Divine Conduct, To the reader
To the ingenuous Readers, those especially that are the heedful Observers of the wayes of PROVIDENCE.
Reader,
THERE are two wayes whereby the blessed God condescends to manifest himself to men, His Word, and his Works. Of the written Word we must say, No words like these were ever written since the beginning of Time, which can (as one speaks) take life and root in the Soul, yea, doth it as really as the seed doth in the ground: and are fitted to be engraffed and naturalized there, so as no coalition in nature can be more real than this, James 1. 21. This is the most transcendent and glorious medJum of manifestation; God hath magnifJed his word above all his name, Psal. 138. 2.
However, the manifestations of God by his Works, whether of CreatJon or Providence have their value, and glory: but the prime glory and excellency of his ProvidentJal works consists in this, that they are the very fulfillings and real accomplishments of his written word. By a wise and heedful attendance hereunto, we might learn that excellent Art, which is (not unfitly) called by some ScJentJa architectonica, an Art to clear the Mysterious occurrences of Providence, by reducing them to the written word, and there lodge them as Effects in their proper Causes. And doubtless, this is one of the rarest essayes men could pursue against Atheism, to shew, not only how Providences concurr in a most obvious tendency to confirm this great Conclusion, Thy word is Truth; but how it sometimes extorts also the confession of a God, and the truth of his Word, from those very tongues which have boldly denyed it. Aeschyles the PersJan relating their discomf… ture by the GrecJan Army,…schiles …ragoed. makes this not able observation, When the GrecJan Forces hotly pursued us, (saith he) and we must needs venture over the great water Strymon, then frozen; but beginning to thaw; when a hundred to one we had all dyed for it, with mine eyes I then saw many of those Gallants whom I had heard before so boldly maintain, there was no God, every one upon their knees, with eyes and hands lifted up, begging hard for help and mercy, and entreating that the Ice might hold till they got over. Many thousand seals hath Providence forced the very Enemies of God to set to his Truths, which greatly tends to our confirmation therein; but especially, to see how the Word and Providences of God do enlighten each other; and how the Scriptures contain all those Events, both great and small, which are disposed by Providence in their seasons: And how not only the Promises of the Word, are in the general faithfully fulfilled to the Church in all her Exigences and Distresses; but in particular to every member of it; they being all furnished by Providence with multitudes of Experiences to this use and end. O how useful are such observations!
And as the profit and use, so the delight and pleasure resulting from the observations of Providence, is exceeding great. It will doubtless be a part of our entertainment in Heaven, to view with transporting delight, how the designs and methods were laid to bring us thither: and what will be a part of our blessedness in Heaven, may well be allowed to have a prime ingrediency into our Heaven upon Earth▪ To search for pleasure among the due Observations of Providence, is to search for water in the Ocean: for Providence doth not only, ultimately design to bring you to Heaven, but (as intermediate thereunto) to bring (by this means) much of Heaven into your souls in the way thither.
How great a pleasure is it to discern how the most wise God is providentially steering all to the Port of his own Praise, and his peoples Happiness, whilst the whole world is busily employed in managing the Sails, and tugging at the Oars, with a quite opposite design and purpose? To see how they promote his design by opposing it, and fulfil his will by resisting it, enlarge his Church by scattering it, and make their rest to come the more sweet to their souls, by makeing their condition so restless in the world. This is pleasant to observe in general: But to record and note its particular designs upon our selves; with what profound wisdom, infinite tenderness, and incessant vigilancy it hath managed all that concerns us from first to last, is ravishing and transporting.
O what an History might we compile of our own Experiences, whilst with a melting heart me trace the footsteps of Providence all along the way it hath led us to this day; and set our Remarques upon its more eminent performances for us, in the several Stages of our Life!
Here it prevented, and there it delivered: Here it directed, and there it corrected. In this it grJeved, and in that it relJeved. Here was the Poison, and there the Antidote. This Providence raised a dismal Cloud, and that dispelled it again. This straitned, and that enlarged. Here a want, and there a supply. This Relation withered, and that springing up in its room. Words cannot express the high delights and gratifications, a gracious heart may …ind in such employment as this.
