Divine Conduct, Head 5 · Motive 7
The Seventh Motive.
THe due observations of Providence have a marvellous efficacy to melt the heart, and make it thaw and relent ingenuously before the Lord.
How can a sanctified heart do less, than melt into tears, whilst it either considers the dealings of God from time to time with it: or compares the mercies received, with the sins committed; or the different administrations of Providence towards it self and others!
Let a man but set himself to think deliberately and closely of the wayes of providence towards him, let him but follow the Tract … …rovidence, as it hath led him all along the way that he hath gone, and if there be any principle of gracious tenderness in him, he shall meet with variety of occasions to excite and draw it forth. Reader, go back with thy serious thoughts (1.) To the beginning of the wayes of God with thee, the mercies that brake out early in thy youth, even the first born mercies from the womb of Providence; and thou wilt say, What need I go farther? Here is enough, not only to moves, but overwhelm my heart. May I not from this time cry unto thee, my Father, thou art the guide of my youth, Jer. 3. 4. What a critical time is the time of youth? it's the moulding age; and (ordinarily) according to the course of those leading Providences, after Providences do steer their course. What levity, rashness, ignorance and strong propensions to sin and ruine accompanied that age? How many being then left to the sway of their own lusts, run themselves into those sins and miseries, which they never recover themselves from to their dying day? These, like the errors of the first concoction, are rarely rectified afterwards. Did the Lord guide thee by his Providence, when but a Child? Did he then preserve thee from those follies and miscarriages, which blast the very blossom, and nip the bud, so that no good fruit is to be expected afterwards? Did he then cast thee into such families, or among such company and acquaintance, as moulded and formed thy spirit to a better temper? Did he then direct thee into that way of employment, wherein thou hast seen so large a train of happy consequents ever since following thee? And wilt thou not from henceforth say, My Father, my Father, thou art the guide of my youth?
Or (2.) Let us but bring out thoughts close to the Providences of after times, and consider how the several changes and removes of our lives have been ordered for us: Things we never foresaw nor designed (but much better for us, than what we did design) have been all along ordered for us. The way of man is not in himself. Gods thoughts have not been our thoughts, nor his wayes our wayes. Among the eminent mercies of thy life, Reader, how many of them have been meer surprizals to thee? Thy own projects have been thrust aside, to make way for better things designed by Providence for thee.
Nay, (3.) Do but observe the Springs and Autumns of Providence, in what order they have flourished and faded with thee, and thou wilt find thy self over-powered with the sense of Divine Wisdom and Goodness: when necessity required, such a friend was stirred up to help thee, such a place opened to receive thee, such a Relation raised up or continued to refresh thee: and no sooner doth Providence deprive thee of any of them, but either thy need of them ceases, or some other way is opened to thee. O the depth of Gods Wisdom and Goodness! O the matchless tenderness of God to his people!
(4.) Compare the dealings of Providence with you and others, yea, with others that sprang up with you in the same generation, it may be, in the same families, and from the same Parents, it may be in families greater and more flourishing in the world then yours, and see the difference, upon many great accounts, it hath made betwixt you and them. I knew a ChristJan, who after many years separation, was visited by his own Brother, the very sight of whom, wrought upon him, much as the sight of Benjamin did upon Joseph, so that he could not refrain to fall upon his neck, and weep for joy; but after a …ew hours spent together, finding the spirit of his Brother, not only estranged …rom all that's spiritual and serious, but also very vain and prophane, he hastened to his chamber, shut the door upon him, threw himself down at the feet of God, and with flowing eyes, and a melting heart, admired the distinguishing Grace of God, saying, Was not Esau Jacob's Brother? O Grace, Grace, astonishing Grace!
(5.) Compare the carriage of Providence towards you, with your own carriage towards the Lord; and it must needs melt your hearts to find so much mercy bestowed, where so much sin hath been committed. What place did you ever live in, where you cannot remember great provocations committed, and manifold mercies notwithstanding that, received? O with how many notwithstandings and neverthelesses, hath the Lord done you good in every place! What Relation hath not been abused by sin; and yet both raised up and continued by Providence for your comfort? In every place God that left the marks of his goodness, and you the remembrances of your sinfulness: give your selves but leave to think of these things, and it's strange if your hearts relent not at the remembrance of them.
(6.) Or Lastly, Do but compare your dangers with your fears, and both with the strange out-letts and doors of escape Providence hath opened, and it cannot do less than over power you with a full sense of divine care and goodness.
There have been dark clouds seen to rise over you, judgement even at your door, sometimes threating your life, sometimes your liberty, sometimes your estates, and sometimes your dearest relations, in whom it may be, your life was bound up; remember in that day, what faintness of spirit seized you, what charges of guilt stirring up fears of the issue within you: You turned to the Lord in that distress, and hath he not made a way to escape, and delivered you from all your fears? Psal. 34. 4.
Oh is your life such a continued throng, such a distracted hurry, that there is no room to be found with Christians to sit alone, and think on these things, and press these marvellous discoveries of God in his Providences upon their own hearts? Surely, might these things but lye upon our hearts, talk with our thoughts by day, and lodge with us at night; they would even force their passage down to our very Reins.