The Eye and Wheel of Providence, Chapter 42
CHAP. XLII. The Concluſion, conſolatory to the Church of God.
THis Doctrine of Providence may yield much comfort to all that are in Chriſt, and at peace with that God that governeth the world. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoyce, let the multitude of Iſles be glad thereof, Pſal. 97.1. that is, Let the people that are diſperſed here and there in ſeveral parts of the world rejoyce that the Lord is upon his Throne reigning over the whole world. It is true, this is matter of terrour to his Enemies. Clouds and darkneſs are round about him, &c. verſ. 2. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about, ver. 3. Yet is it matter of ſingular comfort to the people of God, that their Lord and King reigneth over the whole world. Sion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoyced, becauſe of thy judgements, O Lord; for thou Lord art high above all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods, verſ. 8, 9. There are now many dark clouds round about the Throne of God, which ſeem to obſtruct the dim-ſighted carnaliſt from beholding the glorious actings of him that ſits upon the Throne. God's wayes and providences toward theſe Nations for divers years together have ſeemed dark and cloudy, and his actings to be in obſcurity; but when by an eye of faith the godly can ſee thorow all theſe clouds, they have wherewith to comfort their ſpirits in the midſt of all confuſions, namely, that the Lord reigneth.
When we ſee a new face of things, and great mutations in the world; we are apt too much to look upon Inſtruments: Now ſuch a party is cry'd up, anon cry'd down: Some will inveigh againſt one party, ſome againſt another, according to mens ſeveral affections, principles, intereſts, ingagements. It is true, Some ſin grievouſly that are the grand Inſtruments in great Revolutions and Changes, yet is it not in their power to change times and ſeaſons, it belonging to God alone to remove Kings, and ſet up Kings, Dan. 2.21.as Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar; and as for men, Time and Chance happeneth to them all. God hath appointed changes unto men in their condition, and no wiſdom, riches or ſtrength can defend them from his appointment,Dr Preſton of God's Attributes. as a Learned man hath noted. Neither is it in the power of the moſt haughty Inſtruments to change the face of times and things according to their own wills; as we have ſeen of late by large experience in divers inſtances. No, this is the work of him who is a God unchangeable; and when he determineth to change times and ſeaſons, to root up ſuch and ſuch Governments, or to change the form of any Government, he maketh uſe of Inſtruments of divers ſorts, good and bad, and theſe do ſtrive and ſtruggle one with another, and do all work together in accompliſhing his ſecret counſel, known to himſelf, though to them altogether unknown; the temper of the times carrieth upon it the impreſſions of Eternity, and the two great Wheels of the Worlds Charet [Motion and Mutation] are driven by him with whom there is no variableneſſe nor ſhadow of turning. And though the great Changes that have of late befallen this Nation, ſeem new to us, yet they are but God's counſels of old, and his Eternal Purpoſe brought into Act:Acts 15.18. For known unto God are all his workes from the beginning of the world. God's people then may comfort themſelves, That the Kingdome and Government of the moſt High ſhall ſtand as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abide for ever, firm in the midſt of all the Concuſſions, Revolutions, and turnings of the time, and ſhall be upheld when all earthly Kingdoms ſhall be deſtroyed. And therefore as the Sunne alwayes keeps one tract and way in a ſteady courſe, becauſe his way is above the Air, where winds, and ſtorms, and tempeſts are: So the glorious Sun of Righteouſneſſe is alwayes going on without any ſtop to bring to paſſe his Act, his ſtrange Act, and to doe his worke, Iſa. 28.21.his ſtrange worke, becauſe his Kingdom and Government is above the power of time,Senault. Treat. 2. Diſc. 5. and of all creatures ſubject to time and chance. God's Providence ſtill leads men to their end with as much force as ſweetneſſe; his power hurts not their liberty, becauſe accompanied with ſweetneſſe; and his ſweetneſſe wrongs not his Majeſty,Duc me ſumme Pater, vaſti Moderator Olympi, Quacunque placuit, nulla parendi eſt mora; Adſum impiger: fac nolle comitabor gemens, maluſ que patiar facere quod licuit bono. Auguſt. de civ. Dei. c. 8. l. 8. becauſe attended with power: What ever he doth he acteth alwayes like a Sovereign. I conclude all with that prayer of St Auguſtine, O Sovereign Father, who governeſt the vaſt frame of Heaven, I ſubmit to thy direction, lead me to the right hand, lead me on the left, turn to what ſide thou pleaſeſt; I follow thee without reply or delay: For what ſhould I get by reſiſtance, but to be dragged weeping, and to bear being evil, what I might do ſincerly, by becoming good?
FINIS.
End of the text · William Gearing, The Eye and Wheel of Providence (1662)