A New Years Gift, Section 8
SECT. VIII.
Of Evils to be expected in this Year; the Wiſdom and Mercy of God, in concealing from us the Knowledge of future Events.
NOT only few, and uncertain, but Evil likewiſe are the Days of the Years of my Life, may every one ſay, with the Patriarch Jacob. A ſufficient Portion of Evil for every year may well be expected, when our Lord tells us, there is a certain Meaſure allotted for every Day. Sufficient to the Day is the Evil of it. Not only is our Life ſhort, but troubleſome, full of vexations Mixtures. We cannot ſing a Requiem to our Souls, when one great Calamity is paſt; for we know not in this Region of Changes, but another, a greater may be be at hand. One Meſſenger of ill News may ſucceed and outdo another, as it was with Job. We come weeping into the World in a moſt helpleſs, forlorn State; and if we eſcape the Dangers of Infancy, and the Caſualties of Childhood; and after that outlive the Snares and Follies of Youth, we are toſt upon the Pikes of Time and Chance, and ſadden and diſquiet our ſelves with a thouſand Griefs and Sorrows, by inevitable and unexpected Occaſions; though we encreaſe the number of needleſs Cares and Fears and Diſcontents; 'Till at length a ſudden ſtroke arreſts us, we fetch a groan, and dye.
Who can give a Catalogue of the Afflictions and Calamities, Perplexities and Diſappointments, Incumbrances, Croſſes, and evil Accidents of Humane Life? By means whereof Millions are diſconſolate and ſad, mourn and complain, weep and ſigh, and from day to day are fed with the Bread of Affliction, and the Water of Adverſity. Not to mention Mens fluctuating reſtleſs Thoughts of Heart, importunate Deſires, baffled Projects, defeated Purpoſes, which ſuppoſe or bring Vexaation. A good ſhare of theſe is not to be avoided; and yet very few can be Particularly foreſeeen. Who could prognoſticate a year ago the Mercies, or the Evils, which have happened ſince? Publick and Private, Perſonal and Relative, to the Countries, Cities, Families and Perſons we are concerned for? And who can certainly foretel the Eyents of this enſuing Year? God hath intermixt Good and Evil in the Life of Man: He hath ſet Proſperity againſt Adverſity, ſaith Solomon, to the End, That Man ſhould find nothing after him, Eccleſ. 7.14. that he may not know what ſhall come next, whether a Proſperous or a Calamitous Event.
What a Change may be made in a year by the meer Caſuality of Humane Events? by the Treachery of Friends, or the Malice of Enemies, or the more immediate Hand of God? We know not what ſhall be on the Morrow, much leſs what a Twelve Month may produce. Becauſe whatever may be diſpoſed to happen, from natural Cauſes or civil Counſels, may be altered by a particular Decree of Providence. Prepare me, Lord! and every of thoſe in whoſe Felicity I more eſpecially take part, for all the Calamities and Sorrows, thine infinite Wiſdom ſhall think fit to exerciſe us with, this following Year; and by thy merciful Providence, and gracious Conduct, cauſe them to work for Good: Furniſhing us with ſuitable Strength and Wiſdom, to acquieſce in thy good Pleaſure, and obey thy Will. Let me follow thee, as the Father of the faithful, tho' I know not whether thou wilt lead me. Knowing the Wiſdom and Faithfulneſs of my Pilot, let me therein be ſatisfied, though I know not particularly what Courſe he will ſteer.
I thank thee, O Heavenly Father! that thou haſt reſerved the Knowledge of future Times and Seaſons to thy ſelf, and hid Events from Men; Leſt by conſidering them Certain, we ſhould preſume in caſe they are Good; or ſhould deſpairingly afflict our ſelves, by foreſeeing the Evil we know to be inevitable. Did we certainly foreknow the Good that would befall us, we ſhould not Truſt in Thee to bring it to paſs, or heartily implore thy Care and Conduct. Did we foreſee the Evils we ſhall ſuffer, before they overtake us, we ſhould be overwhelmed with Diffidence and Deſpair. Many a Mother who rejoyceth at the Birth of a Son, would mourn to foreſee what a Man, what a Son he will prove. Such an increaſe of Knowledge would increaſe our Sorrow; ſuch a Preſcience would tranſport and diſcompoſe us, by unſeaſonable Joys and Sorrows, born out of Time; make us remiſs in our Duty to Thee; and weaken our Dependance on thine own unerring Wiſdom, Truth, and Power.