O what a world of rarities are to be found in Providence! The blind heedless world makes nothing of them: they cannot find one sweet bit, where a gracious soul would make a rich feast. Plutarch relates very exactly, how Timoleon was miraculously delivered from the conspiracy of two Murderers, by their meeting in the very nick of time a certain person, who to revenge the death of his Father, killed one of them, just as they were ready to give Timoleon the fatal blow, though he knew nothing of the business, and so Timoleon escaped the danger. And what did this wonderful work of Providence think you, yield the Relator? Why, though he were one of the most learned and ingenious among the Heathen Sages; yet all he made of it, was only this, The Spectators (saith he) wondered greatly at the Artifice and contrivance which Fortune uses. This is all he could see in it. Had a spiritual and wise Christian had the dissecting and Anatomizing of such a work of Providence, what glory would it have yielded to God! What comfort and encouragement to the Soul! The Bee makes a sweeter meal upon one single flower, than the Ox doth upon the whole Meadow, where thousands of them grow.
O Reader, if thy heart be spiritual and well stockt with experience, if thou hast recorded the wayes of Providence towards thee, and wilt but allow thy self time to reflect upon them; what a life of pleasure maist thou live! What an Heaven upon Earth doth this way lead thee into! I will not here tell thee, what I have met in this path, lest it should seem to savour of too much Vanity; non est religJo ubi omnJa patent. There are some delights and enjoyments in the Christian life, which are and must be enclosed. But Try it thy self, Taste and See, and thou wilt need no other inducement; thine own Experi…nce will be the most powerful Oratory to perswade thee to the study and search of Providence.
Histories are usually read with delight: when once the fancy is catcht, a man knows not how to disengage himself from it. I am greatly mistaken, if the History of our own lives, if it were well drawn up, and distinctly perused, would not be the pleasantest History that ever we read in our lives.
The ensuing Treatise is an Essay to that purpose, in which thou wilt find some remarques set upon Providence, in its passage through the several Stages of our life. But Reader, thou only art able to compile the History of Providence for thy self, because the memorJals that furnish it, are only in thine own hands. However, here thou maist find a pattern, and general Rules to direct thee in that great and difficult work, which is the very end, and design of this Manual.
I have not had much regard to the dress, and ornament in which this Discourse is to go abroad, for I am debtor both to the strong and weak, the wise and foolish: and in all my observation I have not found, that ever God hath made much use of laboured periods, Rhetorical flowers, and Elegancies to improve the power of Religion in the world: Yea, I have observed, how Providence hath sometimes rebuked good men, when upon other Subjects they have too much affected those pedantick fooleries in withdrawing from them its usual aids, and exposing them to shame; and much more may it do so, when it self is the Subject.
Reader, if thy stomach be nice and squeasie, and nothing will relish with thee, but what is spruce and elegant, there are store of such composures in the world, upon which thou maist even surfeit thy curious fancy: mean time there will be found some that will bless God for what thou despisest, and make many a sweet meal upon what thou loathest.
I will add no more, but my hearty prayers that Providence will direct this Treatise to such hands, in such seasons, and so bless and prosper its design, that God may have glory, thou maist have benefit, and my self comfort in the success thereof, who am
Thine and the Churches servant in the hand of Providence, Iohn Flavell.
Divine Conduct, OR THE MYSTERIE OF Providence: Opened in a TREATISE Upon PSAL. 57. 2. I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me.
THE greatness of God is a glorious, and uns…archable Mysterie. The Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the Earth, Psal. 47. 2. The condescesinon of the most high God to men is also a profound Mysterie. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly, Psal. 13 8. 6. But when both these meet together (as they do in this Scripture) they make up a matchless Mysterie. Here we find the most High God performing all things for a poor distressed creature.
It is the great support and solace of the Saints in all the distresses that befall them here, that there is a Wise Spirit sitting in all the wheels of motion, and governing the most excentrical Creatures and their most pernicious designs to blessed and happy issues. And indeed it were not worth while to live in a world foreign devoid of God and Providence.
How deeply we are concerned in this matter, will appear by that great Instance, which this Psalm presents us with.
It was composed (as the Title notes) by David prayer-wise, when he hid himself from Saul in the Cave: And is inscribed with a double Title, Altaschith Michtam of David. Altaschith refers to the scope, and Michtam to the dignity of the subject matter.
The former signifies destroy not, Itaschith … perdas, …. vel … Saulem; …ressit …im suos …vid qui …citabant …sum ut …ulem …rderet▪ vel… me … …eus. Gei… in loc. …ichtam … … aureum vel aureolum earmen … foreign (i. e.) aurum optimum; … psalmus hic precJosus est instar auri. Bu. gensis.or let there be no slaughter, and may either refer to Saul, concerning whom he gave charge to his servants not to destroy him; or rather, it hath reference to God, to whom in this great exigence he poured out his soul in this pathetical ejaculation, Altaschith destroy not.
