The Mystery of Providence

There is, I doubt not, an indirect reference in this scripture to the Messiah also, and our redemption by Him. In Him it is that these divine attributes, which before seemed to clash and contradict one another in the business of our salvation, have a sweet agreement and accomplishment. Truth and righteousness do in Him meet with mercy and peace in a blessed agreement. What a lovely sight is this, and how pleasant to behold! Oh, if we would but stand upon our watchtower, Habakkuk 2.3, to take due observations of providence, what rare prospects might we have! Luther understands it of the Word of God as much as to say, I will look into the Word and observe there how God accomplishes all things and brings them to pass, and how His works are the fulfilling of His Word. Others, as Calvin, understand it of a man's own retired thoughts and meditations, in which a man carefully observes what purposes and designs God has upon the world in general, or upon himself in particular, and how the truth and righteousness of God in the Word work themselves through all difficulties and impediments, and meet in the mercy, peace, and happiness of the saints at last. Every believer, take it in which sense you will, has his watchtower as well as Habakkuk, and give me leave to say, it is an angelic employment to stand up and behold the consent of God's attributes, the accomplishment of His ends, and our own happiness in the works of providence. For this is the very joy of the angels and saints in heaven, to see God's ends wrought out and His attributes glorified in the mercy and peace of the Church. Revelation 14 verses 1-3 and verse 8 And as it is a pleasant sight to see the harmony of God's attributes, so it is exceedingly pleasant to behold the resurrection of our own prayers and hopes as from the dead. Why this you may often see, if you will duly observe the works of providence towards you. We hope and pray for such and such mercies to the Church, or to ourselves, but God delays the accomplishment of our hopes, suspends the answer of our prayers, and seems to speak to us, for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie. Though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2 verse 3 But we have no patience to wait the time of the promise. Our hopes languish and die in the interim, and we say with the despondent Church, My hope is perished from the Lord. Lamentations 3 verse 18 But how sweet and comfortable it is to see these prayers fulfilled after we have given up all expectation of them. May we not say of them that it is even life from the dead. This was David's case. Psalm 31 verse 22 He gave up his hopes and prayers for lost, yet lived to see the comfortable and unexpected returns of them. And this was the case of Job. Chapter 6 verse 11 He had given up all expectation of better days, and yet this man lived to see a resurrection of all his lost comforts with an advantage. Think how that change and unexpected turn of providence affected his soul. It is with our hopes and prayers, as with our alms. Cast thy bread on the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11 verse 1 Or as it was with Jacob, who had given over all hopes of ever seeing his beloved Joseph again, but when a strange and unexpected providence had restored that hopeless mercy to him again, oh how ravishing and transporting it was. Genesis 46 verse 29 and 30 What a transporting pleasure it is to behold great blessings and advantages to us wrought by providence out of those very things that seem to threaten our ruin or misery. And yet by duly observing the ways of providence, you may to your singular comfort find it so. Little did Joseph think his transportation into Egypt had been in order to his advancement there. Yet he lived with joy to see it, and with a thankful heart to acknowledge it. Genesis 45 verse 5 Wait and observe, and you shall assuredly find that promise. Romans 8 verse 28 Working out its way through all providences. How many times have you been made to say as David, It is good for me that I have been afflicted. Psalm 119 verse 71 Oh what a difference we have seen between our afflictions and our first meeting with them and our parting from them. We have entertained them with sighs and tears, but parted from them with joy, blessing God for them as the happy instruments of our good. Thus our fears and sorrows are turned into praises and songs of thanksgiving. What unspeakable comfort it is for a poor soul that sees nothing but sin and vileness in itself, at the same time to see what a high esteem and value the great God has for him. This may be discerned by a due attendance to providence, for there a man sees goodness and mercy following him through all his days. Psalms 23 verse 6 Other men pursue good, and it flies from them. They can never overtake it, but goodness and mercy follow the people of God, and they cannot avoid or escape it. It gives them chase day by day, and finds them out even when they sometimes put themselves by sin out of the way of it. In all the providences that befall them, goodness and mercy pursue them. Oh, with what a melting heart do they sometimes reflect upon these things! And will not the goodness of God be discouraged from following me? Notwithstanding all my vile affronts and