our souls may be fully engaged to it. First let me offer this as a moving argument to all gracious souls that by this means you may maintain sweet and conscious communion with God from day to day. And what is there desirable in this world in comparison with that? For thou Lord has made me glad through thy work. I will triumph in the works of thy hands. Psalm 92 verse 4 Your hearts may be as sweetly refreshed by the works of God's hands as by the words of his mouth. Psalm 104 is all spent in the consideration of the works of providence which so fill the psalmist's heart that by way of ejaculation he expresses the effect of it. My meditation of him shall be sweet. Verse 34 Communion with God properly and strictly taken consists of two things that is God's manifestation of himself to the soul and the soul's answerable returns to God. This is that fellowship we have here with God. Now God manifests himself to his people by providences as well as ordinances. Neither is there any grace in a sanctified soul hid from the gracious influences of his providential manifestations. Sometimes the Lord manifests his displeasure and anger against the sins of his people in correcting and rebuking providences. His rods have a chiding voice. Hear ye the rod and who hath appointed it? Micah 6 9 This manifestation of God's anger kindly melts and thaws a gracious soul and produces a double sweet effect upon it namely repentance for sins past and due caution against future sins. It thaws and melts the heart for sins committed. Thus David's heart was melted for his sin when the hand of God was heavy upon him in affliction. Psalm 32 verses 4 and 5. Thus the captive church upon whom fell the saddest and most dismal providence that ever befell any of God's people in any age of the world. See how their hearts are broken for sin under this severe rebuke. Lamentations 2 verses 17 through 19 and then it produces caution against sin for the time to come. It is plain that the rebukes of providence leave this effect upon gracious hearts. Ezra 9 verses 13 and 14 and Psalm 85 verse 8 Sometimes God cheers and comforts the hearts of his people with smiling and reviving providences both public and personal. There are times of lifting up as well as casting down by the hand of providence. The scene changes. The aspects of providence are very cheerful and encouraging. Their winter seems to be over. They put off their garments of mourning and then all sweet returns are made to heaven by gracious souls. Does God lift them up by prosperity? They also will lift up their God by praises. Psalm 18 title and verses 1 through 3 So Moses and the people with him, Exodus 15 When God had delivered them from Pharaoh, how they exalt him in a song of thanksgiving which for the eloquence and spirituality of it is made an emblem of the doxologies given to God in glory by the saints. Revelation 15 verse 3 On the whole, whatever affects our communion with God in any of his ordinances is one to produce upon our hearts the same we may observe to follow our conversing with him in his providences. It is usually found in the experience of all the saints that in whatever ordinance or duty they have any conscious communion with God, it naturally produces in their spirits a deep abasement and humiliation from the sense of divine condescension to such vile poor worms as we are. Thus Abraham, which am but dust and ashes, Genesis 18 27. The same effect follows our converse with God in his providences. Thus when God had in the way of his providence prospered Jacob, how does he lay himself at the feet of God, as a man overwhelmed with the sense of mercy? I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast shown thy servant. For with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. Genesis 32 10 Thus also it was with David, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 2 Samuel 7 18 And I doubt not, but some of you have found the same frame of heart upon you that these holy men have expressed. Can you not remember when God lifted you up by providence, how you cast down yourselves before him, and have been viler in your own eyes than ever? Why thus do all gracious hearts? What am I, that the Lord should do thus and thus for me? O that ever so great and holy a God should thus be concerned for so vile and sinful a worm! Does communion with God in ordinances melt the heart into love to God? Psalm 2 3-5 Why so does the observation of his providences also? Never did any man converse with God's works of providence aright, but found his heart at some times melted into love to the God of his mercies. When God had delivered David from the hand of Saul and all his enemies, he said, I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18 verse 1 Compared with the title Every man loves the mercies of God, but a saint loves the God of his mercies. The mercies of God, as they are the fuel of a wicked man's lusts, so they are fuel to maintain a good man's love to God, not that their love to God is grounded upon these external benefits. Not thine, but thee, O Lord, is the motto of a gracious soul, yet these things serve to blow up the flame of love to God in their hearts, and they find it so. Does communion with God set the keenest edge upon the soul against sin? You see it does, and you have a great instance of it in Moses, when he had been with God in the mount for forty days, and had there enjoyed communion with him. When he came down and saw the cast the people had made, see what a holy anguish of zeal and anger it cast his soul into. Exodus 32 verses 19 and 20 Why, the same effect you may discern