Divine Conduct, Head 5 · Motive 3
The Third Motive
IN the next place, I beseech you consider, What an effectual means the due observation of Providence will be to over-power and suppress the natural Atheism that is in your hearts.
There is a natural seed of Atheism in the best hearts, and this is very much nourished, by passing a rash and false judgement upon the works of Providence. When we see wicked ones to prosper in the world, and godly men crushed and destroyed in the way of righteousness and integrity; it may tempt us to think, there is no advantage by religion, and all our self-denyal and holiness, to be little better than lost labour. Thus stood the case with good As…ph, Psal. 73. 12, 13. B… hold, these are the ungodly that prosper in the world, they increase in riches: and what doth the flesh in…er from thence? Why no less than the unprofitableness of the wayes of holiness, Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. This irreligious Inference carnal reason was ready to draw from the dispensations of outward prosperity to wicked men; but now if we would he…dfully observe, either the signal retributions of Providence to many of them in this world, or to all of them in the world to come; O what a full confirmation is this to our faith! Psal. 9. 16. The Lord is known by the Judgements that he executeth. The fifty eighth Psalm contains the Characters of the most prodigious sinners, whose wickedness is aggravated,
By the deliberation with which it's committed, V. 2.
By their habit and custom in it, V. 3.
By their incorrigibleness and persistence in it, V. 4, 5.
And the Providence of God is there invited
To destroy their power, V. 6. and that either
By a gradual and insensible consumption of them, V. 7, 8. or,
By a suddain and unexpected stroke, V. 9.
And what shall the effects of such Providences be to the Righteous? Why, it shall be matter of joy, V. 10. And great confirmation to their faith in God, V. 11. Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
And on the contrary, how convincingly clear are those Providences, that demonstrate the Being, Wisdom, Power, Love and Faithfulness of God, in the supporting, preserving and delivering of the Righteous, in all their dangers, fears and difficulties? In these things the Lord shews himself to his people, Psal. 94. 1. Yea, he shews himself to spiritual eyes in these Providences, as clearly, as the Sun manifest… himself by his own beams of light, Hab. 3. 3, 4. His brightness was as the light, and he had borns coming out of his hands, and there was the hiding of his power. It's spoken of the Lords going forth for his people in their deliverance from their Enemies: and then he had horns or rayes and beams of power and mercy coming out of his hands; by his hands, are meant his Providential administrations and dispensations, and the horns that came out of them, are nothing else but the glorious display of his Attributes in those Providences. How did God make himself known to his people in that signal deliverance of them out of Egypt? See Exod. 6. 3. then he was known to them by his name Jehovah, in giving being by his Providences to the mercies promised.
Thus when Christ shall give his people the last and greatest deliverance from Antichrist, he shall shew himself to his people in a vesture dipt in blood, and his Name shall be called, The Word of God, Rev. 19. 13. His Name was the Word of God before; but then he was the Word revealing and discovering the promises and truths of God; now accomplishing and fulfilling them. That his Name is near, his wonderful works declare, Psal. 75. 1.
But more particularly, let us bring it home to our own experience. It may be, we find our selves sometimes assaulted with Atheistical thoughts: we are tempted to think God hath left all things below to the course and sway of nature, that our prayers reach him not, as it is Lam. 3. 44. that he regards not what evils befall us. But, tell me Saints, have you not enough at hand to stop the mouths of all such temptations? O do but reflect upon your own Experiences, and solemnly ask your own hearts,
(1.) Have you never seen the All-sufficient God in the provisions he hath made for you and yours, throughout all the way that you have gone! Who was it that supplyed to you whatever was needful in all your straits? Was it not the Lord? 'Tis he that hath given bread to them that fear him, and hath been ever mindful of his Covenant, Psal. 111. 5. O do but consider the constancy, seasonableness, and at sometimes the extraordinariness of these provisions, and how they have been given in upon prayer, and shut your eyes if you can, against the convincing evidence of that great truth, Job 36. 7. He withdraweth not his eye from the Righteous.
(2.) Have you not plainly discerned the care of God in your preservations from so many and great dangers as you have escaped and been carried through hitherto? How is it, that you have over-lived so many mortal dangers, sicknesses, accidents, designs of Enemies to ruine you? It is I presume, beyond question with you, that the very finger of God hath been in these things, and that it is by his care alone, you have been preserved. When God had so signally delivered David from a dangerous disease and the plots of Enemies against him, by this (saith he) I know thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not trJumph over me, Psal. 41. 11. he gathered from those gracious protections, the care God had over him.
(3.) Have you not plainly discerned the hand of God, in the returns and accomplishments of your prayers? Nothing can be more evident than this, to men of observation, Psal. 34. 4, 5, 6. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him and were lightned, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cryed, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Parallel to this, runs the experience of thousands and ten thousands of Christians this day; they know they have the petitions they asked of him. The Mercy carries the very impress and stamp of the Duty upon it. So that we can say, This is the Mercy, the very Mercy I have so often sought God about. O how satisfying, and convincing are these things!
(4.) Have you not evidently discerned the Lords hand, in the guiding and directing of your paths, to your unforeseen advantage? Things that you never projected for your selves, have been brought about beyond all your thoughts. Many such things are with God; and which of all the Saints hath not …ound that word Jer. 10. 23. verified by clear and undeniable experience? The way of man is not in himself. I presume, if you will but look over the mercies you possess thi… day, you will find three to one, it may be ten to one thus wrought by the Lord for you. And how satisfying beyond all Arguments in the world are these experiences, That there is a God to whom his people are exceeding dear, a God that performeth all things for them!
(5.) Is it not fully convictive, that there is a God who takes care of you, in as much as you have found in all the temptations and difficulties of your lives his promises still fulfilled, and faithfully performed in all those conditions? I appeal to your selves, if you have not seen that Promise made good, Psal. 91. 15. I will be with him in trouble; and that 1 Cor. 10. 13. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able: but will with the temptatJon also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Have not these been as clearly made out by Providence before your eyes, as the Sun at Noon day? What room then is left for Atheistical suggestions in your breasts?