abuses of it in former mercies, Lord, what am I that mercy should thus pursue me, when vengeance and wrath pursue others as good by nature as I am? It certainly argues the great esteem God has of a man when he thus follows him with sanctified providences, whether comforts or crosses, for his good. And so much is plain from what is man, that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment. Job 7 verses 17 and 18 Certainly God's people are his treasure, and by this it appears that they are so, that he withdraws not his eye from them. Job 36 verse 7 I say not that God's favor and respect to a man may be concluded solely from his providences, but sanctified providences may very much make it clear to us, and when it does so, it cannot but be a matter of exceeding great joy. What is there in all this world that can give a soul such joy and comfort as to find himself by everything set on and furthered in his way to heaven? And yet this may be discerned by a careful attendance to the effects and issues of providences. However contrary the winds and tides of providences at any time seem to us, yet nothing is more certain than that they all conspire to hasten sanctified souls to God and fit them for glory. St. Paul knew that both his bonds and the afflictions added to them should turn to, or as the Greek word imports, finally issue in his salvation. Not that in themselves they serve to any such purpose, but as they are overruled and determined to such an end, through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1.19 When prayer, the external, and the Spirit, the internal means, are joined with them, then afflictions themselves become excellent means to promote salvation. And have we not with joy observed how those very things that sense and reason tell us are opposite to our happiness, have been the most blessed instruments to promote it? How has God blessed crosses to mortify corruption, wants to kill our wantonness, disappointments to wean us from the world? O we little think how comfortable those things will be in the review, which are so burdensome to present sense. I beseech you, consider what an effectual means the due observation of providence will be to overpower and suppress the natural atheism that is in your hearts. There is a natural sea of atheism in the best hearts, and this is very much nourished by passing a rash and false judgment upon the works of providence. When we see wicked ones prospering in the world, and godly men crushed and destroyed in the way of righteousness and integrity, it may tempt us to think there is no advantage by religion, and all our self-denial and holiness to be little better than lost labor. Thus stood the case with good Asaph. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world. They increase in riches. Psalm 73 verse 12. And what does the flesh infer from this? Why no less than the unprofitableness of the ways of holiness. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. Verse 13. This new religious inference, carnal reason, was ready to draw from the dispensations of outward prosperity to wicked men. But now if we would carefully observe, either the signal retributions of providence to many of them in this world, or to all of them in the world to come, oh what a full confirmation is this to our faith. The Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth. Psalm 9 verse 16. Psalm 58 contains the characters of the most prodigious sinners, whose wickedness is aggravated by the deliberation with which it is committed. Verse 2. By their habit and custom in it. Verse 3. By their incorrigibleness and persistence in it. Verses 4 and 5. And the providence of God is there invited to destroy their power. Verse 6. And that either by a gradual and unperceived consumption of them. Verses 7 and 8. Or by a sudden and unexpected stroke. Verse 9. And what shall the effects of such providence be to the righteous? Why it shall be matter of joy. Verse 10. And great confirmation to their faith in God. Verily there is a God that judges in the earth. Verse 11. And on the contrary, how convincingly clear are those providences that demonstrate the being, wisdom, power, love, and faithfulness of God in the supporting, preserving, and delivering of the righteous in all their dangers, fears, and difficulties. In these things the Lord shows himself to his people. Psalm 94 verse 1. Yea, he shows himself to spiritual eyes in the providences as clearly as the sun manifests itself by its own beams of light. And his brightness was as the light. He had horns coming out of his hand, and there was the hiding of his power. Habakkuk 3 verses 3 and 4. It is spoken of the Lord's going forth for his people in their deliverance from their enemies. Then he had horns, or rays, and beams of power and mercy coming out of his hands. By his hands are meant his providential administrations and dispensations. And the horns that came out of them are nothing less but the glorious display of his attributes in those providences. How did God make himself known to his people in that signal deliverance of them out of Egypt? Exodus 6 verse 3. Then he was known to them by his name Jehovah, in giving being by his providences to the mercies promised. Thus when Christ shall give his people the last and greatest