Several Discourses Considering the Providence of God, Discourse · Part 2 · Sermon 11
SERMON XI.
1 Cor IX. 9.
Doth God take care for Oxen?
I Am come now to the Application of my former Diſcourſe. You have heard that God doth not only exerciſe ſome general acts of Providence in the preſervation and government of all his creatures, but ſome ſpecial acts of Providence, in the preſervation and government of ſome creatures in a more particular and eminent manner. Though God doth take a care for Oxen, yet he doth not take ſuch a care for Oxen as he doth for Angels, for men, and amongſt the children of men, particularly for the members of his Church, and amongſt them for ſuch as are not ſo only in an external viſible profeſſion, but in truth and ſincerity; they are under the higheſt Specialties and care of Divine Providence. The Doctrine of Gods Special Providence concerning Angels, and mankind in the general, and the Polities and Societies of men, I much paſſed over. The former being much a ſecret to us, and not much concerning us: and my Diſcourſe being not amongſt Heathens, but to a Congregation, which univerſally is within the pale of the viſible Church. I therefore moſt enlarged upon the Specialties of Divine Providence (as you know) with reference to the Church of God, and thoſe in it who truly fear God; accordingly I ſhall ſute my Application.
In the firſt place, Ʋſe 1 Let this inſtruct all that hear me this day in the Reaſon, That God hath this day a Church in the world: and alſo confirm them, that notwithſtanding all the appearances of hoſtility againſt it, yet God will have a Church to the end of the world. Whoſo conſidereth the Church of God this day, eſpecially the Reformed Church, and looks back upon it, even from the commencement of its Reformation, cannot but fancy it, as Noahs Ark in the midſt of raging waters, every moment threatning to ſwallow it up; like Moſes his ark of Bulruſhes, ready to be waſhed away at the return of every tide; like the Burning buſh which Moſes ſaw all on fire, yet not conſumed. You ſhall find the Reaſon why it is not ſo in the 46 Pſalm (a Pſalm which Luther was wont often to call for in his troubleſom time); God is our refuge and ſtrength, a preſent help in trouble, Ver. 5, God is in the midſt of her: The Lord of Hoſts is with her; the God of Jacob is our refuge: he breaketh the bow, he cutteth the ſpear in ſunder; he burneth the chariots in the fire. Papiſts call for Miracles, as a Note of the true Church; ſee here a Miracle: Was it not a Miracle that Luther, a poor Friar, renouncing his former Superſtition, and bidding an open defiance to the Pope and the whole power of Rome, in ſuch a time when all the World was admiring, or fearing the Beaſt, and ſo boldly and freely oppoſing himſelf to them, as he did, and falling upon them in a point of profit, ſhould not only go through all his bold attempts, and die in peace; but alſo draw unto him ſo many learned men, and prevail ſo far amongſt the people, as that in very many, if not in moſt parts of Germany, the Doctrine of the Goſpel ſhould prevail, the Maſs and Popiſh worſhip ſhould be aboliſhed, and the Truth contrary to the Doctrine of Rome ſhould be received? Was there not a ſpecial Providence (think you) watched over them? Next to the preſervation of the Apoſtles, and the ſucceeding of them to the firſt plantation of the Goſpel in the World, there hath not been a more eminent and conſpicuous work of ſpecial and miraculous Providence than in Gods preſerving and ſucceeding the works of Reformation; by which the Doctrine of Chriſt, and Worſhip inſtituted by him, was reſtored in a great meaſure to that Primitive integrity and purity, which the great Lord of the Goſpel firſt inſtituted. And a due meditation of this Doctrine of ſpecial Providence, may alſo ſecure the hearts of the people of God againſt their fears, for the prevailing of the Churches enemies againſt it. Their fears can ariſe but from the proſpect of the multitude, and rage of the Churches enemies: and their judgment is but a judgment of probability, made from the more common and ordinary workings of Providence: but this judgment proceeds upon a falſe Hypotheſis, viz. That Gods way of Providence as to his Church, is but an ordinary road, and ſuch as he keepeth towards other men. Now this is falſe; God in his workings for his Church, keepeth not the beaten road of his Providence. Zion hath a ſpecial