The later Title Michtam signi…ies a golden ornament, and so is suited to the choice and excellent matter of the Psalm, which much more deserves such a Title, than Pythagoras his golden Verses did.
Three things are remarkable in the former part of the Psalm. Viz. (1) His extream danger. (2) His earnest address to God in that extremity. (3) The Arguments he pleads with God in that address.
His extream danger, expressed both in the Title, and body of the Psalm. The Title tells us, this Psalm was composed by him when he hid himself from Saul in the Cave. This Cave was in the Wilderness of Engedi among the broken Rocks where the wild Goats inhabited,C…m aut… locum in quo lateb … esse ab … ercitu S… lis vide… nec jam ullum …, quo… antease… per in si… libus perculis ferat: n… q…oque a d…um co… git. M…rus in an obscure and desolate hole; yet even thither the Envy of Saul pursued him, I Sam. 24. 1, 2. And now he that had been so long hunted as a Partridge upon the Mountains, seems to be enclosed in the net; for the place was begirt with his Enemies, and having in this place no out-let another way, and Saul himself entring into the mouth of this Cave, in the sides and creeks whereof he and his men lay hid, and saw him; judge to how great an extremity, and to what a desperate state things were now brought: Well might he say, as it is ver. 4. My soul is among Lyons, and I lye even among them that are set on fire. What hope now remained? What but immediate destruction could be expected?
Yet this frights him not out of his …aith and duty, but betwixt the Jaws of death he prays, and earnestly addresses himself to God for mercy, v. 1. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful unto me. This excellent Psalm was composed by him, when there was enough to discompose the best man in the world. The repetition notes both the extremity of the danger, and the ardency of the Supplicant. Mercy, Mercy! nothing but Mercy, and that exerting it self in an extraordinay way, can now save him from …ine▪
The Arguments he pleads for obtaining mercy in this distress, are very considerable.
(1.) He pleads his reliance upon God, as an Argument to move mercy. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee; yea in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamitJes be overpast, v. 1. This his trust and dependance on God, though it be not Argumentative in respect of the dignity of the Act; yet it is so in respect, both of the nature of the Object, a compassionate God, who will not expose any that take shelter under his wings; and in respect of the Promise, whereby protection is assured to them that fly to him for sanctuary, Isa. 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Thus he encourages himself from the consideration of that God, to whom he betakes himself.
(2.) He pleads former experiences of his help in past distresses, as an Argument encouraging hope under the present strait, ver. 2. I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me.
In which words I shall consider two things,
1. The Duty resolved upon,
2. The Encouragement to that resolution.
The duty resolved upon; I will cry unto God. Crying unto God, is an expression that doth not only denote Prayer, but intense and fervent prayer. To cry, is to pray in an holy passion; and such are usually speeding prayers, Psalm 18. 6. and Heb. 5. 7.
The Encouragements to this Resolution, and these are twofold.
1. Objective, taken from The Soveraignty of God. and
2. Subjective, taken from The Experience he had of his Providence.
The Soveraignty of God, I will cry unto God most High. Upon this he acts his faith in Extremity of danger. Saul is high, but God the most high; and without his permission, he is assured Saul cannot touch him. He had no… to help; and if he had, he knew God must first help the helpers, or they cannot help him. He had no means of defence or escape before him, but the Most High is not limited by means. This is a singular prop to faith, Psal. 59. 9.
The Experience of his Providence hitherto: unto God that performeth all things for me.
The word which we trad…ate [performeth] comes from a root,foreign perfecit, desecit, destit, Pagnin. Buxtor that signifies both to perfect, and to desis… or cease. For when a business is performed and perfected, the Agent then ceases and …sists from working: he puts to the last hand, when he finishe… the work. To such an happy issue the Lord hath brought all his doubtful and difficult matters before; and this gives him encouragement, that he will still … gracious, and perfect that which concerneth him now, as he speaks, Psal. 138. 8. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.
The Sep…uagint renders it by foreign who profiteth, or benefiteth me. And it is a certain Truth, that all the results and issues of Providence are profitable and beneficial to the Saints. But the Supplement in our Translation well receives the importance of the place, Who performeth all things. And it involves the most strict and proper notion of Providence, which is nothing else but the performance of God's gracious purposes, and promises to his people. And therefore Vatablus and Muis supply and fill up the room which the conciseness of the Original leaves, with quae promisit, I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth the things which he hath promised. Payment is the performance of promises. Grace makes the promise, and Providence the payment.