deliverance from Antichrist, he shall show himself to his people in a vesture dipped in blood, and his name shall be called the Word of God. Revelation 19 verse 13. His name was the Word of God before, but then he was the Word revealing and manifesting the promises and truths of God, now accomplishing and fulfilling them. For that thy name is near, thy wondrous works declare. Psalm 75 verse 1. But more particularly, let us bring it home to our own experience. It may be we find ourselves sometimes assaulted with atheistical thoughts. We are tempted to think God has left all things below to the course and sway of nature, that our prayers do not reach him. Lamentations 3 verse 44. That he does not regard what evil befalls us. But tell me, saints, have you not enough at hand to stop the mouths of all such temptations? Oh, do but reflect upon your own experiences, and solemnly ask your own hearts the following questions. Have you never seen the all-sufficient God in the provisions he has made for you and yours throughout all the way that you have gone? Who was it that supplied to you whatever was needful in all your straits? Was it not the Lord? He hath given me unto them that fear him. He will ever be mindful of his covenant. Psalm 111 verse 5. Oh, do but consider the constancy, seasonableness, and at sometimes the extraordinariness of these provisions, and how they have been given in answer to prayer. And shut your eyes, if you can, against the convincing evidence of that great truth. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous. Job 36 verse 7. Have you not plainly discerned the care of God in your preservation from so many and great dangers as you have escaped and been carried through hitherto? How is it that you have survived so many mortal dangers, sicknesses, accidents, designs of enemies to ruin you? It is, I presume, beyond question with you that the very finger of God hath been in these things, and that it is by his care alone that you have been preserved. When God had so signally delivered David from a dangerous disease and the plots of enemies against him, by this, he says, I know thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. Psalm 41 verse 11. He gathered from those gracious protections the care God had over him. Have you not plainly discerned the hand of God in the returns and accomplishments of your prayers? Nothing can be more evident than this to man of observation. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34 verses 4 through 6. Parallel to this runs the experience of thousands and tens of thousands of Christians this day. They know they have the petitions they asked of him. The mercy carries the very impress and stamp of the duty upon it, so that we can say, this is the mercy, the very mercy I have so often sought God about. O how satisfying and convincing are these things! Have you not evidently discerned the Lord's hand in the guiding and directing of your paths to your unforeseen advantage? Things that you never planned for yourself have been brought about beyond all your thoughts. Many such things are with God, and which of all the saints have not found that word, the way of man is not in himself, Jeremiah 10.23, verified by clear and undeniable experience? I presume if you will but look over the mercies you possess this day, you will find three to one, yet maybe ten to one, thus brought by the Lord for you. And how satisfying beyond all arguments in the world are these experiences, that there is a God to whom his people are exceedingly dear, a God that performs all things for them, Psalm 57 verse 2. Is it not fully convincing that there is a God who takes care of you, inasmuch as you have found in all the temptations and difficulties of your lives, his promises still fulfilled and faithfully performed in all those conditions? I appeal to yourselves, whether you have not seen that promise made good, I will be with him in trouble, Psalm 91 verse 15, and that God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it, 1 Corinthians 10.13. Have not these been as clearly made out by providence before your eyes as the sun at noonday? What room then is left for atheistical suggestion in your breast? The remembering and recording of the performances of providence will be a singular support to faith in future exigencies. This excellent use of it lies full in the very eye of the text. There never befell David in all his troubles a greater strain and distress than this, and doubtless his faith had staggered had not the consideration of former providences come in to its relief. From this topic faith argues, and that very strongly and conclusively. So did David's faith in many exigencies. When he was to encounter the champion of the Philistines, it was from former providences that he encouraged himself, 1 Samuel 17 verse 37. And the apostle Paul improves his experiences to the same purpose, 2 Corinthians 1 verses 9 and 10. Indeed the whole scripture is full of it. What Christian does not understand the exceeding usefulness of those experiences, he has had to relieve and enliven. But I shall not satisfy myself with the common assertions, than which nothing is more trite in the lips of professors, but will labor to show you wherein the great usefulness of our recorded experiences