to follow the saints' converse with God in his providences. What was that which pierced the heart of David with such a deep sense of the evil of his sin, which is so abundantly manifested in Psalm 51 throughout? Why, if you look into the title, you shall find it was the effect of what Nathan had laid before him. And if you consult 2 Samuel 12 verses 7 through 10, you will find it was the goodness of God manifested to him in the several endearing providences of his life, which in this he had so evilly requited the Lord for. It was the realization of this that broke his heart to pieces. And I doubt not, but some of us have sometimes found the like effects by comparing God's ways and our own together. Does communion with the Lord enlarge the heart for obedience and service? Surely it is as oil to the wheels that makes them run on freely and nimbly in their course. Thus when Isaiah had obtained a special manifestation of God and the Lord asked, whom shall I send? He presents a ready soul for the employment. Here am I, send me, Isaiah 68. Why the very same effect follows sanctified providences as you may see in Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 17 verses 5 and 6, and in David Psalm 116 verse 12. Oh, when a soul considers what God has done for him, he cannot choose but say, What shall I return? How shall I answer these engagements? And thus you see what sweet communion a soul may have with God in the way of his providences. Oh, that you would thus walk with him. How much of heaven might be found on earth this way? And certainly it will never repent the Lord he has done you good when his mercies produce such effects upon your hearts. He will say of every favor thus improved, it was well bestowed and will rejoice over you to do you good forever. A great part of the pleasure and delight of the Christian life is made out of the observations of providence. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Psalm 111 verse 2. That is the study of providence is so sweet and pleasant that it invites and allures the soul to search and dive into it. How pleasant is it to a well-tempered soul to behold and observe. Observe the sweet harmony and consent of divine attributes in the issues of providence. They may seem sometimes to jar and clash, depart with each other and go contrary ways. But they only seem so to do, for in the winding up they always meet and embrace each other. Mercy and truth are met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Psalm 85 verse 10 This is spoken with an immediate reference to that signal providence of Israel's deliverance out of the Babylonish captivity and the sweet effects thereof. The truth and righteousness of God in the promises did, as it were, kiss and embrace the mercy and peace that was contained in the performance of them, after they had seemed for seventy years to be at a great distance from each other. For it is an allusion to the usual demonstration of joy and gladness that two dear friends are wont to give and receive after a long absence and separation from each other. They no sooner meet, but they smile, embrace, and kiss each other. Even thus it is here. The Hebrew word may be rendered, have met us. And that also is true, for whenever these blessed promises and performances meet and kiss each other, they are also joyfully embraced and kissed by believing souls. There is, I doubt not, an indirect reference in this scripture to the Messiah also, and a redemption by Him. This Reformation audio track is a production of Stillwater's Revival Books. SWRB makes thousands of classic Reformation resources available free and for sale in audio, video, and printed formats. Our many free resources, as well as our complete mail-order catalog, containing thousands of classic and contemporary Puritan and Reform books, tapes, and videos at great discounts, is on the web at www.SWRB.com www.SWRB.com We can also be reached by email at SWRB at SWRB.com at SWRB.com by phone at 780-450-3730 780-450-3730 by fax at 780-468-1096 780-468-1096 or by mail at 4710-37A Edmonton Edmonton Alberta Alberta Canada T6L3T5 You may also request a free printed catalog. And remember that John Calvin, in defending the Reformation's regulative principle of worship, or what is sometimes called the scriptural law of worship, commenting on the words of God, which I commanded them not, neither came into my heart. From his commentary on Jeremiah 7.31 writes, God here cuts off from men every occasion for making evasions, since he condemns by this one phrase, I have not commanded them whatever the Jews devised. There is then no other argument needed to condemn superstitions than that they are not commanded by God. For when men allow themselves to worship God according to their own fancies, and attend not to his commands, they pervert true religion. And if this principle was adopted by the Papists, all those fictitious modes of worship in which they absurdly exercise themselves would fall to the ground. It is indeed a horrible thing for the Papists to seek to discharge their duties towards God by performing their own superstitions. There is an immense number of them, as it is well known, and as it manifestly appears. Were they to admit this principle, that we cannot rightly worship God except by obeying his word, they would be delivered from their deep abyss of error. The prophet's words, then, are very important. When he says that God had commanded no such thing, and that it never came to his mind, as though he had said that men assumed too much wisdom, when they devised what he never required, nay, what he never knew.