Divine Conduct, Head 2 · Performance 8
The Eighth Performance of Providence.
VIII.
THe next great advantage and mercy the Saints receive from the hand of Providence,…roviden…al per…rmances … our …reserva…on from … power … Tem…tation. is in their preservatJon from the snares, and temptatJons of sin, by its preventing care over them. That Providence wards off many a deadly stroke of Temptation, and puts by many a mortal thrust which Satan makes at our souls, is a truth as manifest as the light that shineth. This is included in that promise, 1 Cor. 10. 13. God will with the temptatJon make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Providence gives an out-let for the souls escape, when it is shut up into the dangerous straits of Temptation. There are two eminent wayes whereby the force and efficacacy of temptation is broken in believers. One is by the operation of internal grace, Gal. 5. 17. The Spirit lusteth against the flesh; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would (i. e.) Sanctification gives sin a miscarrying womb after it hath conceived in the soul. The other way, is by the external working of Providence; and of this I am here engaged to speak.
The Providence of God is the great Obex and hinderance to a world of sin, which else would break forth like an overflowing flood from our corrupt natures. It prevents abundance of sin, which else wicked men would commit, Gen. 19. 11. The Sodomites were greedily pursuing their lusts: God providentially hinders it, by smiting them blind. Jeroboam intends to smite the Prophet; Providence interpos'd, and wither'd his arm, 1 Kings 13. 4. Thus you see, when wicked men have contrived, and are ready to execute their wickedness, Providence claps on its manacles, that their hands cannot perform their enterprises, as it is Job 5. 12.
And so much corruption there remains in good men, that they would certainly plunge themselves under much more guilt than they do, if Providence did not take greater care of them than they do of themselves: for though they make conscience of keeping themselves, and daily watch their hearts and wayes, yet such is the deceitfulness of sin, that if Providence did not lay blocks in their way, it would (more frequently than it doth) entangle and defile them. And this it doth divers wayes.
(1.) Sometimes by stirring up others to interpose with seasonable counsels, which effectually disswade them from prosecuting an evil design. Thus Abigail meets David in the nick of time, and disswades him from his evil purpose, 1 Sam. 25. 34.
And I find it recorded (as on another account was noted before) of that holy man Mr. Dod, that being late at night in his Study, he was strongly moved (though at an unseasonable hour) to visit a Gentleman of his acquaintance; and not knowing what might be the design of Providence therein, he obeyed, and went; when he came to the house, after a …ew knocks at the door, the Gentleman himself came to him, and askt him, whether he had any business to him: Mr. Dod answered, no: but that he could not be quiet till he had seen him. O Sir, (reply'd the Gentleman,) you are sent of God at this hour, for just now (and with that, takes the Halter out of his pokcet,) I was going to destroy my self. And thus was the mischief prevented.
(2.) Sometimes by hindering the Means and Instruments, whereby the Evil it self is prevented. Thus, when good Jehosaphat had joyned himself with that wicked King AhazJah, to build Ships at EzJon-Gaber to go to Tarshish, God prevents the design, by breaking the Ships with a storm, as you read, 2 Chron. 20. 35, 36, 37.
We find also in the Life of Mr. Bolton, written by Mr. Bagshaw, That whilst he was in Oxford, he had familiar acquaintance with Mr. Anderton, a good Scholar, but a strong Papist, who knowing Mr. Bolton's good parts, and perceiving that he was in some outward wants, took this advantage, and used many arguments to perswade him to be reconciled to the Church of Rome, and to go over with him to the English Seminary, assuring him he should be furnished with all necessaries, and have gold enough. Mr. Bolton being at that time, poor in mind and purse, accepted the motion, and a day and place was appointed in Lancashire, where they should meet and take shipping and be gone: but Mr. Anderton came not, and so he escaped the share.
(3.) Sometimes by laying some strong affliction upon the body,Some afflictions are … punishments, others are …, foreign chastisements, and these are both foreign, tryals of grace, and foreign, preservatives from sin. to prevent a worse evil. And this is the meaning of Hosea 2. 6. I will hedge up her way with thorns. Thus Basil was a long time exercised with a violent head-ach, which (as he observed) was used by Providence to prevent Lust. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan sent to busset him: and this affliction, whatever it was, was ordained to prevent pride in him, 2 Cor. 12. 7.
(4.) Sometimes sin is prevented in the Saints, by the better information of their minds at the Sacred Oracles of God. Thus, when sinful motions began to rise in David's mind, from the prosperity of the wicked, and his own afflicted state, and grew to that height, that he began to think, all he had done in the way of religion, was little better than lost labour; he is set right again, and the temptation dissolved, by going into the Sanctuary, where God shewed him how to take new measures of persons and things; to judge them by their ends and issues, not their present appearances, Psal. 73. 12, 13, 17.
(5.) And sometimes the Providence of God prevents the sins of his people, by removing them out of the way of Temptations by death. In which sense we may understand that Text, Isa. 57. 1. The Righteous is taken away from the Evil to come; the evil of Sin as well as Sufferings. When the Lord sees his people low spirited, and not able to grapple with strong tryals and temptations which are drawing on, it is with respect to them a merciful Providence, to be disbanded by death, and set out of harms way.
Now consider, and admire the Providence of God, O ye Saints, who hath had more care of your souls, than ever ye had of them. Had not the Providence of God thus wrought for you in a way of prevention, it may be you had this day been so many Magor Missabibs. How was the heart of David melted under that preventing Providence fore-mentioned in 1 Sam. 25. 34. He blesses the Lord, the Instrument, and the Counsel by which his soul was preserved from sin. Do but seriously bethink your selves of a few particulars about this case. As,
(1.) How your corrupt natures have often impetuously hurried you on towards sin, so that all the inherent grace you had, could not withstand its force, if Providence had not prevented it in some such method as you have heard, Jam. 1. 14. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed. You found your selves but feathers in the wind of temptation.
(2.) How near you have been brought to the brink of sin, and yet saved by a merciful hand of Providence. May you not say with him in Prov. 5. 14. I was almost in the midst of all evil: or as Psal. 73. 2. My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slidden. O merciful Providence! that stept in so opportunely to your relief.
(3.) How many have been suffered to fall by the hand of Temptations to the reproach of Religion, and wounding of their own Consciences, to that degree, that they have never recovered former peace again; but lived in the world devoid of comfort to their dying day?
(4.) How woful your case had been, if the Lord had not mercifully saved you from many thousand temptations, that have assaulted you? I tell you, you cannot estimate the mercies you possess by means of such Providences. Are your names sweet, and your Consciences peaceful, two mercies as dear to you as your two eyes? Why surely, you owe them, if not wholly, yet in great measure, to the aids and assistances Providence hath given you all along the way you have passed through the dangerous tempting World to this day.
Walk therefore suitably to this Obligation of Providence also: and see,
(1.) That you thankfully own it. Don't impute your escapes from sin to accidents, or to your own watchfulness or wisdom.
(2.) See that you tempt not Providence on the other hand, by an irregular relyance upon its care over you, without taking all due care of your selves. Keep your selves in the love of God, Jude 21. Keep your hearts with all diligence, Prov. 4. 23. Though Providence keep you, yet it is in the way of your duty.