Divine Conduct, Head 5 · Motive 8
The Eighth Motive.
DVe observation of Providence will both beget and secure inward tranquillity in your minds amidst the viciss…udes and revolutions of things in this unstable vain world.
Psal 4. 8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep, for the Lord only maketh me dwell in safety. He resolves the sinful fears of Events shall not rob him of his inward quiet, nor torture his thoughts with anxious presages: he will commit all his concerns into that faithful fatherly hand that had hitherto wrought all things for him, and he means not to lose the comfort of one nights rest, nor bring the evil of to morrow upon the day, but knowing in whose hand he was, wisely enjoyes the sweet felicity of a resigned will.
Now this Tranquillity of our minds is as much begotten and preserved by a due consideration of Providence, as by any thing whatsoever. Hence it was, that our Lord Jesus Christ, when he would cure the Disciples anxious and distracting sollicitudes about a livelihood, bids them consider the care Providence hath over the Birds of the air, and the Lillies of the field, how it feeds the one, and clothes the other without any anxious care of theirs; and would have them well consider those Providences, and reason themselves into a calm and sweet composure of spirit from those considerations, Mat. 6. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.
Two things destroy the peace and tranquillity 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 balk them and …lee 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 tranquillity of our lives.
This is a great truth, that there is no face of Adversity of formidable, but being viewed from this station, would become amicable. Now there be 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, whilst events hang in a doubtful suspense.
As First, The Supremacy of Providence, and its uncontroulable power in working. This is often seen in the good that it brings us in a way that's above the thoughts and cares of our minds, or labour of our hands. I had not thought (said Jacob) to have seen thy face; and lo, God hath shewed me thy seed also, Gen. 48. 11. There is a frequent coincidency of Providences in a way of surprizal, which from no appearance, or the remotest tendency of outward causes could be foreseen, but rather falls visibly cross to the present Scheme, and posture of our affairs. Nothing tends to convince us of the vanity and folly of our own sollicitudes and projections, more than this doth.
The profound Wisdom of Providence in all that it performeth for the people of God. The Wheels are full of eyes, Ezek. 1. 18. (i.e.) 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 o…ten have we been courting some beautiful appearance that invited our senses, and with trembling shun'd the formidable face of other things, when notwithstanding the issues of Providence have convinced us, that our danger lay in what we cou…ted, and our good in what we so studiously declined? This also is a sweet principle of peace and quiet to the Christians mind, that he knows not, but his good may be imported in what seemed to threaten his ruine. 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, Deut. 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, Jer. 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 God hath helped, 1 Sam. 7. 12. We never found him wanting to us in any case hitherto: this …s not the first: strait we have been in: the first time that our hearts and hopes have been low. Surely, he is the same God now as heretofore, his hand is not shortned, neither doth his faithfulness …ail. O recount in how great extremities former experience hath 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 exceeding quieting and comfortable. It's usual with Christians, to compare times with times, and to guess at the issue of one Providence by another. The Saints do know what course Providence usually holds, and accordingly with great probability collect what they may expect from what in like cases they have formerly observed. Christian, examine thine own heart, and its former observations, and thou wilt find, as Psal. 89. 30, 31, 32. that it's usually the way of God to prepare some smart rods to correct thee, when either thy heart hath secretly revolted from God, and is grown vain, careless and sensual, or when thy steps have declined, and thou hast turned aside to the commission of iniquity. And then when those rods have been sanctified to humble, reduce and purge thy heart, it's usually observed, that those sad Providences are then upon the change, and then the Lord changes the voice of his Providence towards thee, Jer. 3. 12, 13. 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 merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, &c.
If therefore I find the blessed effects of the rod upon me, that it hath done its work, to break the hard heart, and pull down the proud heart, and awaken the drowsie 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 nigh.
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.
(1.) It is a mighty composing meditation, when we compare the Providences of God towards the inanimate and irrational Creatures, with his Providences towards us. Doth 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? Doth 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?
(2.) Or if we compare the bounty and care that Providence hath expressed to the Enemies of God, how it feeds and clothes and protects them, even whilst they are fighting against him with his own mercies; it cannot but quiet and satisfie us, that surely he will not be wanting to that people upon whom he hath set his love, to whom he hath given his Son, and for whom he hath designed Heaven it self.
(3.) Or Lastly, It must needs quiet us, when we consider, what the Lord did for us in the way of his Providence, when we our selves were in the state of nature, and enmity against God. Did he not then look after us, when we knew him not? provided for us, when we owned him not in any of his mercies? bestowed 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 tranquillity of it under the most distracting Providences.