Providence, watching over it: The eyes of the Lord are upon it from one end of the year to the other. Canaan is the Land that God careth for; God is known in the places of his Church for a refuge; For lo the Kings were aſſembled, they paſſed by together; they ſaw it, and ſo they marvelled, they were troubled and haſted away: Fear took hold upon them there, and pain as on a woman in travel. Pſalm 48.3, 4, 5, 6, God will eſtabliſh it for ever. Ver. 8, Watch about Sion (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) and go round about her; tell the towers thereof: mark you well her bulwarks, conſider her palaces, that you may tell it to the generations following: for this God is our God for ever, and ever: he will be our guide until death. We have lived to ſee as bold and impudent attaques made upon the Church, as to that part of it that hath been ſtudious of the ſtricter and ſeverer practice of Holineſs, as poſſibly later ages have known. If Chriſtians could have been ſwagger'd and hector'd out of the practice of Holineſs, or jeer'd and drolled out of it; or threatned and frighted, or cudgel'd out of it, there have been arguments enough of this nature uſed: but how little have they done? how few are leſs in love with the good, and holy ways of God than before? Having therefore ſo many great and precious Promiſes for the preſervation of the Church, and God exerciſing a ſpecial care for it, and keeping it under a ſpecial tutelage; Let us not fear, but believe that God (as the Pſalmiſt ſaith) will eſtabliſh it for ever. Let us therefore look off creature-appearances and humane-probabilities. The Church is a burning-buſh, and hath been ſo from the very firſt plantation of it: but we ſee it is not conſumed, becauſe God is in the midſt of it. Remember this, That the Church liveth not upon an ordinary, common, general Providence, but upon a ſpecial peculiar Providence; watching over it, and caring for it.
In the next place, this may ſerve to ſhew you your duty: Ʋſe 2 every one to obſerve the ſpecial Providences that attend your lives. There is an obſervation of the more general Providence of God in upholding and governing the World; which is our duty, and a very ſweet and advantageous piece of duty; (but this I ſhall hereafter further preſs upon you). That which I would ſpeak a few words to here, is the obſervation of the ſpecial Providence of God relating to you. What the Pſalmiſt ſaith of the obſervations of Providence more generally, Pſalm 107, the laſt verſe; Whoſo obſerveth theſe things is wiſe, and he ſhall underſtand the loving-kindneſs of the Lord, is eminently true. Here it ſpeaks, 1. A Spiritual wiſdom. 2. It will be of great uſe to make us underſtand the loving kindneſs of the Lord. Obſerve the ſpecial Providences of God towards his Church; his Church in former ages, his Church in our preſent age: you will by thoſe obſervations be able to make up a judgment what man is like to do againſt it; and what God is like yet to do for that body of people that come under that Notion: nay, you will be able to go a great way in making up a Judgment, who they are that make up the true Church of God; even thoſe upon whom the Eye of God is moſt, and for whom his Arm is moſt ſtretched out; not in this or that particular act, but in a continued ſeries and courſe of ſtrange preſervations. There is, and indeed always hath been a great diſpute in the World, which is the true Church of God. The Jews arrogated the honour to themſelves; and indeed there was a time when none could claim with them: but the Apoſtle amply declareth their rejection, and the Gentiles ingraffing. But though it be certain now, that the Church of God is made up of thoſe that were Gentiles; yet as ſeveral Sects and parties have riſen up amongſt them, ſo they have had an ambition ſtill to arrogate this Name to themſelves. The Arians would be the only Church; ſince that, the Papiſts: the Proteſtants think they have the beſt claim, and great diſputes there are for this Honourable Title. I will not ſay this will determine the cauſe, but it will go a great way. That body of people profeſſing Chriſt, againſt whom the gates of Hell cannot prevail, Matth. 