for encouraging faith laboring under difficulties consists. To this purpose I shall desire the reader to ponder seriously these following particulars. Consider how much advantage those things have upon our souls, which we have already felt and tasted, beyond those which we never relished by any former experience. What is experience but the bringing down of the objects of faith to the adjudication and test of spiritual sense? Now when anything has been once tasted, felt, and judged by a former experience, it is much more easily believed and received when it occurs again. It is much easier for faith to travel in a path that is well known to it, having formerly trod it, than to beat out a new one which it never trod, nor can see one step before it. Hence it is, though there is a difficulty in all the acts of faith, yet scarce in any like the first venture it makes upon Christ. And the reason lies here, because in the subsequent acts it has all its former experiences to aid and encourage it. But in the first venture it has none at all of its own. It takes a path which it never knew before. To trust God without any trial or experience is a more noble act of faith. But to trust Him after we have often tried Him is known to be more easy. Oh, it is no small advantage to a soul in a new plunge and distress to be able to say, This is not the first time I have been in these deeps, and yet emerged out of them. Hence it was that Christ rubbed up His disciples' memories with what Providence had formerly wrought for them in a day of need. O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not understand or remember? As much as to say, Were you never in any need of bread before now? Is this the first difficulty that ever your faith met with? No, no, you have been in straits and experienced the power and care of God in supplying them before now. And therefore I cannot but call you men of little faith. For a very ordinary and small measure of faith, assisted with so much experience as you have had, would enable you to trust God. There is as much difference between believing before and after experience as there is between swimming with ladders and our first venture into the deep waters without them. What a singular encouragement to faith do former experiences yield it by answering all the pleas and objections of unbelief drawn from the object of faith. Now there are two things that unbelief stumbles at in God, His power and His willingness to help. Unbelief maintains the impossibility of relief in deep distresses. Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Can He give bread also? Can He provide flesh for His people? Psalm 78 verses 19 and 20 O vile and unworthy thoughts of God which proceed from our measuring the immense and boundless power of God by our own line and measure. Because we do not see which way relief should come, we conclude none is to be expected. But all these reasonings of unbelief are vanquished by a serious reflection upon our own experiences. God has helped, therefore He can. His hand is not shortened, Isaiah 59 1 He has as much power and ability as formerly. Unbelief queries the will of God and questions whether He will now be gracious, though He has been so formerly. But after so many experiences of His readiness to help, what room for doubting remains? Thus Paul reasoned from the experience of what he had done to what he could do. 2 Corinthians 1 verse 10 And so did David. 1 Samuel 17 verse 36 Indeed if a man had never experienced the goodness of God to him, it were not so heinous a sin to question his willingness to do him good. But what place is left after such frequent trials? It gives great encouragement to faith to answer the objections of unbelief drawn from the subject. Now these objections are of two sorts also. First, such as are drawn from our great unworthiness. How, says unbelief, can so sinful and vile a creature expect that ever God should do this or that for me? It is true, we find He did great things for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc. But these were men of eminent holiness, men that obeyed God and denied themselves for Him and lived more in a day to His glory than ever I did all my days. Well, but what signifies all this to a soul that under all its felt vileness and unworthiness has tasted the goodness of God as well as they? As unworthy as I am, God has been good to me notwithstanding. His mercy appeared first to me when I was worse than I am now, both in condition and disposition. And therefore I will still expect the continuance of His goodness to me, though I do not deserve it. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5.10 Secondly, such as are drawn from the extremity of our present condition. If troubles or dangers grow to a height and we see nothing but ruin and misery in the eye of reason before us, now unbelief becomes importunate and troublesome to the soul. Now where are your prayers, your hopes? Yea, where is now your God? But all this is easily put by and avoided by consulting our experiences in former cases. This is not the first time I have been in these traits, nor the first time I have had the same doubts and despondencies, and yet God has carried me through all. Psalm 77, verses 7-9 This is what prevents a Christian from losing all his hopes in an hour of temptation. O how useful are these things to the people of God! The remembrance of former providences will minister to your souls continual matter of praise and thanksgiving, which is the very employment of the angels in heaven and the sweetest part of our lives on earth. If God will prepare mercy and truth for David, he will prepare praises for his God, and that daily. Psalm 61, verses 7 and 8 By thee have I been holden up from the womb, thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels. Their mercies from the beginning are recognized. My praise shall be continually of thee. Psalm 71, verse 6 There the natural result of those recognitions is expressed. There are five things belonging to the praise of God, and all of them have relation to his providences exercised about us. 1. A careful observation of the mercies we receive from him. Isaiah 41, verses 17-20 This is fundamental to all praise. God cannot be glorified for the mercies we never noted. 2. A faithful remembrance of the favors received. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103, verses 2 Hence the Lord brands the ingratitude of his people. They soon forget his works. Psalm 106, verses 13 3. A due appreciation and valuation of every providence that does us good. 1 Samuel 12, verses 24 That providence that fed them in the wilderness with manna was a most remarkable providence to them. But since they did not value it at its worth, God had not that praise for it which he expected. Numbers 11, verses 6 4. The stirring up of all the faculties and powers of the soul in the acknowledgement of these mercies to us. Thus David, bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Psalm 103, verses 1 Soul praise is the very soul of praise. This is the very fat and marrow of that thank offering. 5. A suitable recompense for the mercies received. This David was careful about. Psalm 116, verses 1 6. And the Lord taxes good heads of pious when in neglect of it. 2 Chronicles 32, verses 24 and 25 This consists in a full and hearty resignation to him of all that we have received by providence from him and in our willingness actually to part with all for him when he shall require it. Thus you see how all the ingredients to praise have respect to providences. But more particularly I will show you that as all the ingredients of praise have respect to providences so all the motives and arguments obliging and engaging souls to praise are found therein also. To this end consider how the mercy and goodness of God is exhibited by providence to excite our thankfulness. The goodness and mercy of God to his people is seen in his providences concerning them and this is the very root of praise. It is not so much the possession that providence gives us of such or such comfort as the goodness and kindness of God in the dispensing of them that engages a gracious soul to praise. Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Psalm 63, verse 3 To give, maintain and preserve our life are choice acts of providence but to do all this in a way of grace and loving kindness, this is far better than the gifts themselves. Life is but the shadow of death without it. This is the mercy that crowns all other mercies. Psalm 103, verse 4 It is this a sanctified soul desires God would manifest in every providence concerning him. Psalm 17, 7 And what is our praising of God but our showing forth that loving kindness which he shows to us in his providences. Psalm 92, verses 1 and 2 As the loving kindness of God manifested in providence is a motive to praise so the free and undeserved favors of God dispensed by the hand of providence obliged the soul to praise. This was the consideration that melted David's heart into a thankful praising frame. Even the consideration of the free and undeserved favors cast in upon him by providence. Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto? 2 Samuel 7, 18 That is, raise me by providence from a mean condition to all this dignity, from following the ewes to feed Jacob his people. Psalm 78, verses 70 and 71 O this is what engages thankfulness. Genesis 32, verses 10 As the freeness of mercies dispensed by providence engages praise so the multitudes of mercies heaped this way upon us strongly obliged the soul to thankfulness. Thus David comes before the Lord encompassed with a multitude of mercies to praise him. Psalm 5, verses 7 We have our loads of mercies and that every day. Psalm 68, verses 19 O what a rich heap will the mercies of one day make being laid together. As the multitudes of mercies dispensed by providence obliged to praise so the tenderness of God's mercy manifested in his providence leaves the soul under a strong obligation to thankfulness. We see what tender regard the Lord has of all our needs, difficulties and burdens. Like as a father pities his children so the Lord pities them that fear him. Psalm 103, verses 13 He is full of bowels as that Greek word in James 5, verses 11 signifies. Yea, there are not only bowels of compassion in our God but the tenderness of bowels like those of a mother to her sucking child. Isaiah 49, verses 15 He feels all our pains as if the apple of his eye were touched. Zechariah 2, verses 8 And all this is shown to his people in the way of his providences with them. Psalm 