A Gospel Glass, Treatise · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Their Abuſe of Providence.
10ly. Profeſsors Abuſe of Providence.ABuſe of Providence is another branch of Ungodlineſs, too much ſpreading among Profeſſours. God is to be honoured, not only as the chiefeſt Good, and as the ſupream Truth and Authority; but as the firſt Cauſe, that giveth Beeing to all things, and therefore ordereth and diſpoſeth of all things as he pleaſeth, having abſolute Dominion over all events: But O! how is God diſhonoured, by abuſing his Providence? The blind World are not only guilty, who do not acknowledge God at the other end of Cauſes, as ſwaying all things by his Wiſdome and Power, but ſet up an Idol, called Chance; but even Profeſſours, eminent Profeſſours, are herein very guilty.
1. Evidenced in their nonobſerving it.How ſeldome do we obſerve Gods Providence? The Finger of God is in all the Creatures; not only We, but all Creatures live, move, and have their beeing, from God, and in God: The whole courſe of Nature moves, as it is turned by the hand of God, and directed by his counſel: It is not with the work of God, as with the Artificers Clock, which, put into a frame, and hang'd with weights, will goe, though the Artificer be off from it; but though God ſet all the Creatures in frame, yet the motion of every wheel depends on God. There is not a drop of rain falls, till God utter his voice, Jer. 10.13.and cauſe the vapours to aſcend from the ends of the earth: Yet how is God not minded? We ſee not his footſteps: We may ſay in this, He paſſeth this way, and that, and we ſee him not. Our eyes are held to ſecondary Cauſes: We look when the Wind, or Moon, will change; but we are ſo ſhort-ſighted, that we reach not God. How ſeldome do we conſider, that though Gods Providence doth deliver up his choiceſt Friends, into the hands of his and their Enemies, yet doth it not deliver them up unto their will: they cannot do what they pleaſe, but only what pleaſeth God: Such of Gods own are ſtill engraven on the palmes of his hands, though turned over into the hands of the Ungodly: they are Gods Favourites ſtill, though the wicked ſay, Perſecute them, and take them, for God hath forſaken them. How little do we mind, that our times are in Gods hands; and that as Satan is in a Chain, ſo are his Inſtruments: We fear Men more than God. O! when ſhall we hear that Word of God, Say not a confederacy to all them to whom this people ſhall ſay a confederacy; Iſa. 8.12, 13, 14.neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid: Sanctifie the Lord of Hoſts himſelf, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread; And he ſhall be for a Sanctuary, &c.
2. Not being affected therewith.How little are we affected with the continual courſe of Providence, though it guards and keeps us every moment? The Stars in their courſes would fight againſt us: the Sea would ſwallow us up, and break in as a devourer: the Beaſts of the Field would arm againſt us; if God did not check them, and bound them: yea, one man would eat up another, were it not for the Lord, who ſets bounds to the rage of all the Creatures. It is the eye of jealouſie that is ſtill wakeful for us: it is the Lord, that puts the hook into the noſe, and the bridle in the lips, of the Senacheribs of the World; and yet how little are our hearts affected? how little are they comforted, and born up? how little do they cleave unto the Lord?
On the contrary: But diſtruſting …t.How diſtruſtful are we of Gods Providence, in a time of ſeen dangers, though we are wonderfully delivered from inviſible ones every day? Who can number the legions of Devils? ſo many deliverances haſt thou by Gods Providence every moment; and yet how diffident and doubtful are we, upon all new imminent outward dangers? How little do we believe, that God will bring in good to us, by ſuch Providences as are ungrateful to Senſe, to Fleſh and Blood? Though nothing is more uſual, than for God to take away ſome comforts, and lay in better comforts; to take away an Abel, and make it up in Seth: to deprive Noah of the comforts of the whole World for a while, and then to waſh it from its filthineſs, and to deliver him the poſſeſſion of it, with manifeſt proofs of his ſingular diſtinguiſhing care of him and his Family, whilſt all the reſt of the Creatures periſhed in the waters: to deprive Mary and Martha of their Brother Lazarus, and to return him from the dead unto them with great advantage: to deprive Job of his Children and Eſtate, to make his laſt dayes better than his firſt, Job 1.3. compared with Ch. 42.10, 12.and to give him twice as much as he had before; for ſeven thouſand Sheep, he had fourteen thouſand; before he had three thouſand Camels, afterwards ſix thouſand; before five hundred Aſſes, then one thouſand; yet how little can we truſt Providence in ſuch caſes? How hardly were the Diſciples perſwaded, that the abſence of their Lord and Maſter, Jeſus Chriſt, ſhould be ſupplyed in the Spirit? And