16.18. In the midſt of which God appears to be by a more ſpecial powerful Protection, keeping it that it ſhall not fall. Pſalm 46.5, That people which the Lord keepeth and watereth every moment, leſt any ſhould hurt it, keeping it night and day, Iſa. 27.3. That people round about whom the Lord is as the mountains are round about Jeruſalem. Pſalm 125, v. 2, Who can ſay, as Pſalm 124, If it had not been the Lord who was on our ſide: If it had not been the Lord, who was on our ſide: when men roſe up againſt us, then they had ſwallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled againſt us: Then the waters had over-whelmed us, the proud waters had gone over our ſouls. I ſay, that people amongſt thoſe that lay claim to the honourable Title of the Church of God, ſeem to have the beſt claim; for it is the Church for which God exerciſeth a ſpecial Providence: I will not ſay, This alone will prove any party the true Chriſtian Church; but where-ever we ſee a people profeſſing faith in Jeſus Chriſt, holding the Doctrine of the Goſpel; crying, To the Law and to the Teſtimony for the trial of her Doctrine, Worſhip and Diſcipline, and God watching over this people, ſtrangely preſerving, multiplying and encreaſing them; uſing the miniſtry of his Word amongſt them, to convert and build up Souls, delivering them in a conſtant ſeries and ſucceſſion of Providence from their Enemies, far more and more mighty than they are, we may join our ſelves to them: The anointed of the Lord, the Church of the true and living God is doubtleſs before us. Though theſe ſpecial Providences will not make an argument alone, yet they are a far better argument than the Popiſh pedegree they pretend to in a ſucceſſion from St. Peter, or Antiquity, or their pretended Ʋnity, or Miracles, indeed rather to be called lying wonders. I know no promiſes of theſe things to the Church to the end of the World; but I know many promiſes for ſpecial Providence attending them. And certainly, that Body of Chriſtian people called Proteſtants: I mean, that people in all the parts of the World, that are now called by that name (for the name beareth date but from the German Reformation): but I ſay, that Body of people united in their Doctrine and Worſhip, can lay the faireſt claim to this of any others. No people hath been more ſtrangely preſerved than they: witneſs thoſe in the valleys of Piedmont and Lucerne, and Bohemia; none more ſtrangely preſerved, nor whoſe number hath been more ſtrangely encreaſed, nor their Doctrines more ſtrangely prevailed. A Chriſtian by obſerving which way ſpecial Providence hath moſt moved, may get much wiſdom, and much help himſelf in making a judgment which is the true Church. 2. Yea, and he may alſo much help himſelf in judging of thoſe in the World, who are the true Saints and people of God; who they are that dwell in the ſecret of the moſt High, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh; for they generally abide under the more particular ſhadow of the Almighty. It is true, there are ſome rare inſtances of perſons that walk cloſe with God, whom yet God followeth with a ſeries of ſevere Providences; ſuch an inſtance was Job, and ſuch particular inſtances we ſee in our time, to let us know, that outward proſperity is not the Saints portion: God hath provided ſome better things for his people. But take now any conſiderable number of people in any City or Place, that (ſo far as we can judg) walk more cloſe with God, and in a more ſtrict obſervation of his law than others do; and oppoſe theſe to a like number of perſons in that place, that give a liberty to their luſts, and walk by no ſuch rule: and obſerve number for number, who are moſt under the ſpecial Providence of God, preſerving them from dangers and in dangers; who are moſt bleſſed with ſpecial Providences, as to length of life, health, &c. you will remember, that I told you, we muſt abate for particular inſtances of Gods own people, whom he picks out, to make examples of ſaith and patience, and to be his witneſſes unto the world in a time of trial. Who obſerveth not how ſtrangely God preſerveth and bleſſeth ſome people that fear him, and walk cloſely with him? and I do believe the obſervation will juſtifie it ſelf, concerning any conſiderable number of ſuch perſons compared with a like number of others. So that although none can conclude himſelf, or herſelf, a child of God, from ſome particular ſpecial Providence, no not from a ſeries and courſe of them; yet where men and women walk cloſe with God, Gods ſpecial Providences attending them, will much evidence, even to others, that they are not hypocritical in their profeſſions.
