The Mystery of Providence

Let us but bring our thoughts close to the providences of aftertimes, and consider how the several changes and removes of our lives have been ordered for us. Things we never foresaw nor designed, but much better for us than what we did design, have all been along ordered for us. The way of man is not in himself. God's thoughts have not been our thoughts, nor his ways our ways. Isaiah 55.8 Among the eminent mercies of your life, reader, how many of them have been mere surprises to you? Your own projects have been thrust aside to make way for better things designed by providence for you. Nay, do but observe the springs and autumns of providence, in what order they have flourished and faded with you, and you will find yourself overpowered with the sense of divine wisdom and goodness. When necessity required, such a friend was stirred up to help you, such a place opened to receive you, such a relation raised up or continued to refresh you. And no sooner does providence deprive you of any of them, but either your need of them ceases, or some other way is opened to you. O the depth of God's wisdom and goodness! O the matchless tenderness of God to his people! Compare the dealings of providence with you and others, yea, with others that spring up with you in the same generation. It may be in the same families, and from the same parents. It may be in families greater and more flourishing in the world than yours. And see the difference, upon many accounts, it has made between you and them. I knew a Christian who after many years separation was visited by his own brother, the very sight of whom wrought upon him much as the sight of Benjamin did upon Joseph, so that he could not refrain to fall upon his neck and weep for joy. But after a few hours spent together, finding the spirit of his brother not only estranged from all that is spiritual and serious, but also very vain and profane, he hastened to his chamber, shut the door upon him, threw himself down at the feet of God, and with flowing eyes and a melting heart admired the distinguishing grace of God, saying, Was not Esau Jacob's brother? Malachi 1.2 O grace, grace, astonishing grace! Compare the behavior of providence towards you with your own behavior towards the Lord, and it must need melt your hearts to find so much mercy bestowed where so much sin has been committed. What place did you ever live in where you cannot remember great provocations committed and, notwithstanding that, manifold mercies received? O with how many notwithstandings and neverthelesses has the Lord done you good in every place! What relationship has not been abused by sin, and yet both raised up and continued by providence for your comfort? In every place God has left the marks of his goodness, and you the remembrances of your sinfulness. Give yourselves but leave to think of these things, and it will be strange if your hearts do not melt at the remembrance of them. Or lastly, do but consider your dangers with your fears, and both with the strange outlets and doors of escape providence has opened, and it cannot do less than overpower you with a full sense of divine care and goodness. There have been dark clouds seen to rise over you, judgment even at your door, sometimes threatening your life, sometimes your liberty, sometimes your estates, and sometimes your dearest relatives, in whom, it may be, your life was bound up. Remember in that day when faintness of spirit seized you, what charges of guilt stirring up fears of the issue within you? You turned to the Lord in that distress, and has he not made a way to escape and delivered you from all your fears? Psalm 34 verse 4 O is your life such a continued throng, such a mad hurry, that there is no time for Christians to sit alone and think on these things, and press these marvelous manifestations of God in his providences upon their own hearts? Surely might these things but lie upon your hearts. Talk with our thoughts by day, and lodge with us at night, that they would even force their passage down to our very reign. Due observation of providence will both beget and secure inward tranquility in your minds, amidst the vicissitudes and revolutions of things in this unstable vain world. I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 4 verse 8 He resolves the sinful fear of events, shall not rob him of his inward quiet, nor torture his thoughts with anxious forebodings. He will commit all his concerns into that faithful fatherly hand that had hitherto wrought all things for him. And he does not mean to lose the comfort of one night's rest, nor bring the evil of tomorrow upon today, but knowing in whose hand he was, wisely enjoys the sweet felicity of a resigned will. Now this tranquility of our minds is as much begotten and preserved by the due consideration of providence as by anything whatever. Hence it was that our Lord Jesus Christ, when he would cure the disciples' anxious and distracting care about a livelihood, bidst them consider the care providence has over the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, how it feeds the one and clothes the other without any anxious care of theirs, and would have them well consider these providences and reason themselves into a calm and