111, verses 2-4 O who of all the children of God has not often found this in his providences? And who can see it and not be filled with thankfulness? All these are so many bands clapped by providence upon the soul to oblige it to a life of praise. Hence it is that the prayers of the saints are so full of thanksgivings upon these accounts. It is sweet to recount them to the Lord in prayer, to lie at his feet in a holy astonishment at his gracious condescension to poor worms. The due observation of providence will endear Jesus Christ every day more and more to our souls. Christ is the channel of grace and mercy. Through him are all the streams of mercy that flow from God to us and all the returns of praise from us to God. 1 Corinthians 3, verses 21 and 22 All things are ours upon no other title but our being his. Now there are various things in providence which exceedingly endear the Lord Jesus Christ to his people and these are the most sweet and delightful parts of all our enjoyments. The purchase of all those mercies which providence conveys to us is by his own blood for not only spiritual and eternal mercies but even all our temporal ones are the acquisition of his blood. As sin forfeited all, so Christ restored all these mercies again to us by his death. Sin had so shut up the womb of mercy that had not Christ made an atonement by death it could never have brought forth one mercy to all eternity for us. It is with him that God freely gives us all things. Romans 8.32 Heaven itself and all things needful to bring us thither among which is principally included the tutelage and aid of divine providence so that whatever good we receive from the hand of providence we must put it upon the score of Christ's blood and when we receive it we may say it is the price of blood. It is a mercy rising up out of the death of Christ. It cost him dear though it come to me freely. It is sweet in the possession but costly in the acquisition. Now this is the most endearing consideration. Did Christ die that these mercies might live? Did he pay his invaluable blood to purchase these comforts that I possess? O what transcendent matchless love was the love of Christ! You have known parents that have laid out all their stock of money to purchase estates for their children and when did you hear of any that spent the whole stock and treasure of their blood to make a purchase for them? If the life of Christ had not been so painful and sad to him ours could not have been so sweet and comfortable to us. It is through his poverty that we are enriched. 2 Corinthians 8.9 These sweet mercies that are born of providence every day are the fruits of the travail of his soul. Isaiah 53.11 The sanctification of all those mercies which providence conveys to us is by our union with Christ. It is by virtue of our union with his person that we enjoy the sanctified gifts and blessings of providence. All these are mercies additional to that great mercy, Christ. Matthew 6.33 They are given with him. Romans 8.32 This is the tenure by which we hold them. 1 Corinthians 3.21-23 What we lost in Adam is restored again with advantage in Christ. Immediately upon the fall that curse, Genesis 2.17 seized upon all the miserable posterity of Adam and upon all their comforts outward as well as inward and this still lies heavy upon them. All that providence does for them that are Christless is but to feed so many poor condemned wretches till the sentence they are under is executed upon them. It is indeed bountiful and open handed to many of them and fills them with earthly comforts but not one special sanctified mercy is to be found among all their enjoyments. These gifts of providence do but deceive, defile and destroy them through their own corruptions for want of union with Christ. The prosperity of fools shall destroy them. Proverbs 1.32 But when a man is once in Christ then all providences are sanctified and sweet. Unto the pure all things are pure. Titus 1.15 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the treasures of many wicked. Psalm 37.16 Now Christ becomes a head of influence as well as of dominion and in all things he consults the good of his own members. Ephesians 1.22 The dispensation of all our comforts and mercies is by his direction and appointment. It is true the angels are employed in the kingdom of providence. They move the wheels, that is are instrumental in all the revolutions in this lower world. But they still receive directions and orders from Christ as you may see in that admirable scheme of providences. Ezekiel 1.25-26 Now what an endearing meditation is this. Whatever creature is instrumental for any good to you it is your Lord Jesus Christ that gave the orders and commands to that creature to do it. And without it they could not have done anything for you. It is your head in heaven that consults your peace and comfort on earth. These are the fruits of his care for you. So in the prevention and restraints of evil it is he that bridles the wrath of devils and men. He holds the reins in his own hands. Revelation 2.10 It was the care of Christ over his poor sheep at Damascus that stopped the raging adversary who was upon the way designing to destroy them. Acts 9 The continuation of all our mercies and comforts outward as well as inward