Piscator fills it with benignitatem & misericordJam suam, unto God that performeth his kindness and mercy. But still it supposes the mercy performed, to be contained in the promise. Mercy is sweet in the promise, and much more so in the providentJal performance of it to us.
CastalJo's Supplement comes nearer to ours, rerum mearum Transactorem, I will cry unto God most high, unto God the Transactor of my affairs.
But our English, making out the sense by an universal particle, is most fully agreeable to the scope of the Text. For it cannot but be a great encouragement to his faith, that God had transacted all things, or performed all things for him; this Providence that never failed him in any of the straits that ever he met with (and his life was a life of many straits) he might well hope it would not now fail him, though this were an extraordinary and matchless one.
Bring we then our thoughts a little closer to this Scripture, and it will give us a fair and lovely prospect of Providence in its
1. Universal
2. Effectual
3. Beneficial
4. Encouraging
Influence upon the Affairs and Concerns of the Saints.
The expression imports the Vniversal Interest and Influence of Providence in and upon all the Concerns and Interests of the Saints. It hath not only its hand in this or that, but in all that concerns them. It hath its eye upon every thing that relates to them throughout their lives, from first to last. Not only great, and more important, but the most minute and ordinary affairs of our lives are transacted and managed by it. It touches all things that touch us, whether more nearly or remotely.
It displaies the Efficacy of ProvidentJal Influences. Providence doth not only undertake, but [performeth] and perfects what concerns us. It goes through with its designs, and accomplisheth what it begins. No difficulty so clogs it, no cross accident falls in its way, but it carries its design through it. Its motions are irresistible and uncontrollable, he performs it for us.
And (which is sweet to consider) all its products and issues are exceeding beneficJal to the Saints. It performs all things [for them]. 'Tis true, we often prejudge its works, and unjustly censure its designs, and under many of our straits and troubles we say, all these things are against us: but indeed Providence neither doth, nor can do any …hing that is really against the true Interest and go…d of the Saints. For what are the works of Providence, but the execution of God's Decree, and the fulfilling of his Word? and there can be no more in Providence, than is in them. Now there is nothing but good to the Saints in God's purposes and promises; and therefore, whatever Providence doth in their Concernments, it must be (as the Text speaks) the performance of all things for them.
And if so, how chearing, supporting, and encouraging must the consideration of these things be in a day of distress and trouble? What life and hope will it inspire our Hearts and Prayers withal, when great pressures lie upon us? It had such a chearing influence upon the Psalmist at this time, when the state of his affairs was to the eye of sense and reason forlorn, and desperate: there was now but an hairs breadth (as we say) betwixt him and ruine.
A potent, e…aged, and implacable Enemy had driven him into the hole of a rock, and was come after him into that hole, yet now whilst his soul is among Lyons, whilest he lies in a cranny of the Rock, expecting every moment to be drawn out to death, the reflections he had upon the gracious performances of the Most High for him, from the beginning to that moment, support his soul, and inspire hope and life into his prayers, I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me.
The amount of all you have in this Doctrinal Conclusion.
DOCT. That it is the duty of the Saints, especJally in times of straits, to reflect upon the performances of Providence for them in all the states, and through all the stages of their lives.
The Church in all the works of mercy, owns …he …and of God, Isa. 26. 12. Lord, thou hast wrought all our works in (or for) us. And still it hath been the pious, and constant practice of the Saints in all generations, to preserve the memory of the more famous, and remarkable providences that have befallen them in their times, as a precious treasure. If thou be a ChristJan indeed, I know thou hast, if not in thy book, yet certainly in thy heart a great many precJous favours upon record; the very remembrance and rehearsal of them is sweet: how much more sweet was the actual enjoyment? Baxter's Saints Rest, p. 768. Thus Moses by divine direction wrote a memorial of that victory obtained over Amalek as the fruit and return of prayer, and built there an Altar with this Inscription Jehovah Nissi, The Lord my Banner, Exod. 17. 14, 15. Thus Mordecai and Hester took all care to perpetuate the memory of that signal deliverance from the plot of Haman, by ordaining the feast of Purim, as an Anniversary throughout every generatJon, every family, every Province, and every Ci…y, that those days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorJal of them perish from their seed, Esth. 9. 28. For this end you find Psalms indited, to bring to remembrance, Psal. 70. the Title. Parents giving suitable names to their Children, that every time they looked upon them, they might refresh the memory of Gods mercies, 1 Sam. 1. 20. The very places where eminent Providences have appeared, new named, upon no other design, but to perpet…ate the memorial of those sweet Providences which so refreshed them there: Thence Bethel took its name, Gen. 28. 19. And that well of water where Hagar was seasonably refreshed by the Angel in her distress, Beer-la-hai-roi, the well of him that liveth and looketh on me, Gen. 16. 14. Yea, the Saints have given, and God hath assumed to himself new Titles upon this very score and account; Abraham's Jehovah jirch, and Gideon's Jehovah shallum were ascribed to him upon this reason. And sometimes you find the Lord stiles himself, The God that brought Abraham from Vr of the Chalde…s: then the Lord Lord that brought them out of Egypt: then the Lord that gathered them out of the North Countrey: still minding them of the gracious providences which in all those places he had wrought for them.