sweet composure of spirit from those considerations. Matthew 6 verses 27-34 Two things destroy the peace and tranquility of our lives, our bewailing past disappointments or fearing future ones. But would we once learn prevision and provision to be divine prerogatives and take notice how often providence baffles those that pretend to it, causing the good they foresaw, according to their conjectures, coming to their hand yet to bulk them and flee from them, and the evil they thought themselves sufficiently secured from, to invade them? I say, would we consider how providence daily baffles these pretensions of men and asserts its own dominion, it would greatly conduce to the tranquility of our lives. This is a great truth, that there is no face of adversity so formidable, but being viewed from this station would become amicable. Now there are several things in the consideration of providence that naturally and kindly compose the mind of a Christian to peace, and bring it to a sweet rest, while events hang in a doubtful suspense. First, the supremacy of providence and its uncontrollable power in working. This is often seen in the good that it brings us in a way that is above the thoughts and cares of our minds, or labor of our hands. I had not thought, said Jacob, to see thy face, and lo, God hath showed me also thy seed. Genesis 48 verse 11 There is a frequent coincidence of providences in a way of surprise, which from no appearance or the remotest tendency of outward causes could be foreseen, but rather falls visibly contrary to the present scheme and state of our affairs. Nothing tends to convince us of the vanity and folly of our own anxieties and fears more than this does. Second, the profound wisdom of providence in all that it performs for the people of God. The wheels are full of eyes, Ezekiel 118. That is, there is an intelligent and wise spirit that sits upon and governs the affairs of this world. This wisdom shines out to us in the unexpected, yea, contrary events of things. How often have we been courting some beautiful appearance that invited our senses, and with trembling shunned the formidable face of other things, when, notwithstanding, the issues of providence have convinced us that our danger lay in what we courted and our good in what we so studiously declined. This also is a sweet principle of peace and quiet to the Christian's mind, that he knows not but his good may be intended in what seemed to threaten his ruin. Many were the distresses and straits of Israel in the wilderness, but all was to humble them, that he might do them good in the latter end, Deuteronomy 8.16. Sad and dismal was the face of that providence that sent them out of their own land into the land of the Chaldeans. Yet even this was a project to do them good, Jeremiah 24.5. How often have we retracted our rash and headlong censures of things upon experience of this truth, and been taught to bless our afflictions and disappointments in the name of the Lord? Many a time have we kissed those troubles at parting which we met with trembling. And what can promote peace under doubtful providences more effectually than this? The experiences we have had throughout our lives of the faithfulness and constancy of providence are of excellent use to allay and quiet our hearts in any trouble that befalls us. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us, 1 Samuel 7.12. We never found him wanting to us in any case hitherto. This is not the first strait we have been in, nor the first time that our hearts and hopes have been low. Surely he is the same God now as hitherto. His hand is not shortened, neither does his faithfulness fail. O recount in how great extremities former experience has taught you not to despair. The conjectures Christians may make of the way of providence towards them from what its former methods have been towards them is exceedingly quieting and comfortable. It is usual with Christians to compare times with times, and to guess at the issue of one providence by another. The saints know what course providence usually holds, and accordingly with great probability infer what they may expect from what in like cases they have formerly observed. Christian, examine your own heart and its former observations, and you will find, as Psalm 89 verses 30-32, that it is usually the way of God to prepare some smart rods to correct you when either your heart has secretly revolted from God and is grown vain, careless and sensual, or when your steps have declined and you have turned aside to commit iniquity. And then, when those rods have been sanctified to humble, reduce and purge your heart, it is usually observed that those sad providences are then upon the change, and then the Lord changes the voice of his providence towards you. Go and proclaim these words towards the north and say, Return thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you. For I am a merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity. Jeremiah 3 verses 12 and 13 If therefore I find the blessed effects of the rod upon me, that it has done its work to break the hard heart and pull down the proud heart, and awaken the drowsy heart and quicken the slothful, negligent, lazy heart, now with great probability I may conjecture