yet ſaith Chriſt, Nevertheleſs I tell you the truth, …fo. 16.7.it is expedient for you that I goe away: for if I goe not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will ſend him to you. Chriſt in his Spirit, dwelling in our hearts, is better than Chriſt in Fleſh, dwelling in our houſes. When the unclean Spirit departs from a man, Mat. 12.43.and returns again, he brings ſeven Spirits worſe than himſelf, and the latter end of that man is worſe than his beginning; but when Chriſt withdrew from Earth to Heaven, he brings ſeven conſolations better than at firſt, in the powring forth of the Comforter, and the end of ſuch (in whom the Spirit ſupplies the want of Chriſts bodily preſence) is better than the beginning. Why cryeſt thou for thine affliction? thy ſorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity, Jer. 30.15, 16, 17.&c. Therefore all they that devour thee, ſhall be devoured, &c. for I will reſtore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, ſaith the Lord, becauſe they called thee an outcaſt, &c. Nothing more uſual with God than to make the loſs of one comfort, the means of enjoying another with advantage, yea with the advantage of the hundred fold: But alas! moſt fear they ſhall be loſers by Chriſt and for Chriſt. God doth as Marriners, row one way, and look another: he brings moſt of his great ends about by looking quite aſide from what he hath a ſpecial intent to bring to paſs: the Lord ſeldome proceeds in a direct way to his ends, i. e. in a right way to our apprehenſions, in ſuch a way as we would have him go in; but he leads us about, Pſa. 107.7.as he did Iſrael, and yet that was the right way indeed: though the means ſeem to oppoſe the end; yet he works to the praiſe of his Name: he can write right by a crooked pen, and bring honey out of the Carkas of the Lion: make uſe of ſtrange inſtruments, break down Jerichos walls by the ſounds of Ramshorns: But O! how little do we truſt Providence when the means are not probable to effect our expected end? Zech. 14.7. Hebr. 11.12.Who believes there ſhall be light in the Evening? And that Sarah ſhall have a poſterity as the Stars in the Firmament for multitude, and as the ſand on the Sea ſhore, which is innumerable, when ſhe was old, had been barren ſo long, and her Lord old alſo? Who will think that the Sun and the Stars ſhall bow to Joſeph, when he lies in the Pit, or is in the Dungeon of the Heathen King? How ſlow to believe were the Diſciples, when Chriſt is dead and buried, Luk. 24.21, 25.and lies three dayes in the Grave? We thought this ſhould have been he that ſhould have delivered Iſrael. How little doth the Worm Jacob (Jacob when reduced as low as the earth, when creeping into holes for ſecurity, when as contemptible as a worm, that no man ſcruples to tread upon, when ſo eaſily to be deſtroyed, as a worm) believe, Iſa. 41.15, 16.17.that yet the Worm Jacob ſhall threſh the mountains and fan them, and the wind ſhall carry them away? Alas! how unſeemly is the behaviour of many, if Providence thwarts them in taking away a Child, an Husband, an Eſtate, how diſcouraged and caſt down are we, as if God in his Providence had pulled down that, which he could never build again, or rooted up that which he could never plant again. O! how few believe that if God pull down their brickhouſes, that he will build them again of hewn-ſtones, and that if he conſume their Firtrees, he will build again with Cedars? Do not many afflicted Chriſtians think it impoſſible for their ſorrow to be turned into joy?
Whence is all our dejectedneſs under Croſs-Providences, Hence dejectedneſs under Croſs-Providences.but from our not believing that all things are diſpoſed by the wife and gracious Providence of God? We believe not enough that the Eyes of our loving Father run to and fro throughout the Earth, to ſhew himſelf Marvellous for our help in a time of need and danger. David was thus overtaken, till he ſchool'd himſelf into a better frame, with Why art thou cast down, O my Soul, Pſa. 42.5.and why art thou diſquieted in me? Hope thou in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him for the help of his countenance. Few can ſay, God is our refuge and ſtrength: Pſa. 46.1, 2.a very preſent help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the Earth be removed: and though the Mountains be carried into the midſt of the Sea. Few believe that if the Lord be pleaſed to lay a great burden upon their ſhoulders, he will give great ſtrength to bear it, and if he gives but little ſtrength, he will ſurely proportion the burden to it. Whence are all our uproars of Spirit, and diſquietneſs of heart, but from our not truſting upon Providence? When God is working deſolation, did we ſee it his work, we would be ſtill. David was ſo, when ſtrangely provoked by Shimei's inſolency and railings. God hath bid Shimei curſe. Abiſha was not ſo much concerned in the affront, as David, but he ſees not God in the lips of Shimei, and therefore his Spirit is inflamed.