2. But ſecondly, The obſervation of Gods ſpecial Providences towards our perſons, our families, our Church, will much make us to underſtand the loving-kindneſs of the Lord. The love of our friend to us is not ſeen ſo much in ſome acts of his goodneſs, which others experience as much as we, as in ſome ſpecial things, which he doth for us, and doth not, or will not do for others. The obſervation therefore of ſpecial Providence helps much to affect our hearts with the love of God. God in trying our love to him ſaith to us, What do you do more than others? and as our love to God is ſo tried, ſo Gods love to us is ſo evidenced: this is that which hath always ſet the hearts of the people of God admiring God. This was that which ſet the Pſalmiſt upon admiring Gods goodneſs to mankind, Pſal. 8.4, What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the Son of man that thou ſhouldeſt remember him? If you read on, you will ſee, that which affected the Pſalmiſt, was Gods ſpecial Providences to man, making him little lower than the Angels, cloathing him with glory and honour, putting all things under his feet, &c. This made David underſtand the loving kindneſs of the Lord, 1 Sam. 7.18, Who am I, O Lord, and what is my houſe that thou haſt brought me hitherto? and this was yet a ſmall thing in thy ſight, O Lord. God aggravates our ſins from the ſpecial Providences he hath bleſſed us with; as in the caſe of David, 2 Sam. 12. and Saul. Moſes argueth the Iſraelites to duty from Gods ſpecial Providences to them, in the four firſt Chapters of Deuteronomy: nothing makes us ſo much as them to underſtand the loving-kindneſs of the Lord. Oh therefore obſerve, conſider what God hath done, and what he daily doth for you more than others; preſerving your lives, your health, bleſſing you in your relations, and eſtates, and trades, proſpering and ſucceeding you in your undertakings; above all, what he hath done for your ſouls more than for the ſouls of others, plucking you as brands out of the fire, ſnatching you (as the Angels did Lot) out of Sodom.
3. Laſtly, This obſervation of ſpecial Providence, will more eminently engage and quicken you to duty. God expects it from you, as you may ſee by Moſes his diſcourſe to the Iſraelites in the four or five firſt Chapters of Deuteronomy; and you will find your hearts more enlarged in duty from the ſenſe, and apprehenſion of them. But of this more under the next branch of Application.
Secondly, Ʋſe 3 This Doctrine of ſpecial Providence calleth upon all mankind in general; that part of them which make up the Church of God more eſpecially; and yet more particularly, thoſe that fear the Lord, for more ſpecial homage and duty to God: thoſe gradations, you know, I obſerved in ſpecial Providence. The objects, the general objects of it, I told you, were Angels and Men. I baulked the diſcourſe of Gods ſpecial Providence in the preſervation and Government of the good Angels; as that the particulars of which we know little of: ſo neither are they thoſe to whom we are to preach, neither do thoſe bleſſed Spirits need any of our exhortations: they ſpontaneouſly, perpetually, and without ceaſing give honour and glory to God, and do his will; and this in a degree proportioned to that ſpecial Providence, by which they are both preſerved and governed. We are bid to pray, that we might be able on earth to do the will of God, as it is done in heaven: it is to men, to the ſons and daughters of men, that I am to ſpeak.
