A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 42 (Question 11)
SERMON XLII.
QUESTION XI.
WHAT are GOD's Works of Providence?
ANSWER.
GOD's Works of Providence are, His moſt Holy, Wiſe & Powerful Preſerving and Governing all his Creatures, and all their Actions.
WHEN GOD had Made a World, and Furniſhed it, He did not now leave it to it's own Guidance; nor did He ſo put it into the Hand of any, tho never ſo No…e a Creature, as to lay off the Care of it from Himſelf: But having Made it for an End, He ſet a Second Hand to it, for the Managing of it unto that End, for which it was Made; and this we call His Providence. God doth not do like Human Ar…iff…ers, Carpencers, Shipurights, &c. who Build Houſes for others to Dwell in, Ships for others to Sail in; and having ſo done, look after them no more.
IN the Inquiry into the Nature of God's Previdence, as it is in the Anſwer pointed unto us, we may 1. Make it appear, That there is a Providence. 2. Inquire into the General Nature of it. 3. Take Notice of it in the Parts wherein it exerts it ſ…. We are to make it appear.
I THAT there it a Providence of God Managing the Affairs of the Word. Tho' the Denial of this be implicit Atheiſm, and a meet E…b…i…k could ſay, He that Queſtions, or makes any Doubt about a Providence in the World. ſhould be Anſwered with Stripes, and not with Arguments: Yet becauſe there are that ſuſpect the Being of it, & that ſuppoſe all things managed bernard villanueva by a …umaltro…s & diſc…de…ly Ca…ur…, … are p…zzied with come Kno…s which ther …a…e no Skill to …aty; and it being a main P… ple in Religion, and a Foundation of a Chriſtian's Comfort thro' all the V…ci…des which go over him in this World of Change: It may not be amiſs to eſtabliſh the Tr…th of this Doctrine againſt the Cavils of Vain Minds. The Truth is, the very Nature of a D…ity b…ing gr…ted, the Being of a Divine Providence cannot be d…i…d: As therefore we formerly argeed for the proving … God, becauſe there is Providence; ſo may we wi…h a like ſome Inter a P…e, becauſe there is a God: For any to acknowledge either of theſe, and d… the other is to make himſelf Guilty of a …ex…r…: But let me add Two of Three evident Diſc…cries of it. That there is a D…vi…e P…u…e…ce appears.
(1.) FROM the Wiſdom & Order which appear… in the Manager … of all the Creatures that are in the World. They are moſt Wifely Acted and Guided to their E…ds; e…en ſuch Creatures as have no Principle of Reaſon to Guide themſelves. If we look into the whole Frame of Second Beings among ſo many Creatures, there are no Rational Agents, but Angels and Men; all other Creatures are void of Knowledge and Underſtanding, and yet are they Guided by exact Wiſdom to their ſeveral Ends; not by their …, for they have it not: not by the Wiſdom of Superi…r Creatures, for what Agency have they in this Guidance? It muſt …eeds therefore be by the Wiſdom of God. When Creatures Act as if they foreknew the Times and Seaſons, (J…r. 8.7.) this is not to be attributed to M…'s Wiſdom, which can…o Influence them: Hence that Challenge, Job 39.26, 27. Doth the H…k …ly by thy wiſdom and ſtre…ch …er wings toward the South? Doth the E…gle m…nt …p…t thy Com…s Me…, & make her …oſt on High? They Act by a Rule which they know not, and as regular as if they knew it: This ſaith that there is One who both Knows their Rule, and Guides them by it; & that is God, and this is Providence. Some Philoſophers obſerving this aſcribed to the World a Soul, making it a great Animate; and ſo ſeeking to come at God, they fell ſhort of him. The Truth is, the Soul of the World is Divine Providence, guiding every thing by the Rules of Infinite Wiſdom. God is not mixed with the Creature as a part of its Eſſence; but he is with every Creature as an Efficient: To ſee ſuch a World of Creatures in their ſeveral Ranks and Stations, ſo diſcreetly Ordered, ſo Wiſely Marſhalled, and ſo regularly Marching, each one in its Place, and without …ail to reach their great End; and yet the greateſt part or them blindly, without any Skill or Diſcretion, not knowing whither they go, and yet going Right; declares evidently what Hand it is that leads them.