All the boylings of Revenge that are in the hearts of men one 'gainſt another may be Boyling of revenge.attributed to mans blindneſs and injudicious view of things, they ſee not the wicked to be Gods Sword to let out their corruption: they do not believe that God intends to purſue gracious deſigns by ſuch inſtruments. Joſeph was eaſily conquered and perſwaded to forgive the unkindneſs, yea the cruelty of his Brethren in making Merchandize of him to the Ishmalites, he could ſay, Gen. 45.8.50.20.It was not you that ſent me hither, but God, &c. As for you, ye thought evil againſt me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to paſs as it is this day, to ſave much people alive. He inſinuates to them, that they had no cauſe to fear his revenging himſelf on them; for that he could eaſily pardon that offence of theirs, out of which God hath drawn ſo much good to his people, and ſo much glory to his own Name. How ſilent would we be, yea how full of praiſes, if by an eye of faith we did ſee the end of God in all his Providences, that they lead to holyneſs: Before I was afflicted I went aſtray; Pſa. 119.67, 75. Hebr. 12.10.but now I keep thy Word: I know O Lord, that thy judgements are right, and that thou haſt afflicted me in faithfulneſs. He for our Profit, that we might be partakers of his holineſſe. Can we fume at the Phyſician for preſcribing a dyet, or bitter pills and potions, if he provides theſe for the purging away diſeaſes, that threaten our ruine? Shall we fly in the face of him that binds us, in order to the Saving us? and yet what murmurings have we, whilſt in the hands of the Phyſician? Prov. 19.3.The folly of a man perverteth his wayes, and his heart fretteth againſt the Lord. How ſhould we honour God, if we did believe, that in his hand our breath is?
How carefull are we to pleaſe them that have power over our lives, And careleſneſs to pleaſe God. Dan. 5.23.and to whom we are beholding for every breath we breath? O! ſtudy how much you labour to comply with men, and how little with the Lord, and you will find your diſtruſt of Providence, that you do not believe, that God ſitteth upon the flouds.
3. Juſtifying their actions and ſtates by Providence.How oft have we made Providence an argument to juſtifie our actions and ſtates? That, becauſe God doth not puniſh us, but tolerate us, therefore he loves us, and approves of our way? Whereas the Scriptures and Experience ſhew, that there is a just man that periſheth in his righteouſneſs, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in wickedneſs: The Lord ſometimes puts his Hoggs into the fatteſt paſtures, in order to the Slaughter; yea, ſometimes his not puniſhing, is the greateſt puniſhment. Hoſ. 4.14.I will not punish your Daughters for their Whoredomes: God lets Adulterers and Adultereſſes to proſper and thrive. Hierome obſerves, that God deals with us, as Parents with Children, whilſt there is any hope of reclaiming them, Vae illi ad quorum peccatae connivet Deus. Luth.they are corrected; but otherwiſe they are let alone, to do as they liſt: Or as Phyſicians continue their applications, whilſt there is any hope of the Patients life; otherwiſe they let them alone. How do ſome bleſs themſelves, that they never faſted and prayed as others, and yet they ride on horſeback, whilſt others foot it out: But what ſaith Hierome to there? Quando videris, &c. When thou leeſt a ſinner flow with wealth, and braving of his power: when thou ſeeſt him very healthful, and to have a company of brave Children bravely arrayed; then ſay, the threatning of God, by the Prophet Hoſeah, is full filled upon that man. Dives had his good things here, and Lazarus evil: Dives fared deliciouſly every day, his miſery is reſerved to hereafter, as Lazarus his comforts are reſerved till death. Mark the perfect man, Pſal. 37.and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace. i. e. a confluence of all good. What ſaid one of the late Engliſh Biſhops? It is the common lot of the true Children of God, becauſe they have many out-flyings, wherewith their holy Father is not well pleaſed, to come under the ſcourge oftner than the Baſtards do. If they do amiſs, they muſt ſmart for it either here or hereafter: now God meaneth them no condemnation hereafter, and therefore he giveth them more chaſlning here. 1 Cor. 11.32.It is a conſiderable paſſage of a very learned man, in weakning the late poſition of ſome, that God had borne Teſtimony to their cauſe, by the many Victories which he had given them, ſaith he, This concluding of yours will by the ſame reaſon infer that Chriſtianity is not, and that Mahumetiſme is the true Religion; becauſe when the Turks aſſerted one, and the Greek-Church the other, and that difference begat a War betwixt them; it is clear that the Turks were ſucceſsful, and the Greek-Church was ſadly waſted and ſubdued by them, and ſo remains to this hour in that un-returned Captivity. Doe not all things com… alike to all? Eccleſ. 