Divine Conduct, Title page – Dedication
Divine Conduct: OR, THE MYSTERIE OF Providence. WHEREIN The Being and Efficacy of Providence is Asserted, and Vindicated: The Methods of Providence as it passes through the several Stages of our Lives opened; and the proper course of improving all Providences directed, in a TREATISE upon Psalm 57. Ver. 2.
By John Flavell, Preacher of the Gospel.
Totam Dei Providentiam omnia tandem dirigere ad gloriam suam, & ad Electorum salutem; ac tum quiescere Spiritum Dei, cùm videt Impios damnari, ac Electos servari; ex qua utraque re Deus glorificetur.
Hieron-Zanchii Miscell. Tom. 2. pag. 199.
Psal. 111. 4
foreign memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum.
LONDON: Printed by R. W. for Francis Tyton at the Three Daggers in Fleetstreet. MDCLXXVIII.
TO THE Right Honourable WILLIAM EARL of BEDFORD, Lord RUSSELL of Thorne…ugh, and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER.
My LORD,
IT was a weighy, and savoury Speech,Mr. Isaa… Ambrose Epist. to his Vltima. which a Pious Pen once saved from your Lordship's lips, viz. that You accounted the Prayers of Gods Ministers and People, the best Walls about your House. He that so accounts, doubtless understands, that Prayer engageth Providence, Isa. 45. 11. and Providence so engaged, is the surest Munition, Job 1. 10.
Many great men enclose their dwellings with an high Wall, but the foundation (as the Wisest of men observes) is laid in their own conceits, Prov. 18. 11. Yea, in sin, and crying sin too, Hab. 2. 12. Of such Walls we may say, as the Oracle to Phocas, foreign. If the Building emulate the Skies, yet sin being in the bottom, all will totter.
'Tis a fond vanity, to think of ensuring a destiny that can controll the Stars, and endure the assaults of Fortune, (as they love to speak) whilst Providence is not engaged for them, no not so much as by a bare acknowledgement.
My Lord, It is not the vast bulk of an Estate, nor the best humane security in the World, but the vigilant care of Divine Providence, that guards both It, and its Owners from the stroke of ruine. 'Tis the fear of God within us, and the Providence of God round about us, which make the firm and solid basis of all sanctified and durable prosperity. It is beyond all debate, that there is a Providence of God alwayes enfolding those in everlasting arms, that bear his Image. The Impress of that Image upon you, and the Embraces of those Arms about you, will advance you higher, and secure you better, than your Noble Birth or Estate could ever do.
My Lord, Providence hath molded you, è melJori luto, made you both the Offspring and Head of an Illustrious Family, planted you in a rich and pleasant Soyl, caused many Noble Branches to spring from you, drawn your life even unto old age, through the delights and honours of this world. And now that you have tried all those things that make the fairest pretensions to happiness; what have you found in all these painted beauties, and false glozing excellencies which have successively courted you? Which of them all can you pronounce self-desirable? Which can you call objectum par amori? What is it to have the flesh indulged, sense gratified, fancy tickled? What have you found in meats and drinks, in stately Houses and pleasant Gardens; in Gold and Silver, in Honour and Applause to match the Appetite of your Nobler Soul? Surely (My Lord) to turn from them all with a generous disdain, as one that knows where to find better entertainment; is much more Noble, than wholly to immerse, and lose our Spirits in those sensual fuitions, as many do, alas, too many in our dayes!
We are fallen into the dregs of time, Sensuality runs every where into Atheism. ProvidentJa peperit liv…Jas, sed filJa devoravit matrem. The largesses of Providence have so blinded, and perfectly stupified the minds of some, that they neither own a Providence, nor a God, who do foreign, as Plutarch both wittily and judiciously reply'd upon Colotes the Epicurean.
But blessed be God, there is a sincere part, both of the Nobles and Commons of England, which this Gangrene hath not yet touched, and Ihope, never shall.
My Lord, It is both your Honour and Interest, to be foreign, the entire and devoted servant of Providence. It was once the wish of a good man, optarem id me esse Deo, quod est mihimanus mea. This is the most Noble and Divine life that can be, to live and act in this world upon Eternal designs. To look upon our selves and what we have, as things devoted to God; not to be content that Providence should serve it self of us, (for so it doth even of those things which understand nothing of it) but to study wherein we may serve Providence, and be instrumental in its hand for the good of many; this is to be truly Honourable; quo magis quis Deo vivit, eo evadit nobilJor, clarJor, divinJor.
How much God hath honoured you in this respect, the World will understand better, when your Lordship shall be gathered to your Fathers, and sleep in the dust, then he that praiseth, cannot be suspected of flattery; nor he that is praised, be moved with vain glory: But the approbation of God, is infinitely better than the most glorious Name among men, before, or after death.
And as it is most honourable to serve, so you will find it most comfortable to observe the wayes of God in his Providence. To compose our selves to think of the Conduct of Providence through all the Stages of life we have hitherto passed. To note the results of its profound Wisdom, the Effects of its tender Care, the distinguishing fruits of its special Bounty: To mark how Providences have gone along step by step with the Promises, and both with us, till they have now brought us near to our Everlasting Rest, Oh how delectable! how transporting are such Meditations as these!
My Lord, It is the design of this Manual, to assert the Being and Efficacy of Providence against the Atheism of the times; and to display the Wisdom and care of the Providence of God in all the Concerns of that people who are really his. 'Tis probable, if your Lordship will stoop to such a vulgar composure, somewhat may occurr of a grateful relish to your pious mind. I confess, It is not accommodated, either in exactness of method, or elegancy of style, to gratifie the curious; nor yet is it destitute of what may please and profit the truly gracious.
Should I here recite the pleasures and advantages resulting from an humble and heedful eying of the methods of Providence, it would look more like a Book in an Epistle, than an Epistle in a Book. One taste of spiritual sense will satisfie you better, than all the accurate descriptions and high EncomJums that the most elegant Pen can bestow upon it.
My Lord, It is not that eminent station that some persons retain (in civil respects) above the vulgar, that will enable them to penetrate the Mysteries, and relish the sweetness of Providence better than others; (for doubtless many that live immediately upon Providence for daily bread, do thereby gain a nearer acquaintance with it, than those, whose outward enjoyments flow to them in a more plentiful and stated course) but those that excel in grace and experience, those that walk and converse with God in all his dispensations towards them; these are the persons who are most fully and immediately capable of these high pleasures of the Christian life. The daily flow and increase whereof in your Lordships Noble Person and Family, is the hearty desire of
From my Study at Dartmouth, Aug. 10. 1677. Your Lordships most humble servant, JOHN FLAVELL.