Divine Conduct, Head 2 · Performance 7
The Seventh Performance of Providence.
VII.
YOu have heard how well Providence hath performed its part of you,providen…ial provi…ion for us …nd ours. in planting you into families, who once were solitary. Now let us in the next place view another gracious performance of Providence for us, in making provisJon from time to time for us and our FamilJes. I the rather put these Providences together in this place, because I find the Scripture doth so, Psalm 107. 41. He setteth the poor on high from afflictJon, and maketh him familJes like a flock.
You know the Promises God hath made to his People, Psal. 34. 10. The young LJons shall lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord, shall not want any good thing. And have you not also seen the constant performance of it? Cannot you give the same answer, if the same question were propounded to you that the Disciples did, Luke 22. 35. Since I sent you forth, lacked ye any thing? and they said, nothing. Can ye not with Jacob, call him, the God that fed you all your life long? Gen. 48. 15. Surely he hath given bread to them that fear him, and been ever mindful of his Covenant, Psal. 111. 5.
To display this Providence, we will consider it in the following particulars.
(1.) The assiduity and constancy of the care of Providence for the Saints, Lam. 3. 23. His mercJes are new every morning. It is not the supply of one or two pressing needs, but all your wants, as they grow from day to day through all your dayes, Gen. 48. 15. The God that fed me all my life long. The care of Providence runs parallel with the line of life. See Isa. 46. 3, 4. Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are born by me from the belly, which are carryed from the Womb: and even to your old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry. you: I have made, and I will bear, even I will carry, and will deliver you. So that as God bid Israel, Micah 6. 5. to remember from Shittim… unto Gilgal, that they might know the faithfulness of the Lord; so would I perswade thee, Reader, to record the wayes of Providence, from first to last, throughout thy whole course of this day, that thou maist see what a God he hath been to thee.
(2.) The seasonableness, and opportuneness of its provisions for them: for so runs the promise, Isa. 41. 17. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them; and so hath the performance of it been. And this hath been made good to distressed Saints sometimes in a more ordinary way, God secretly blessing a little, and making it sufficient for us and ours: Job tells us of the secret of God upon his Tabernacle, Job 29. 4. (i. e.) his secret blessing is in their Tabernacles; by reason whereof it is that they subsist; but it is in an unaccountable way that they do so. And sometimes in an extraordinary way it breaks forth for their supply. So you find in 2 Kings 17. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. the Cruse and Barrel sail not.
Mr. Samuel Clarke, …, Vol. …. 342.in the Life of that painful and humble servant of Christ Mr. John Fox, records a memorable Instance of Providence, and it is this, That towards the end of King Henry the Eighth his Reign he went to London, where he quickly spent that little his friends had given him, or he had acquired by his own diligence, and began to be in great want. As one day he sate in Paul's Church, spent with long fasting▪ his countenance thin, and his eyes hollow, aft… the ghastful manner of dying men, every one shunning a Spectacle of so much horror: There came one to him, whom he had never seen before, and thrust an untold summ of money into his hand, bidding him, be of good cheer, and accept that small gift in good part from his Countrey-man; and that he should make much of himself, for that within a few dayes new hopes were at hand, and a more certain condition of livelihood. Three dayes after the Dutchess of Richmond sent for him to live in her house, and be Tutor to the Earl of Surrey's Children, then under her care.