9.2.And yet good men, ſome of the beſt that ever breathed, have been ſtumbled at theſe diſpenſations: Lord (ſaith the Prophet Jeremiah) thou art righteous, Jer. 21.1.yet let me reaſon with thee, Why doth the way of the Wicked proſper? Thou art of purer Eyes (ſaith the Prophet Habakkuk) than to behold evil, Hab. 1.13.and canſt not look on iniquity: Wherefore lookeſt thou upon them that deal treacherouſly, and holdeſt thy tongue, when the Wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? The Saints alſo of the New Teſtament were apt to ſtumble at the Croſs, at Gods Providences towards his Saints and favourites, that they ſhould ſuffer ſuch hard things: ſo that the Apoſtles were forced to counſel them, and to rectifie their thoughts, in this particular; My Brethren think it not ſtrange concerning the fiery tryal: 1 Pet. 4.12. 1 Theſ. 3.3, 4.And the Apoſtle Paul ſent Timothy on purpoſe to comfort them, and to eſtabliſh them, that no man ſhould be moved by theſe afflictions: Yea our Lord himſelf knowing how apt his Diſciples were to ſtumble hereat, preacheth on purpoſe on this ſubject. Theſe things have I spoken unto you, that ye be not offended: What things were theſe? They ſhall put you out of the Synagogues (excommunicate you, caſt you out like dogs:) Yea the time ſhall come, that whoſoever killeth you will think he doth God ſervice. Good men, when they ſee the wicked thus walk on every ſide (go where they pleaſe, and do what they pleaſe) they are apt, either to doubt of Gods Providence, Whether he governs the World, or to call in queſtion whether they have any relation to Gods special care. But do not we know that the Child is oft beaten, whilſt the Servant or ſtranger is ſpared? Doe not we know that judgement begins at the Houſe of God, yea, 1 Pet. 4.17.yea, and ſtays long there, and all that while the tents of ungodlineſs may be free: theſe may waſh their ſteps in butter, and the Rocks may pour them out Rivers of Oyle: they may wax old and grow in a wealth; Job. 21.7 ad 15.their ſeed may be eſtabliſhed: the Rod of God may not be upon them: they may rejoyce in in the ſound of the Organ, &c. and yet wicked enough: All this they may have with the Curſe of God, for they ſay unto God depart, &c.
4. Cenſuring others and themſelvs upon the account… of outward Providences.How oft have the generation of the Juſt been cenſured for Hypocrites and ungodly, meerly becauſe of outward Providences? Thus was Job cenſured by good men; becauſe he ſate on the Dunghil, who was wont to ſit with Princes. Let a man be under grievous loſſes by Sea, or by Land, yea let but a Viper hang upon the hand, and what then? This man (ſay they) ſurely is a murtherer, Acts 28.4.who though he hath eſcaped the Seas, yet vengeance ſuffereth not to live: Mens outward conditions is made by Barbarians, yea by Chriſtians, the line to meaſure Mens relation to God by, they interpret love by proſperity, and hatred by adverlity: whereas the Lord tells us that through many tribulations we muſt enter into the Kingdome of Heaven. I wonder not at this, when I conſider, that the Servant is not above the Maſter: Iſa. 53.3, 4.When Chriſt was a man of ſorrows, they did judge him ſmitten of God. How ready alſo are we to ſay this is a juſt Judgement of God upon ſuch a ſuffering Profeſſour, for—? Yea we cenſure our ſelves for Hypocrites, when God croſſeth us in ſome earthly comforts, and deſigns. If a Child dies, &c. then we queſtion the root of the matter, whether there be a ſpark of grace.
5. Making Providence an hinderance to depending on God.The more Providence hath favoured us, have not we the leſs roled our ſelves on the Covenant of grace? Hath not God had the leſs of our dependance and faith? Have not the promiſes lain more neglected, ſo that God hath been even neceſſitated to draw in his hand of bounty, that, like the Widdow, when deſtitute, we may truſt to him? The Ciſterns leak apace, that the Fountain may be in greater requeſt.