(2.) FROM the Supremacy which appears in the wonderful Diſpoſing & Controding all the Affairs and Actions of Rational Beings. Hereby it appears, that the Wiſdom of Angels and Men is not the Supremum Agent in the World, but that there is One who is above them: D… 1.17. T… non…ing … the Kingdom of …. Which Truth is …re than Ma… eſ … the Def… me…ts of the …roege… Provices of M…n, and o…thing them to …nds …tra…y to the Inte… tion of the Deſigne…s. …ea alſo tho' the …owers of Dorkneſs have been in the Combination: All Ages give their Evidence to this by … ford Examples: M…n are ſo Skilfull and Contions, that they think …tialy their Deſign muſt be effected; they have foreſeen and antedated as they ſup…, all poſſible Obſtruc… or…: But men the Wi… of …ice, who think there is no Wiſdom like the is; when they have done their beſt are ſtr…gely …tra…ed; as …ool, …. 11. The nice is … …, … the bati… to the ſtrong, nei… yet bread to the wiſe, … yet ri… to m…n …f … ſtanding, … yet f…wa… it m… of sk…d, but time & … happen… … them …. It Men did all, then be that hath moſt Sar…ngth would get the Day, &c. But becauſe it is not ſo, there is ſome enſ… Cauſe, ſome contro…ing Po…er that ſeci… defeats them; and often to their greateſt O… fuſion and …f…eniſhment: Yea the Powers of Darkneſs are hereby alſo Con…red; and God uſeth Men and Devils to do His Work, wh… they never mean it; Iſs. 1….6, 7. I will ſ…l him againſt an …ypocritical nation; and againſt for people of my wrath w…ll I give him, a charge … take the ſp…l, and to take the prey, end to … them drown like the more of the …ts: H… be …aneth … ſo, neither d…ci… beat … &c. It were endleſs to count the Exam… which might be produced for this: It is … eminent, in that none ever deſigned to … any of God's Predicted Counſels, but befo… themſelves, and were made to confeſs that … was above them, and this is Providence; J… ſ…s Brethren, &c. are a Pregnant …n…ct.
(3.) FROM the Neceſſary of a Divine Providence: Which thus appears.
1. THERE is a Care neceſſarily i…c… on God to Provide for His own Family. God is a Living, moſt Wiſe, and Powerful Agent: The World is His; He hath a great Concern in it; and how ſhould He neglect it? He would ne… have made it, if He had not intended to look after it: The very Relation He hears to it, … Creater, Infers that of a Providence: He … made it our Duty to take Care for tho…e of … O…ce; and tho' He be under no neceſſary Nature Obligation to the Creature, whoſe very … Arbitrary; yet Hypothetically He ſtands concerned, and cannot with His Honour … it: He made the World and every thing in it, … be a Gl…ſs in which His Glory was to be … preſented; His great Wiſdom, Power & Goodneſs were to ſhine forth in it; and that He may have the Glory of theſe. He muſt …or … Second Hand to Uphold and Order it; elſ … He loſe all His Glory; and how can it … with His Holineſs to ſuffer His Great Name… to be ſo Diſhonoured? Certain it is that without this Providence of His, it had been better i… He had never made the World: For,
2. SHOULD He … the Aſſ… …f the … His W… … be …. As the Creature could not … it ſe…f, then it was not; ſo neither can it Uphed or … it ſelf aright n…w it is m…e.
1. IT … Uphold … ſelf it Be…. The …ime Ha…d that M…de it muſt A…i…s … it in Being, … his own Coſt … Charges. That all things are Provided for is plain; how elſe do they continue in then Being? But …is above the Creature's Power, and therefo…e a God m… do it. Every Creature was brought into the World, leaning on God's Hand, and i… hath not yet learnt to ſtand ab…. The whole World is a ſocking Infant d…, …ing on the E…ll; of Divine Prov…dence: the …is of the Are have no fore Proviſion, yet there is a Pr…ider for them: Helpleſs and ſhiftleſs Creatures have their Food in due Se…ſon. Give at Anſwer to that Qu…e, Job …ult. It W…pr…de… for the Raven his Food? and Deny a Providence if you can. That Man is not his ow… Provider and Preſerver, tho' he be it the Uſe of M…ans, appears from this one thing, t…. Who can ſay and make it good, I will this Night go to …ed, … riſe in He…th in the M…rning: I will S… …y Field, and Reap ſuch a Crip: I will make, …uch a …, it ſou… return with ſuch …? M…m's goings are of the Lord; and becauſe he c…n't Command them himſelf, it is a Dem …ſtration that he is under the Power of another in whoſe …ds is the Breath of his Noſtrils, and whoſe … all his Ways.
