The Progress of Divine Providence, Title page – Dedication
THE PROGRESSE OF Divine Providence, SET OVT IN A SERMON PREACHED In the Abbey Church of Weſtminster before the houſe of PEERS, on the 24th of September, 1645. being the day of their Monethly FAST.
By William Gouge, one of the MEMBERS of the ASSEMBLY.
ECCLES. 7. 8. foreign
Ineſt omni utenti ratione naturaliter appetere potiora. Bem. de diligendo Deo.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Ioſhua Kirton next Goldſmiths-hall in Foſter-lane, MDCXLV.
Die Veneris 26. Sept. 1645.
IT is this day ordered by the Lords in Parliament aſſembled, That M. Doctour Gouge, who preached on Wedneſday laſt before the Lords of Parliament in the Abbey Church, Weſtminſter, it being the day of the publike Faſt, is hereby thanked for his great pains he took in his ſaid Sermon, and deſired to print and publiſh the ſame, which is to be done only by authority under his hand.
Iohn Brown, Cleric. Parliamentorum.
I Appoint Joſhua Kirton to print my Sermon, and none elſe.
William Gouge,
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Houſe of PEERS Aſſembled in PARLIAMENT.
RIGHT HONOURABLE,
AS in ſundry other ages and places, ſo in this age and place wherein we now live, hath my Text been verified: and that within the compaſſe of theſe laſt five years; in every of which God hath done better unto us then at our beginnings: and we have great and juſt cauſe to hope that he will yet continue to doe better and better.
It was an eſpecial evidence of Gods good providence, that the great Counſel of England was called at that time, that it was called.
The State of Church and Common-wealth was ſo farre out of order, and the diſorder in both ſo backed, as, without a Parliament, it would not, it could not (in mans apprehenſions) have been redreſsed.
The Reformation that was then intended by that Parliament, being by ſome envious eyes eſpied, a diſſolution thereof was procured.
But that, and other former diſsolutions of Parliaments (neceſsity forcing another Parliament ſoon after to be called) occaſioned an Act to prevent inconveniencies, which may happen by the untimely Adjourning, Proroguing, or diſſolving of this preſent Parliament.
What better thing (rebus ſic ſtantibus ut tunc & nunc) could have happened to this State? The good conſequencies, that have happened thereupon, are evident demonſtrations of Gods minde, ſtill to do better and better for us.
It would exceed the proportion of a Dedicatory Epiſtle, to reckon up the particular instances of the Divine Providence, encreaſing time after time for the better unto us, and that by vertue of this preſent Parliament: they are ſo clear and evident, as none, but ſuch as take notice of nothing, can be ignorant of them: and none, but envious and malignant ſpirits, can conceal or pervert them.
When might the good Providence of God have been better diſcerned, in protecting the perſons, upholding the ſpirits, directing the counſels, and proſpering the endeavours of ſuch as were aſſembled in a Parliament, then in this? When might the like Providence of God have been better diſcerned in ſtirring up mens mindes, encouraging their ſpirits, enabling their bodies, and preſerving their perſons for maintaining a cauſe, then in this cauſe that is now maintained by the Parliament? Of them who with a ſingle eye behold the footſteps of the Lord in the Counſels of our Parliament, it may juſtly be ſaid, They have ſeen thy goings, O God, the goings of my God,Pſal. 68: 24. my King.
Have not our Armies had ſucceſſe beyond expectation, even to admiration?
What a stop hath been ſet to Superſtition? How good a progreſſe hath been made in Reformation? And may we not yet hope that God will doe better unto us then at our beginnings? Gods promiſe is the ground of hope: and my Text ſheweth that God hath promiſed as much.
Goe on, Right Honourable, and put forth your utmoſt endeavours,Cum aliqua spes ſubeſt, vehementiores vires apparere aſſolent. Aug. de quant. animae. c. 22. Spes ad majora audenda ſeſe erigit. Greg. M in Iob 4 l. 5 c. 29. for bringing on thoſe better things that yet remain. Where their is Hope, there endeavours uſe to be most earneſt: For Hope ſtirreth up mens ſpirits to ſet upon great things.
Though the full accompliſhment of the remaining better things ſhould be reſerved to a future age, yet it becomes us, to be as earneſt in proſecuting them, according to the ability and opportunity that God doth give us, as if we our ſelves were ſure, while we live, to have the fruition of them. Experience ſheweth that to be true, which of old was ſaid of the provident husbandman, that he planteth trees which may be uſefull in an other age. But I hope that God will let you ſee and enjoy the fruit of your Counſels, and of our deſires. This ſhall be the continuall prayer of
Your Honours humble Servant and Oratour, William Gouge.