6. Being diſcomenced with. Providence.How diſcontented are we to this day with Gods Providential adminiſtrations toward us? How do we preſcribe to God? Some would be richer than they are; others more honourable: Some covet to be above others. We have bad memories, or elſe we cannot but remember how ill ſome of us improved our talients of power and honour, when we had them. Is it reaſonable that God ſhould be charged for an hard Maſter for not entruſting ten talents in our hands, when we have been ſo unfaithfull to our former allotments? Jeſurun-like we waxed fat, and never were more beaſt-like, than when we were in the greeneſt paſtures. God would be charg'd even with indiſcretion, if he ſhould commit ten talents again to thee, till thou art humbled for thy former unfaithfulneſs.
7. How do we take Gods work out of his hand,? Taking Gods work out of his hands.How carefull are we in many things, though we ſhould be carefull in nothing? Though we cannot add one Cubit to our Stature by all our cares; yet what ſollicitudes eat into our hearts, and cut them in twain? We ſhould ſerve Providence in the uſe of means, but ſhould have nothing to do with the iſſues and events of the means we uſe, but leave them to God. That which is not under our Power, ſhould not be under our Care. Eccleſ. 9.11.All things are ordered by the deliberate Counſel of God. I returned, and ſaw under the Sun, that the race is not to the ſwift, nor the battle to the ſtrong, neither yet bread to the wiſe, nor yet riches to men of underſtanding, nor yet favour to men of skill, but time and chance happeneth to them all.
8. Diſtaſting Religion becauſe of adverſity.How do rotten-hearted Hypocrites diſtaſt God, grow careleſs of ſerving God, yea fall into an abhorrence of Religion becauſe of Gods frowning upon his people in Providential diſpenſations? Hence innumerable ſorts of theſe hollow-hearted Profeſſours, deſert their former Profeſſion: when the Wind and Tide of Preferment is againſt them, they will not hazard their outward comforts, for all the Promiſes of the Goſpel: whilſt they ſee how little Providence favours the Saints as to the comforts of this life, and that Providence ſuits not their deſires, they rage and ſwell, and are ready to cry out, like that wretched King, 2 Kings 6.33.This evil is of the Lord, wherefore ſhould I wait on the Lord any longer? Now Farewell to God, Farewell to Profeſſion: if when the Children ask bread, he gives them ſtones, Farewell to ſuch a Father.
9. Neglecting Providence, and ſhifting for themſelves.How commonly do men neglect the Providence of God, and betake themſelves to their own ſhifts to extricate themſelves from their miſeries? Is man wiſer than God? And yet men hope rather to help themſelves by their own wits, wiles, and endeavours, than by leaning to the Providence of God. Such there were in Jeremiahs time: God had told them that he had brought them into ſtraights on purpoſe to engage them to repent of their ſins, and to turn to the Lord: Thus ſaith the Lord, behold I frame evil againſt you, Jer. 18.11.and deviſe a device againſt you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your wayes and doings good; But they loved not humbling work; v. 12.And they ſaid there is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his own evil heart: They had devices of their own, ſuch as God approved not: And have not we (ſome of us) had ſuch? Hath there not been deviſing how to ſow diſcords between ſuperious and inferiours, betwixt Magiſtrate and people? v. 15.Hath their not been ſtumbling in our wayes from the ancient paths in a way not caſt up, in an untrodden way? O! how have men run to extraordinary courſes to deliver themſelves out of their miſeries? For this, God may make our land deſolate and a perpetual hiſſing, or deriſion: v. 16. v. 17.he may juſtly ſcatter us as with an Eaſt wind before the Enemy, and shew us the back and not the face in the day of our ealamity.
10. Being partial in viewing Providence.Have not we been partial in viewing the Providences of God? Have not we taken ſome one Providence, and fixed our eye upon it ſo long, till our hearts have been ever overwhelmed with ſorrow? But we have not viewed the Providences of God in their contexture, nor in their relation to gracious ends for our good: ſome take more notice of ſmiling Providences than of frowning, of what in Providence makes for them, and their courſes, than of what makes againſt them: but others take more notice of frowning Providences than of ſmiling, of what makes againſt them, than of what makes for them. In this we have ſhewn our ſelves fools; for who is wiſe shall underſtand theſe things: Hoſ. 14.9.Theſe words are reſtrictive: Who? That is few or none are ſuch, and then there is an earneſt wiſh or deſire of the Prophet, O that men were wiſe to underſtand theſe things: the wayes of the Lord are right, though men think them not ſo.