2. IT cannot Guide it ſelf …righ…: The Cr… ture would loſe its Way, if it were not C…n…cted by a Superiour Hand, eſpecially ſince Man by Sin hath fa…len from his Ru…es, a…d loſt his Way: Except God be Glorified by t…e Creature, it is ſpoiled, becauſe that was t…e … it was made for: That Man doth not of himſelf ſince his Fall actually Glorify God … evident; Rom. 3.23. All have finned, and come ſhort of the Glory of God: That the Creature…s … this Means diverted from its proper Uſ…, and …rmed in Rebellion, is no leſs true, and that is the Reaſon of the groa…ing of it, (Rom. … 29.) if therefore God Himſelf did no Rule Guide and Conduct the A…a…rt; of the World by … own Hand, all the Deſign would be ut…erly ſu…trate, and the Creature ſink unde …ani…
(4.) THE ſtrange Preſervation of the Book of God, and the Church of God through all Ages … deſpite of all Attempts againſt them. If there were no other Arguments to prove a Providence of God but this, it were enough to con… all Gain-ſayers. The Book of God hath been ſpited by Satan, and hated by Ungodly Men; and how many Attempts have they …e to Raze thoſe Records? Yet have they our lived all Eſſays; when many other Vo…ns of leſs Antiquity, which Men have …ed, and Saran had no ſpecial Mallg…nity againſt, have periſhed; and ſcar…e ſo much as any Moth…eaten Fragme…ts left of them at this D… And whoſe Care could this be but God's? Is there not then a …rovider…e? The Church of God hath ever been a …: …arth and Hell have always been Combined againſt it: the Gates of Hell have been Contriving how to Extirpate it. That hath always been the Conſult, Pſal. 8….3, 4. Come let as … off from being a Nature, &c. There hath been a Pl… carrying on ever ſince Ca…; and how comes it to paſs that it hath not taken Effect? Nothing obvious to Humane Senſe or Reaſon could have prevented it: The Wit, the Wealth, the Power hath been on their Side; not was it any Pity or Tenderneſs that held their Hands, No: … the Wiſe Man reſolves it into th… true reaſ…n. Pror. 21.30 There is … Wiſdom … …ding, … C…ſel againſt the I … And the Pſalm… …nts Gods Iſrael wh…ther they ought to refe… it; Pſ…l, …. beg. If the Lord …ad not been …n … ſide, they …ad ſ… …s up quick. &c.
(5.) THE Little Objections that … Me… …ke againſt it, and Scruples that Good Men have ſometimes made …bout it, are the iſſue of brutal Folly. Thoſe that Men call dark Providences are ſo, not in regard of themſelves, but out Eye-fight: one Drop of Spiritual Eye-ſalve, will Clear them up to us: There is no Flaw in them, but a Crack in our Underſtandings. The Pſalmiſt that was a while exerciſed with the Frenzy, when he came to himſelf, confeſſeth himſelf to have been a Beaſt, Pſal. 73.21. Some ſay if there be a Providence, how doth the Scripture refer all to Time & Chance; Ec…l. 9.11. Time and Chance happeneth to them …ll. Luk. 10.…1. By Chance there came, &c. But this is eaſily Anſwered: The Word of …od intends by it nothing elſe, but an Event falling out unexpectedly in reſpect to Men. tho' not beſides the Intention of God. The Wiſe Man's Scope is to ſhew by an Enumeration of Inſtances, that the Iſſue of Human Affairs, is to Man, Caſual or Contingent, by God's Wiſely putting in un… ſeen Occurrences, to diſappoint their moſt Rational Hopes: A Man is furniſhed, and what ſhall hinder him? Prepared for the Battle, and why ſhould he not get the Victory? Why God puts in ſomething which they dreamt not of; and this Co…rms, and doth no way Confute the Doctrine of Providence. The Word in Luks is of the ſame Import; and only ſignifies, That the Man came not Deſignedly, but Providentially: In reſpect of Second C…ſes, ſome things are Neceſſary, ſome Contingent; but this makes nothing againſt the Wiſe Determining all by the Firſt Cauſe. Some there be who ſuſpect Providence, becauſe Wicked Men, and the Haters of God enjoy ſo much Proſperity, and Godly Men ſuffer ſo much Adverſity, The Obſervation of the Wiſe Man, (Ec…l. 8.14.) hath made ſome to ſtumble, others to break their Necks: The Pſalmiſt himſelf was almoſt at that unhappy Concluſion. Pſal. 73.13. Verily I have cleanſed my … in vain: But this is meer Ig…ce. The Conſiderations. 1. That there is … Time in which the Attributes of common M…y, Goodneſs, and … muſt have their Dec…rative Glory, upon ſome who are only capable hereof in this Life, becauſe afterwards Bernard villanueva He that Made them, will have no Merry u…rien. 2. That the Graces of God's People muſt have a Time of Trial, by manifold Temptations, that they may be found to Praiſe; which can be but in this Life, becauſe after that They Reſt from their Labours, and Tears are wiped away: 3. That there is a Day of Judgment coming, in which all things ſhall be Adjuſted; when the Wicked's Proſperity ſhall increaſe their Miſery, and Godly Men's Aſ…s ſhall add to their Felicity: This will take off all that can be ſuſpected on this Account. The Temple gives ſufficient Satisfaction to this; Pſal. 73.17. I went into the Sanctuary of God, then underſtood I their End.