a more comfortable aspect of providence will quickly appear, the refreshing and reviving time is near. It is usual with Christians to argue themselves into fresh reviving hopes when the state of things is most forlorn, by comparing the providences of God one with another. It is a mighty composing meditation when we compare the providences of God towards the inanimate and irrational creatures with his providences towards us. Does he take care for the very fowls of the air for whom no man provides, as well as those at the door which we daily feed? Does he so clothe the very grass of the field, hear the young ravens when they cry for meat, and can it be supposed he should forget his own people that are of much more value than these? Matthew 6 verses 26 and 30 Or if we compare the bounty and care that providence has expressed to the enemies of God, how it feeds and clothes and protects them, even while they are fighting against him with his own mercies, it cannot but quiet and satisfy us that surely he will not be wanting to that people upon whom he has set his love, to whom he has given his son, and for whom he has designed heaven itself. Lastly, it must needs quiet us when we consider what the Lord did for us in the way of his providence when we ourselves were in the state of nature and enmity against God. Did he not then look after us when we did not know him, provide for us when we did not own him in any of his mercies, bestow thousands of mercies upon us when we had no title to Christ or any one promise? And will he now do less for us since we are reconciled and become his children? Surely such considerations as these cannot but fill the soul with peace and preserve the tranquility of it under the most disturbing providences. Do observations of the ways of God in his providences towards us have an excellent usefulness and aptitude to advance and improve holiness in our hearts and lives? The holiness of God is manifested to us in all his works of providence. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works. The instruments used by providence may be very sinful and wicked. They may aim at base ends and make use of wicked means to attain them. But it is certain God's designs are most pure, and all his workings are so too. Though he permits, limits, orders, and overrules many unholy persons and actions, yet in all he works like himself, and his holiness is no more defiled and stained by their impurity than the sunbeams are by the noxious exhalations of a dunghill. He is the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are judgment. A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. So that in all his providences he sets before us a perfect pattern of holiness that we might be holy in all our ways, as our Father is in all his ways. But this is not all. His providences, if duly observed, promote holiness by stopping up our way to sin. Oh, if men would but note the designs of God in his preventative providences, how useful would it be to keep them upright and holy in their ways. For why is it that the Lord so often hedges up our way with thorns as it is? Hosea 2.6, but that we should not find out paths to sin. Why does he clog us but to prevent our straying from him? And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. 2 Corinthians 12.7 Oh, it is good to attend to these works of God and study the meaning of them. Sometimes providence ruins a hopeful, thriving project to better our condition and frustrates all our labors and plans. Why is this but to hide pride from man? Should you prosper in the world, that prosperity might be your snare and make you a proud, sensual, vain soul. The Lord Jesus sees this and therefore withdraws the food and fuel from your corruptions. It may be you have a diseased, weak body, you labor under many infirmities. In this the wisdom and care of God over your soul is manifested. For were you not so clogged, how probable is it that much more guilt might be contracted. Your poverty does but clog your pride, reproaches clog your ambition, want prevents wantonness. Sickness of body conduces to the prevention of many inward gripes of conscience and groans under guilt. The providences of God may be observed to conduce to our holiness not only by preventing sin, that we may not fall into it but also by purging our sins when we have fallen into them. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin. Isaiah 27 verse 9 They are of the same use that fire and water are for purging and cleansing. Daniel 11 verses 33 through 35 Not that they can purge us from sin in their own virtue and power for if so, those that have most afflictions would have most grace also. But it is in the virtue of Christ's blood and God's blessing upon afflicted providences that they purge us from sin. A cross without a Christ never did any man good. Now in God's afflicted providences for sin there are many things that tend to the purging of it. Such rebukes of providence reveal the displeasure of God against us. The Lord frowns upon us in those providences. Our father is angry and these are the tokens of it and nothing works more to the melting of a gracious heart than this. Must not the heart of a child melt and break while the father is angry? O this is more bitter to our spirit than all the smart and anguish of the affliction can be to our flesh. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me and thine hand presses me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger. Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. Psalm 38 verses 1 through 3 By these rebukes of sin the evil of sin is revealed more apparent to us and we are made to see more clearly the evil of it in these glasses of affliction which providence at such times sets before us than we ever saw formerly. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee and thy backsliding shall reprove thee. Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 2 19 O the gall and wormwood that we taste in it under God's rebukes for it. Providence blasts and frustrates all sinful projects to the people of God. Whoever else thrives in them they shall not. Isaiah 30 verses 1 through 5 And this also convinces them of the folly that is in sin and makes them cleave to the way of simplicity and integrity. Holiness is promoted in the soul by cautioning and warning the soul against sin for time to come. I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more. Job 34 verses 31 O happy providences, however smart, that make the soul forever afraid of sin. Surely such rods are well bestowed. This gives God his end. And if ever we sorrowed after a godly sort, in the day of our troubles it will work this carefulness. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort. What carefulness it wrought in you. 2 Corinthians 7.11 O if ever a man hath been under a sanctified rod, which hath shewed him the evil of sin, and kindly humbled him for it, and a temptation should again solicit him to the same evil, why, thinks he, what a madness is it for me to buy repentance at so dear a rate. Have I not smarted enough already? You may as well ask me whether I will run again into the fire after I have been already scorched in it. To conclude, providences do greatly improve and promote holiness by drawing the soul into the presence of God and giving it the opportunity and occasion of much communion with him. Comfortable providences will do this. They will melt a man's heart in love to the God of his mercies and so pain his bowels that he shall not be quiet till he have found a place to pour out his soul in thankfulness to the Lord. 2 Samuel 7.18 Afflictive providences will drive us to the feet of God and there make us to judge and condemn ourselves. And all this has an excellent use to destroy sin and promote holiness in the soul. Finally, the consideration and study of providence will be of singular use to us in a dying hour. Hereby we treasure up that which will singularly sweeten our death to us and greatly assist our faith in the last encounter. You find when Jacob died what reflections he had upon the dealings of God with him in the various providences of his life. Genesis 48 verses 3, 7, 15 and 16 In like manner you find Joshua recording the providences of God when at the brink of the grave. They were the subject of his dying discourse. Joshua 24 And I cannot but think it is a sweet close to the life of any Christian. It must need sweeten a deathbed to recount there the several remarkable passages of God's care and love to us from our beginning to that day. To reflect upon the mercies that went along with us all the way when we are come to the end of it. O Christians, treasure up these instances for such a time as that is that you may go out of the world blessing God for all the goodness and truth he has performed for you all your life long. Now the meditations of these things must needs be of great use in that day if you consider the following particulars. The time of death is the time when souls are usually most violently assaulted by Satan with horrid temptations and black suggestions. We may say of that figurative as it is said of the natural serpent he never exerts his utmost rage to the last encounter and then his great design is to persuade the saints that God does not love them has no care nor regard for them nor their cries though they pray for ease and cry for sparing mercy they see none comes. He handles them with as much roughness and severity as other men yea, many of the vilest and most dissolute wretches endure less torments and are more gently handled than they. There are no bands in their death, Psalm 73 verse 4 whereas you must go through a long lane of sickness to the grave and endure many deaths in one. But what credit can these plausible tales of Satan obtain with a Christian who has been treasuring up all his life long the memorials of God's tender regard both to his needs and prayers and who has carefully marked the evident returns of his prayers and gracious condescensions of God to him from his beginning to that moment. In this case his faith is mightily assisted by thousands of experiences which back and encourage it and will not let the soul give up so easily a truth which he has so often felt and tasted. I am sure, says he, God has had a tender fatherly care of me ever since I became his. He never failed me yet in any form or difficulty and I cannot believe he will do so now. I know his love is like himself, unchangeable. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. John 13 verse 1 For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48 verse 14 Did he love me in my youth and will he cast me off in my decrepit age? O God, said David, thou hast taught me from my youth and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not. Psalm 71 verse 17 and 18 At death the saints are engaged in the last and one of the most eminent works of faith even the committing themselves into the hands of God when they are launching forth into that vast eternity and entering into that new state which will make so great a change to us in a moment. In this Christ sets us a pattern. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit and having said thus he gave up the ghost. Luke 23 verse 46 So Stephen at his death Lord Jesus received my spirit. Acts 7 59 and immediately fell asleep. There are two signal and remarkable acts of faith both exceedingly difficult its first act and its last. The first is a great venture that it makes of itself upon Christ and the last is a great venture too to cast itself into the ocean of eternity upon the belief of a promise. But yet I know the first venture of the soul upon Christ is much more difficult than the last venture upon death and that which makes it so is in great measure the manifold recorded experiences that the soul has been gathering up from the day of its espousal to Christ unto its dying which is in a sense its marriage day. Oh with what encouragement may a soul throw himself into the arms of that God with whom he has so long conversed and walked in this world whose visits have been sweet and frequent with whom the soul has contracted so intimate acquaintance in this world to whom it has committed all its affairs formerly and still found him a faithful God and now has no reason to doubt but it shall find him so in this last distress and exigency also. At death the people of God receive the last mercies that they shall ever receive in this world by the hand of providence and are immediately to make up their accounts with God for all the mercies that ever they received from his hand. What can be more suitable therefore to a dying person than to recount with himself the mercies of his whole life the manifold receipts of favor for which he is to reckon with God speedily and how shall this be done without a due and serious observation and recording of them now? I know there are thousands of mercies forgotten by the best of Christians a memory of brass cannot contain them and I know also that Jesus Christ must make up the account for us or it will never pass with God yet it is our duty to keep the accounts of our own mercies and how they have been used by us for we are stewards and then are to give an account of our stewardship at death we owe an account also to men and stand obliged if there is opportunity for it to make known to them that survive us what we have seen and found of God in this world that we may leave a testimony for God with men and bring up a good report upon his ways thus dying Jacob when Joseph was come to take his last farewell of him in this world strengthened himself and sat upon the bed and related to him the eminent appearances of God to him and the places where Genesis 48 verses 2 and 3 as also an account of his afflictions verse 7 so Joshua in his last speech to the people makes it his business to vindicate and demonstrate the truth of the promises by recounting to them how the providence of God had fulfilled the same to a tittle in his day and behold said he this day I am going the way of all the earth and ye know in your hearts and in your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you all are come to pass unto you and not one thing hath failed thereof Joshua 23 verse 14 and certainly it is of great importance to the world to understand the judgments and hear of the experiences of dying men they of all men are presumed to be most wise and most serious besides this is the last opportunity that ever we shall have in this world to speak for God oh then what a sweet thing would it be to close our lives with an honorable account of the ways of God to go out of the world blessing him for all the mercies and truth which he has here performed to us how this would encourage we Christians and convince the atheistical world that verily there is a reality and an excellence in the ways and people of God at death we begin the angelical life of praise and thanksgiving we then enter upon that everlasting sweet employment and as I doubt not but the providences in which we were concerned in this world will be a part of that song which we shall sing in heaven so certainly it will become us to tune our hearts and tongue for it while we are here and especially when we are ready to enter upon that blessed state oh therefore let it be your daily meditation and study what God has been to you and done for you from the beginning of his way hitherto and thus I have spread before you some encouragement to this blessed work oh that you would be persuaded to take up this lovely and in every way beneficial practice this I dare presume to say that whoever finds a careful and a thankful heart to record and treasure up the daily experiences of God's mercy to him shall never lack new mercies to record to his dying