is the fruit of his intercession in heaven for you. As the offering up of the Lamb of God as a sacrifice for sin opened the door of mercy at first so his appearing before God as a Lamb that had been slain still keeps that door of mercy open. Revelation 5.6 Hebrews 9.24 By this his intercession our peace and comforts are prolonged to us. Zechariah 1.12-13 Every sin we commit would put an end to the mercies we possess were it not for that plea which is put in for us by it. And if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 2.1-2 This stops all accusations and procures new pardons for new sins. Hence it is he saves to the uttermost. Hebrews 7.25 To the last compelling act new sins do not make void our former pardons nor cut off our privileges settled upon us in Christ. The returns and answers of all your prayers and cries to heaven or the removing of your afflictions or supply of your needs are all procured and obtained for you by Jesus Christ. He is the master of your requests and were it not that God had respect to him he would never regard your cries to him nor return an answer of peace to you however great your distresses might be. Revelation 8.3-4 It is his name that gives our prayers their acceptance. John 15.16 Because the Father can deny him nothing therefore your prayers are not denied. Does God condescend to hear you in the day of trouble? Does he convince you by your own experience that your prayers have power with God and do prevail? O see how much you owe to your dear Lord Jesus Christ for this high and glorious privilege. The covenant of grace in which all your comfortable enjoyments are comprised and by which they are secured, sanctified and sweetened to you is made in Christ and ratified by him between God and you. Your mercies are all comprised in this covenant even your daily bread, Psalm 111.5 as well as your justification and other spiritual mercies. It is your covenant interest that secures to you whatever it comprises. Hence they are called the sure mercies of David. Isaiah 55.3 Nay, this is what sanctifies them and gives them the nature of special and peculiar mercies. One such mercy is worth a thousand common mercies and being sanctified and special mercies they must needs be exceedingly sweet beyond all other mercies. For these reasons it was that David so rejoiced in his covenant interest though laden with many afflictions. 2 Samuel 23.5 But now all this hangs entirely upon Christ. The New Testament is in his blood. 1 Corinthians 11.25 And whatever mercies you reap from that covenant you must thank the Lord Jesus Christ for them. Put all this together and then think how such considerations will endear Christ to your souls. The due observations of providence have a marvelous efficacy to melt the heart and make it thaw and submit before the Lord. How can a sanctified heart do less than melt into tears while it either considers the dealings of God from time to time with it or compares the mercies received with the sins committed or the different administrations of providence towards itself and others. Let a man but set himself to think deliberately and closely of the ways of providence towards him. Let him but follow the leading of providence as it has led him all along the way that he has gone. And if there is any principle of gracious tenderness in him he shall meet with variety of occasions to excite and draw it forth. Go back with your serious thoughts to the beginning of the ways of God with you. The mercies that broke out early in your youth even the first born mercies from the womb of providence and you will say what need I go further. Here is enough not only to move but overwhelm my heart. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me my father thou art the guide of my youth. Jeremiah 3 verse 4 What a critical time is the time of youth. It is the molding age and ordinarily according to the course of those leading providences after providences do steer their course. What levity, rashness, ignorance and strong propensities to sin and ruin accompany that age. How many beings then left to the sway of their own lusts run themselves into those sins and miseries which they never recover themselves from to their dying day. These like the errors of the first concoction are rarely rectified afterwards. Did the Lord guide you by his providence when by the child? Did he then preserve you from those follies and misdemeanors which blast the very blossom and nip the bud so that no good fruit is to be expected afterwards? Did he then cast you into such families or among such company and acquaintance as molded and formed your spirit into a better disposition? Did he then direct you into that way of employment in which you have seen so large a train of happy consequences ever since following you? And will you not from henceforth say, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? 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 We can also be reached by email at swrb at swrb.com By phone at 780-450-3730 By fax at 780-468-1096 Or by mail at 4710-37A Edmonton Alberta Canada T6L 3T5 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 731, 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 assume too much wisdom when they devise what he never required, nay, what he never knew.