Now there is a twofold reflection upon the providentJal works of God.
One entire and full, in the whole Complex and perfect frame thereof.When the …ecords of Eternity shall be exposed to view, all the counsels and results of that profound wisdom looked into; how will it transport? when it shall be discerned, Loe, thus were the designs …aid: here were the apt junctures and admirable dependencies of things, which when acted upon the stage of time, seem'd so perplex… and intrica…e, …owes Blessedness, p. 76. This blessed sight is reserved for the perfect state. It is in that Mount of God, where we shall see both the Wilderness and Canaan: the glorious Kingdom into which we are come, and the way through which we were led into it. There the Saints shall have a ravishing view of that beautiful frame, and every part shall be distinctly discerned, as it had its particular use, and as it was connected with the other parts, and how effectually and orderly they all wrought to bring about that blessed design of their salvation, according to the promise, Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, &c. For it is certain, no Ship at Sea keeps more exactly by the Compass which directs its course, than Providence doth by that Promise, which is its Cynosura and Pole-star.
The other partial and imperfect in the way to glory, where we only view it in its single acts, or at most, in some branches and more observable course of actions.
Betwixt these two is the same difference, as betwixt the sight of the dis-jointed wheels and scattered pins of a Watch, and the sight of the whole united in one frame, and working in one orderly motion: or, betwixt an ignorant Spectators viewing some more observable vessel or joint of a dissected body; and the accurate Anatomist's discerning the course of all the veins and arteries of the body, as he follows the several branches of them through the whole, and plainly sees the proper places, figure, and use of each, with their mutual respect to one another.
O how ravishing and delectable a sight is that! to behold at one view the whole design of Providence, and the proper place, and use of every single act, which we could not understand in this world: for what Christ said to Peter, John 13. 7. is as applicable to some providences in which we are now concerned, as it was to that particular action; What I do thou knowest not now, but hereafter thou shalt know it. All the dark intricate puzling Providences at which we were sometimes so stumbled, and sometimes amazed, which we could neither reconcile with the promise, nor with each other; nay, which we so unjustly censured and bitterly bewailed, as if they had fallen out quite cross to our happiness: we shall than see to be unto us, as the difficult passage through the Wilderness was unto Israel, the right way to a City of habitatJon, Psalm 107. 7.
And yet though our present views and reflections upon Providence be so short and imperfect in comparison of that in Heaven, yet such as it is under all its present disadvantages, it hath so much excellency and sweetness in it, that I may call it a little Heaven, or as Jacob called his Bethel, the Gate of Heaven. 'Tis certainly an high-way of walkking with God in this world, and as sweet communion may a soul enjoy with him in his Providences, as in any of his Ordinances. How often have the hearts of its observers been melted into tears of joy,…ther was … to …escribe God, … at last …, risit … dubiè … sapi…iam Do…us, & …, Deus …, non …uax. at the beholding of its wise and unexpected productions! How often hath it convinced them, upon a sober recollection of the events of their lives, that if the Lord had left them to their own counsels, they had as often been their own tormenters, if not executioners? Into what, and how many fatal mischiefs had they precipitated themselves, if Providence had been as short sighted as they? They have given it their hearty thanks, for considering their Interest more than their Importunity, and not suffering them to perish by their own desires.
The benefits of adverting the works of Providence, are manifold and unspeakable; as in its place we shall shew you. But not to entangle the thread of the discourse, I shall cast it into this method.
First, I shall prove, that the Concernments of the Saints in this world, are certainly conducted by the Wisdom and care of special Providence.
Secondly, I will shew you, in what particular concernments of theirs this providential care is evidently discovered.
Thirdly, That it is the duty of Saints to advert, and heedfully observe these performances of Providence for them in all their Concernments.
Fourthly, In what manner this duty is to be performed by them.
Fifthly, What singular benefits result to them from such observations.
And then apply the whole in such Uses, as offer themselves from the Point.