USE. TO excite us to endeavour a full Confirmation & Eſtabliſhment in the Belief of this Doctrine; That there is a Divine Providence which Orders all the Affairs of the Creature. And to move us hereto, Confider,
[1.] IT is of neceſſary Influence into our whole Life. We muſt either firmly believe the Providence of God, or punctually deny our Chriſtianity. For,
1. THITHER ſhould a Chriſtian repair for all his …eſ, in all his Straits & Exigences, but to God? He profeſſeth himſelf to have no other Truſt or Confidence; he hath renounced the God of …, & whither then ſhould he go but to the God of Iſrael? And how ſhall he go in Faith, if he mildoubts his Univerſal Providence?
2. WHAT hope can be Comfort himſelf withal, that be ſhall enjoy Supply & Safety in this World, but from the Providence of God? All the World are his Enemies, they are ſee againſt him; if they can Ruin and Undo him, they will: He cannot go to them with any Expectation; if there were no Providence, they would ſoon Diſpatch him; and if he does not believe it, he muſt needs I eſpair; he could not ſtand up againſt them without it.
3. HOW ſhall he exerciſe the Graces of Patience & Contentation without it? If this one Argument ſhould fail a Child of God, I dare ſay that he can find no other Bottom to build the Exerciſe of theſe Graces upon; and that more eſpecially in Times of foreſt Trial: How can he Sanctify God in the Fires; Rejoice in the Want of all things; Uphold his Profeſſion in Integrity, when he is ſore broken in the Place of Dragons; Suffer cheerfully the Loſs of Eſtate, Liberty, yea Life itſelf, in the Defence of the Truths of Chriſt; If he doth not believe that there is the Wiſdom & Power of God Managing of thoſe Affairs? What was it that ſtopt David's Mouth? Pſal. 39.9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth becauſe thou draft it.
[2.] THERE is no Truth which Satan more endeavours to undermine our Belief of than This. He is on all occaſions ſeeking to raiſe ſome Scruples & Doubts in our Minds about it: He looks upon this as one main Pillar of our Faith, and if he can once ſhake it, he hopes he ſhall without great Difficulty overthrow the whole Building: If he can bring us to Diſpute againſt Providence, he knows that our Religion doth ſoon come to an End: Hence 'tis that God's People, have found ſuch Temptations ſtrongly aſſaulting them in Hours of Trial; Doth God indeed Care for us? Haſhlie not forgoten to be Gracious? Is be not mindleſs of our Trouble? Doth be regard tho' we Periſh? And the more ſuch Tumultations we find within us the more ſhould we engage our ſelves ſtrenuouſly to fortify againſt them.
[3.] CONSIDER That the D…ubting of this Truth, is the Cauſe of many Exorbitances in our Loves.
1. IT leads to Atheiſm it ſelf. He that firſt Queſtions whether there be any Providence, will not be long before he Doubts whether there be a God: For to think of a God without this Relation to the Creature, is a great Abſurdity: And this was the Atheiſm condemned in them, Ezek. 8.12. They ſay the Lord ſeeth us not, the Lord hath for ſaken the Earth.
2. IT is the Root of all the Wicked Dealings in the World. Men think God is not Careful about them, and therefore they may do what they liſt: He that Denies a Providence, will not be afraid of Committing any Abomination; Ezek. 8.12. Haſt thou ſeen what they do in the dark, every one in the Chambers of his Imagery? &c.
3. IT is the Reaſon why Perſons ſeek is Live by Unrighteous Courſes. If they ſuppoſt that God is not concerned to Provide for his Creature, then they muſt Provide for them ſelves; they will be their own Carvers, and move by Rules of their own deviſing, and ſuck as gratify the Luſts of the Fleſh.
[4.] CONSIDER How Advantageous the Firm belief of this Truth is to a Chriſtian.
1. IT will make us Mindful of God; who we obſerve how Mindful He is of us: It will help us to ſee God in all that goes before ….
2. IT will make us Thankful for every … When we ſee the Hand of God …athing … down to us, it will teach us graten… … … cept it of him, and ſtudy Returns, Pſal. …6.1…. What ſhall I render unto the Lord, for all his benefits towards me?
3. IT will help us to Rely upon God. He that Doubts of Providence cannot place his Dependance upon God: But when we know that we can have nothing but what comes from him, that will direct us to go to Him, and … at His Footſtool: It will animate our Prayers and make us to go to Him in Earneſt.
4. IT will teach us to Walk Righteouſly. … will be a Caution to us, to have a Care of … voking Him; to ſtudy to Pleaſe Him, and carry it in all things ſo as to enjoy His Fa… counting it better than Life.
5. IT will teach us to Glorify God in … the Revolutions that go over the World. W… we acknowledge His Providence to be … Conducter of all, this will make all to … down and Worſhip Him.
[MAY 19. 1691.]