Mr. Isaac Ambrose a worthy Divine, whose labours have made him acceptable to his generatJon, in his Epistle to the Earl of Bedford prefixed to his Last things, gives a pregnant Instance in his own case; his words are these; For mine own part, (saith he) however the Lord hath seen cause to give me but a poor pittance of outward things, for which I bless his name; yet in the income thereof, I have many times observed so much of his peculiar Providence, that thereby they have been very much sweetned, and my heart hath been raised to admire his grace. When of late under an hard dispensation (which I judge not meet to mention) wherein I suffered conscientiously) all streams of wonted supplyes being stopt, the waters of relief for my self and family did run low▪ I went to bed with some staggerings and doubtings of the Fountains letting out it self for our refreshing; but e're I did awake in the morning, a Letter was brought to my bed side, which was signed by a choice friend Mr. Anthony Ash, which reported some unexpected breakings out of Gods goodness for my comfort. These are some of his lines—Your God who hath given you an heart thankfully to record your experiences of his goodness, doth renew experiences for your encouragement. Now I shall report one, which will raise your spirit toward the God of your mercies. Whereupon he sweetly concludes, One morsel of Gods provision, especially when it comes in unexpected and upon prayer, when wants are most, will be more sweet to a spirituall relish, than all former enjoyments were.
(3.) The Wisdom of Providence in our provisions. And this is discovered in two things: (1.) In proportioning the quantity, not satisfying our extravagent wishes, but answering our real needs; consulting our wants, not our wantonness, Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your wants; and this hath exactly suited the wishes of the best and wisest men, who desired no more at its hand. So. Jacob, Gen. 28. 20. and Agur, Prov. 30. 8, 9. Wise Providence considers our condition as Pilgrims and Strangers, and so allots the VJaticum provision, that is needful for our passage home. It knows the mischievous influence of fulness and redundancy upon most men, though sanctified; and how apt it is to make them remiss, and forgetful of God, Deut. 6. 12. that their hearts, like the Moon, suffers an Eclipse when it is at the full; and so …a…ts and orders all to their best advantage (2.) Its Wisdom is much discovered in the manner of dispensing our portion to us. It many times suffers our wants to pinch hard, and many scars to arise, out of design to magnifie the care and love of God in the supply, Deut. 8. 3. Providence so orders the case, that faith and prayer coming betwixt our wants and supplies, the goodness of God may be the more magnified in our eyes thereby.
And now let me beg you to consider the good hand of Providence, that hath provided for, and suitably supplyed you and yours all your dayes, and never failed you hitherto: and labour to walk suitably to your experiences of such mercies. In order whereunto, let me press a few suitable Cautions upon you.
Beware, that you forget not the care and kindness of Providence which your eyes have seen in so many fruits and experiences thereof. It was Gods charge against Israel, Psal. 106. 3. that they soon forgat his wondrous works. A bad heart and a slippery memory, deprive men of the comfort of many mercies, and defraud God of the glory due for them.
Do not distrust Providence in future exigencies. Thus they did, Psal. 78. 20. Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed: can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? How unreasonable and absurd are these queries of unbelief, especially after their eyes had seen the power of God in such extraordinary effects?
Do not murmur and regret under new straits. This is a vile temper; and yet how incident to us, when wants press hard upon us! Ah! did we but rightly understand what the demerit of sin is, we would rather admire the bounty of God, than complain of the strait-handedness of Providence. And if we did but consider, that there lyes upon God no obligation of Justice or Gratitude to reward any of our duties, it would cure our murmurs, Gen. 32. 10.
Do not shew the least discontent at the lot and portion Providence carves out to you. O that you would be well pleased and satisfied with all its appointments. Say as Psal. 16. 6. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Surely that is best for you, which Providence hath appointed, and one day you your selves will judge it so to be.
Do not neglect Prayer when straits befall you. You see it's Providence dispenses all, you live upon it; therefore apply your selves to God in the times of need. This is evidently included in the Promise, Isa. 41. 17. as well as expressed in the Command, Phil. 4. 6. Remember God, and he will not forget you.
Do not distract your hearts with sinful cares, Matth. 6. 25, 26. Consider the fowls of the Air, (saith Christ) not the fowls at the Door, that are daily fed by hand; but those of the Air, that know not where to have the next meal; and yet God provides for them. Remember your relation to Christ, and his engagements by promise to you, and by these things work your hearts to satisfaction and content with all the allotments of Providence.