1. Let all the ſons and daughters of men then praiſe God, and glorifie him in a degree proportioned to that ſpecial Providence which God exerciſeth toward them in general. You will ſay, what is that? I anſwer in the general, It is more than that which God exerciſeth towards any degree of creatures that is beneath them. There are three orders of creatures beneath man. 1. Such as have only Being, no life, as the Earth, the Waters, &c. 2. Such as have Being and life, but no ſenſe, as berbs and plants. 3. Such as have Being, and life, and ſenſe, but no reaſon, as beaſts, birds, fiſhes, creeping things; of all theſe God taketh a care, as I have before ſhewed you: but doth God take care for Oxen? (ſaith the Apoſtle in my Text), God exerciſeth a more particular ſpecial Providence for all the children of men than for any of theſe. Then certainly every man is obliged to honour and glorifie God more than theſe do. There is none of theſe but glorifieth God in its kind: The Heavens declare his glory; The little Bee and Silk-worm glorifieth God as they are his workmanſhip, and indued with excellent qualities which ſpeak the infinite wiſdom of God: every ſpire of graſs glorifies God as it ſheweth it ſelf to the world, and challengeth all the art of men to make ſuch a thing. Nay, theſe inanimate and brute creatures uſe all the faculties and qualities with which they were created, to the end for which God indued them with them. Alas! the beſt of men come much ſhort, none liveth and ſinneth not. None lives who uſeth not ſome of the faculties which God hath given him for his honour and glory, to his diſſervice and diſhonour. Wherein then can man live up to the ſpecial Providence, that watcheth over, preſerveth, and governeth him? I anſwer, In the voluntary directions of his words, thoughts, and actions to the glory of God. This no creature but man can do; they have no reaſonable ſouls, they act meerly ex neceſſitate naturae, according to the neceſſity of nature impoſed upon them by the Law of creation: God indeed hath an honour from every man, as he is created in the image of God, and is a noble and glorious creature. One man may more ſpeak the praiſes of God than another, as he is indued with a greater wit or wiſdom, hath more dexterity, ſagacity, more excellent parts than another; but while the poor creatures heart is not right-ſet, and bent, and directed to the glory of God; wherein doth he more than an Element, or a brute Beaſt? that man only in this excelleth a Stone, or a brute Beaſt, that with purpoſe of heart, out of choice, and deſignedly honoureth God: and quotus quiſque eſt, how rare is the man in the world that ſets his heart to bring God glory by his manlike actions. God hath indeed an accidental glory by moſt mens actions; but it is rather to be ſaid, that God is glorified by them, than that they glorifie God: Now what a ſad reflection this is for a wicked man to think, that his horſe more glorifies God than he doth. There's no man liveth, but partaketh more of a ſpecial Providence than any other creature, not of his order: certainly God expects from all of you, ſome ſervice proportionable to this particular Providence. Say to your ſelves ſometimes, What do I more for God than the flower of my Garden? the graſs in my field, the beaſt in my ſtall? and ſee if the anſwer of your ſouls, to ſuch a Queſtion, will not reflect a ſhame upon you. O ſtudy your ſpecial Providences, and live up to them: remember, that where God hath given much he expects much. But reſt not here, do not only ſtudy the ſpecial Providences which you are under, as men, and which are common to all men with your ſelves, or to the moſt of men with your ſelves; but obſerve, and ſtudy alſo the particular Providences that have followed you, for which God expecteth a return. It may be you have more wit, more wiſdom than others, you have a greater dexterity in buſineſs: God hath better provided for you, given you a better eſtate, more comforts in your relations, &c. Oh live up to theſe Specialties of Providence: you will expect it from thoſe to whom you have at any time done any good: you are miſtaken if you think that God doth not expect it from you.