day it was said of Claudian that he lacked matters suitable for the excellency of his powers but where is the head or heart that is suitable for this matter who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord who can show forth all his praise Psalm 106 verse 2 Part 3 Application of the Doctrine of Providence Chapter 11 Practical Implications for the Saints If as we have seen God performs all things for you God is to be owned by you in all that befalls you in this world whether it is in a way of success and comfort or of trouble and affliction oh it is your duty to observe his hand and disposal when God gives you comfort it is your great evil not to observe his hand in them henceforth that charge against Israel for she did not know that I gave her corn and wine and oil and multiplied her silver and gold Hosea 2.8 that is she did not actually and affectionately consider my care over her and goodness to her in these mercies and so for afflictions it is a great wickedness when God's hand is lifted up not to see it Isaiah 26 verse 11 the ox knows his owner and the ass his master's crib Isaiah 1.3 the most dull and stupid creatures know their benefactors oh look to the hand of God in all and know that neither your comforts nor afflictions do arise out of the dust or spring up out of the ground if God performs all things for you how great is his condescension to and care over his people what is man that thou should magnify him and that thou should set thine heart upon him and that thou should visit him every morning and try him every moment Job 7 verses 17 and 18 such is his tender care over you that he does not withdraw his eye from you Job 36 verse 7 lest any hurt you he himself will guard and keep you day and night Isaiah 27 verse 3 should he withdraw his eye or hand one moment from you that moment would be your ruin ten thousand evils watch but for such an opportunity to rush in upon you and destroy you and all your comforts you are too dear to him to be trusted in any hand but his own all his saints are in thy hand Deuteronomy 33 verse 3 if God performs all things for you see how obliged you are to perform all duties and services for God it was the wish of a good man oh that I could be to God what my hand is to me that is a serviceable useful instrument shall God do all things for you and you will do nothing for God is providence every moment at work for you and will you be idle to what purpose then is all that God has done for you is it not the aim and design of all to make you a fruitful people if God plant and fence and water you by providence surely he expects you to bring forth fruit Isaiah 5 verses 1-4 oh that in return for all the benefits of providence you would say to God as grateful Elisha said to the Shumanites behold thou hast been careful for us with all this care what is to be done for thee 2nd Kings 4.13 and with David what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psalm 116 verse 12 he is ever doing you good be you always abounding in his work his providence stands by you in your greatest distresses and dangers do not then flinch from God when his service and your duty is compassed about with difficulties oh be active for that God who every moment is active for you does God perform all things for his people do not distrust him then when new or great difficulties arise why should you think he that has done so many things for you will now do no more surely the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear Isaiah 59 verse 1 if anything put a stop to his mercy it is your iniquities your distrust and infidelity how long will it be ere you believe him if a thousand and ten thousand trials and experiences of his tender care faithfulness and love will cure this unbelief in you you have them at hand to do it if the frequent confutations of this your distrust by the unexpected breakings out of mercy for you under like discouragements will cure it look back and you may see them certainly you have been often forced by providence with shame and repentance to retract your rash censures of his care and yet will you fall into the same unbelieving state again oh that you would once learn this great truth that no man ever lacked that mercy which he did not lack a heart to trust and wait quietly upon God for you never yet sought God in vain except when you sought him vainly does God perform all things for you then seek God for all by prayer and never undertake any design without him certainly if he does not perform it for you you can never have what you desire and labor for and though he has designed to perform this or that mercy for you yet for these things he will be inquired of that he may do it for you Ezekiel 36 verse 37 I reckon that business as good as done that mercy as good as if it were in hand that trouble as good as over for the doing enjoying or removing of which we have engaged God by prayer it is our folly to engage this instrument and that for us to attempt this way and that to achieve our end and all the while forget him upon whose pleasure all instruments and means entirely depend that which begins not with prayer seldom ends with comfort the way of man is not in himself Jeremiah 10 verse 23 if it were prayer might then be reckoned lost labor oh