The Great Mystery of Providence, Title page – Publishers advertisement
THE Great Myſtery OF PROVIDENCE. OR, The various Methods of GOD in Ordering and Over-ruling the Actions of Wicked Men and Devils to great and glorious Purpoſes. With the Vindication of his Holineſs therein. BEING The Subſtance of ſeveral SERMONS preached by the Reverend, Judicious, and Orthodox Divine Mr. GEORGE GIFFORD, Late Miniſter of St. Dunſtan in the Eaſt, London.
HEB. XI. 4. He being dead, yet ſpeaketh.
LONDON: Printed for S. Crouch, at the Corner of Pope's-head Alley near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1695.
TO THE READER.
NEXT to the Knowledge and Belief of a God and the Eſſentials of Religion, there is not any Truth of greater moment or more needful to be rightly known of all perſons, than this before us, namely, How far the holy and righteous God is, or may be concerned in, or make uſe of the evil Actions of wicked Men and Devils, without any Impeachment of his Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, or making him the Author or Approver of Sin; the Ignorance or Miſunderſtanding of which, in all Ages, has exceedingly promoted Atheiſm and Irreligion among the Wicked of the World, who take occaſion from hence to think and ſay in their Hearts (if not with their Mouths) either there is no God, or He is not a Righteous and a Holy God. And the Conſideration of the Proſperity of Wicked Men in their Evil Actions, and the Suffering of Good Men thereby, have been an occaſion of ſtumbling and offence to holy Perſons, as we find in Scripture. The Truth of this matter lies in the middle, between two Extreams, as the Author hereof has informed us, who was a very Judicious and Orthodox Divine, of great Note in this City. I doubt not but the Reader, if he brings a ſerious Mind to know Truth, and not to cavil at it, will find this matter ſo plainly and truly, tho' briefly ſtated and determined, as to anſwer all material Objections of Atheiſtical and Prophane Gainſayers, and ſuch as are wiſe in their own Conceit, and to be a Foundation to good Men of Patience and Reſignation to the Will of God in all Sufferings and Calamities, publick and private, from evil Men, and inſtead of murmuring and repining, will cauſe them to adore that Infinite Wiſdom and Goodneſs, that can bring Good out of Evil, and over rule all the Sins and Follies of Men, to the greater manifeſtation of his own glorious Attributes, and the Good and Welfare of his Church. Theſe Sermons having been calculated only for a popular Auditory, the Reader muſt expect no other Eloquence than that of the Apoſtle Paul's great plainneſs of Speech, which beſt becomes Divinity, and eſpecially the weighty Subject before us. Therefore I ſhall conclude with only one Requeſt to the Reader, That he will peruſe theſe Lines with the ſame Spirit which the Author declares he had in the delivery of them, namely, with a holy Fear and Trembling, and then I doubt not but he will receive that benefit and advantage by them as ſhall give abundant cauſe to bleſs GOD for them, which is the Chief End of the Publiſher,
J. D.
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A Diſcourſe upon Uſury, or lending Money for Encreaſe: (occaſion'd by Mr. David Jones's late Farewel-Sermon) proving by undeniable Arguments the Lawfulneſs thereof, and anſwering his plauſible Objections from Scripture-Counſels and Fathers againſt it. Publiſhed at the requeſt of ſeveral judicious and ſober Chriſtians, for the ſatisfaction of all ſuch as have or may be concerned in this matter of ſo general and weighty importance. Printed for Sam. Crouch, at the Corner of Popes-head-Alley next Cornhill.