2. This more eſpecially calleth to you, who are the members of the viſible Church, for a more ſpecial conſecration and dedication of your ſelves unto God. You have heard that the Church is an eminent object of ſpecial Providence many ways; many ſpecial Promiſes are made to it, and that is the body of people of the world whom God careth for: ſee then what a particular obligation lieth upon all profeſſors, all members of the viſible Church, to give God honour and glory. You are the only people in the world, to whom the Oracles of God are committed; you are the pillar of truth; you are thoſe who do alone enjoy the Ordinances of God: you are the people in the midſt of whom God dwelleth, upon whom the eye of God is from one end of the year to the other. Certainly there lies an high obligation upon you to honour God more than others. God hath done infinitely more for you than for Heathens. Now what a ſhame it is that an Heathen ſhould out-doe you in any thing; yet give me leave to tell you, that while you only do ſome actions that are materially good, not formally and truly, many Heathens have done as much as you. An Heathen may do, and many of them have done, and that with ſome good intention, actions materially good, that is, ſuch things as God commanded. Many of them have been eminent inſtances of moral vertue, Juſtice, charity, temperance, liberality, &c. many of them have profeſſed to love vertue for the ſake of vertue. Wherein can you excel them? but by doing actions which are formally good, deſigning Gods glory, acting in obedience to Gods will, regulating your ſelves as to the manner by Gods word: you have the word, the Goſpel of God, oh how reaſonable it is that our converſation ſhould be as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt! The Heathen elſe that lives up to his light of nature out-does us, and it will (as our Saviour tells us) be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of Judgment than for us.
3. But Laſtly, Let the Saints of God ſee what an obligation, to all manner of duty and holineſs, lies upon their ſouls: they are the moſt ſpecial objects of ſpecial Providence. God takes more care for all men, than for Oxen, or for the graſs of the field; he exerciſeth a more ſpecial Providence for that body of people which make up his viſible Church, than for all the earth beſides: but yet what is that ſpecial Providence which God exerciſeth for meer formal profeſſors, or for any other men in the world, in compariſon of what they have experienced! Any thing of more ſpecial diſtinguiſhing Grace, is a great Specialty of Providence, and that in the beſt and higheſt ſort of good things, viz. thoſe which concern the ſalvation of the Soul. Oh, what doth God expect? what doth God require from you? what ſhould you do more than others? More particularly, This Doctrine of ſpecial Providence calls to you,
1. For more extraordinary degrees of Love. 2. For more ſpecial acts of Faith. 1. For more eminent degrees of Love, Pſal. 31.23, O Love you the Lord, all you his Saints, for the Lord preſerveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Reaſon argueth thus with us, that the reciprocations of our love ought to bear proportion to love received. If (ſaith our Saviour) you love them that love you, what reward have you? the law of nature commandeth us to love, and by actions of kindneſs and duty to expreſs our love to them who have expreſſed their kindneſs to us: and the ſame reaſon requires the reciprocations of love to be proportionable. God therefore declaring eſpecial love to you, you are bounden in a ſpecial duty to him. Let our Saviours queſtion be often in your thoughts, What do you do more than others? If you for whom God hath ſent his Son to dye, and into whoſe hearts he hath ſent his Spirit, the Spirit of Adoption, Supplication, Conſolation, and whom the Lord hath from the womb watched over and preſerved by a more ſpecial peculiar Providence, bearing you as upon Eagles Wings, and gathering you as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings; I ſay, If you do no more for God than others do, not under ſuch influences, nor ſuch Providences; you muſt certainly act beneath, and ſhort of your duty. This dependeth upon what I told you before, of the reaſonableneſs of the reciprocations of love in ſome commenſurate proportions.
2. It calleth to them who fear God, for ſpecial exerciſes of faith; you have reaſon more to truſt and depend upon God than others, becauſe God hath declared a more ſpecial care and Providence for you. The ground of all faith is the word and promiſe of God. Now ſpecial promiſes call for a more ſpecial and peculiar faith. What though another man cannot truſt God contrary to a ſenſible or reaſonable appearance; yet you have reaſon to do it, becauſe God hath declared more his care for you, and the workings of his Providence for your preſervation and deliverance than for others: God hath promiſed to ſave, defend and deliver you, not after the workings of his ordinary Providence. You may therefore ſay with David, The Lord is my light and my ſalvation, whom ſhall I fear? He is the ſtrength of my life, of whom ſhall I be afraid? Pſalm 27.1.3, Though an Hoſt ſhould encamp againſt me, my heart ſhould not fear: though war ſhould riſe againſt me, in this I will be confident. But thus much ſhall ſerve to have diſcourſed concerning the Specialties of Divine Providence.