let him that performs all be owned and acknowledged in all if God performs all things for us then it is our great interest and concern in all things to study to please him upon whom we depend for all things it is a grave and weighty observation of chrysostom that nothing should be grievous and bitter to a Christian but to provoke the displeasure of God avoid that and no affliction or trouble whatever can cast down such a prudent soul but even as a spark is easily extinguished in the sea so will the favor of God extinguish those troubles it is with such a soul says he as it is with the heavens we think the heavens suffer when they are overspread with clouds and the sun suffers when it is eclipsed but there is no such thing they do not suffer when they seem to suffer everything is well and shall be well when all is well between us and God the great consolation of the saint lies in this that all that concerns them is in the hands of their father Luther said I have utterly despaired had not Christ been head of the church when he that performs all things is our God even our God that delights in our prosperity that rejoices over us to do us good what ample security is here in the greatest confusions and dangers when one told Baromias that there were some that laid wait for his life his answer was what is God in the world for nothing and as notable was the reply of Silentarius in a like case if God takes no care of me how do I live how have I subsisted hitherto though it seems a romance to many yet we must either quit the scripture or give credit to this that the most infallible rules for one to raise his fortune and ensure a destiny that can control the stars are given forth there that is in the scriptures where one can see that he who knows the truth will govern the stars and the means by which every man can shape his own fortune a good man may even be his own carver oh that we would but steer our course according to those rare politics of the Bible those divine maxims of wisdom fear nothing but sin study nothing so much as how to please God do not turn from your integrity under any temptation trust God in the way of your duty these are sure rules to secure yourselves and your interest in all the vicissitudes of this life chapter 12 practical problems in connection with providence how may a Christian discover the will of God and his own duty under dark and doubtful providences in order to answer this question we must consider what is meant by the will of God and what by those doubtful providences that make the discovery of his will difficult and what rules are to be observed for ascertaining God's will for us under such difficult and puzzling providences as to the will of God it falls under a twofold consideration of his secret and revealed will this distinction is found in that scripture the secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us Deuteronomy 29 29 the first is the rule of his own actions the latter of ours and this only is concerned in the query this revealed will of God is either manifested to us in his word or in his works the former is his commanding will the latter his effecting or permitting will the one concerning good the other evil in these ways God manifests his will to men but yet with great variety and difference both as to the things revealed the persons to whom he reveals them and the degrees of clearness in which they are revealed as to the things revealed there is a great difference the great and necessary duties of religion are revealed to us in the word with the greatest purpose there is obscurity and evidence about these there can be no hesitation but things of a lower nature and lesser concern are left more obscure as to the persons to whom God reveals his will there is great difference some are strong men others babes 1 Corinthians 3.1 some have senses exercised others are of weak and dull understanding and we know everything is received according to the ability and measure of the person receiving it hence it is that one man's way is very plain before him he knows what he ought to do the other is ever and anon at a loss dubious and uncertain what to do the manner of God's revealing his will to men is also very varied some have had special personal and peculiar discoveries of it made to them so had Samuel about the choice of the person whom he should anoint king 1 Samuel 9.15 and so had David for you find upon his inquiry of God probably by the Urim and Thummim God told him what was his duty as to that expedition and what would be the event of it 1 Samuel 23.2 4 and 9-12 but now all are tied up to the ordinary standing rule of the written word and must not expect any such extraordinary revelations from God the way we now have to know the will of God concerning us in difficult cases is to search and study the scriptures and where we find no particular rule to guide us in this or that particular case there we are to apply general rules and govern ourselves according to the analogy and proportion they bear towards each other now it often falls out that in such doubtful cases we are entangled in our own thoughts and put to a loss what course to take 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 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.