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when he was put into the dungeon. But what fault is there here, more than when the fun fets to make it darker and darker, till day-break. Stay till the dawning of the defign. Oftentimes providence reads beft backwards: "For the Lord fhall judge his people, and repent himself for his fervants, when he feeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left," Deut. xxxii. 36.

5. Providence laying aside the most likely means. But where is the fault here? for if he lay afide thefe means; he will accomplish his defigns by other means, and what though they be unlikely? This ftumbled the world; 1 Cor. i. 23. 24. "But we preach Chrift crucified, unto the Jews a ftumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Chrift, the power of God, and the wifdom of God." Naaman in diftrefs stumbled at the unlikeliness of the means prefcribed by the prophet for the cure of his leprofy, 2 Kings, v. 11. The difciples of Jefus alfo ftumbled, and judged the death of Chrift a very unlikely mean of leading him and them to glory; and they had the fame opinion of his afcenfion, John, xvi. 6. 7. Men have their own ways; they will needs think that they know beft what is good for them. But God knows that his people are not good chufers of their own lot, and Sovereignty will have a latitude.

6. Providence falling on means quite contrary to the defign of it. But what the worse was the blind man that he was cured with clay put upon his eyes? The Lord works healing by wounding, and comfort by tears. The earthquake, the troubling of the waters, the dungeon of Jofeph, the den of Daniel, the whale of Jonah, yea, we know, that all things work together for good to them

that

that love God, and are the called according to his purpose," Rom. viii. 28.

7. Wicked godless men getting the funny-fide of the brae, walking contrary to God, and yet providence fmiles, that never an ill turn almost misgives in their hand. This made Asaph stammer, Pfal. lxxiñí. 12.-14. “Behold, thefe are the ungodly, who profper in the world, they increase in riches. Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chaftened every morning." It fhook Jeremiah, chap. xii. 1. 2. But there is no fault in this, that the fun of profperity rifes on the wicked: "For when the wicked fpring as the grafs, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish, it is that they may be de- · ftroyed for ever," Pfal. xcii. 7. The fun rofe fair on Sodom that very day on which it was destroyed; all Ifrael followed Abfalom; Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord; Haman finds all things going to his wish. But fee. the end of all these things!

8. Aftonishing ftrokes lighting on those that are most dear to God. Ecclef. viii. 14. "There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked." Eli's fons are flain, his daughter-in-law dies, and himself breaks his neck. The two fons of Aaron die at the altar. How numerous were the afflictions that came upon Job!" But where is the fault here? Chrift's cross to a child of God is better than the world's crown, 2 Cor. xii. 9. 10.

9. Great afflictions meeting the Lord's people: in the way of duty. This was Jacob's cafe in many inftances. He was in the way God bade him go, yet he met with many trials and afflictions.

It hath been fo alfo with many of the Lord's people in all ages. But the Lord has his holy ends in these things; he fhews them that they are finful creatures; though they are in his way, tries their faith and patience, and makes way for higher experiences.I am,

II. To fhew in what refpects the way of God is perfect.

i. All the difpenfations of providence are exactly according to the pattern fhewn in the word. If you would know wherein a man has exactly built a house, look to the draught given him. Meet with what we will, all may be reduced to, and explained by, fcripture-doctrines, prophecies, promifes, threatenings, or examples.

2. They are exactly fuited to the neceffities of his people, and to the defigns of them. God weighs every grain of fand which he puts in our glaffes; he will never put in too little, nor too much; nothing wanting, nothing fuperfluous. Deut. xxxii. 4. "He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgement; a God of truth, and without iniquity; juft and right is he."

3. In refpect of the times of them. Nothing too foon done, nor too late; all fall out in their proper feason, determined in the unchangeable council of God.

4. In refpect of its stability. Our ways are unftable, and that is a great fault; but God's ways are not fo.

That which is crooked cannot be made ftraight. There will always be a crook in our lot. That is fure, and we could not walk even without it. I fhall,

III. CONFIRM the point. Confider,

1. That the faints in their experience fee this.

They

They readily and fully acknowledge it: Hofea, xiv. 9. "Who is wife, and he fhall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them ? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just fhall walk in them, but the tranfgreffors fhall fall therein." This is their unanimous vote when in a right mood, and will be fo in heaven, when the web is out. Then will they say, " He hath done all things well."

2. That they are all the product of infinite holinefs, which can do nothing wrong.

3. That they are all directed, as well as contrived, by infinite wisdom, which knows best how to frame matters.- -It remains that,

IV. I MAKE fome practical improvement, in 1. An use of information. Are the difpenfations of providence all right? Then, (1.) If any thing be wrong with us, we may fee where the fault lies, not in God, but in ourselves, Job, x. The oar he rolls his veffel with is in the waters of affliction, and therefore we think the oar is crooked; but that is our misjudging of God. (2.) That we fhould justify God in the harshest difpenfations, give him the glory, even when we walk on the mountains of darkness. Providence will abide a look of the most piercing impartial eye. But when the eye is infected, it will take up things in their wrong colours.

2. Of comfort to the people of God, whatever providences they meet. Be they never fo dark, be they never fo little understood by them, yet they are all right and faultlefs. God does not distribute favours to them by guefs, but by measure and weight.

3. Of reproof to those who cenfure, murmur, and quarrel, with the difpenfations of providence. VOL. I. This

I

This is, (1.) To accufe God of folly, as if he were not wife enough to govern the world that he has made. O how often fall we into this, as if we could have ordered better than Providence has done. Murmuring will ftep up, and correct the efcapes of infinite wisdom. (2.) Of injustice, as if he were too hard upon his creatures, that deferve better at his hand. For why would people murmur at their right and due? (3.) Of impotency, as if he could not take away our croffes as cafily as he brings them on, or could not make them work for our good.

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Laftly, Of exhortation. Let all of us, efpecially the Lord's people, be exhorted to submit and ftoop to fovereignty, be our lot in the world what it will. There is none want their own croffes. Every one has fome burden or another to bear; and if we would in truth come after Christ, we are enjoined to take up our cross, and follow him."

FEAR

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