A39659:264
Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence
Divine conduct, or, The mystery of Providence wherein the being and efficacy of Providence is asserted and vindicated : the methods of Providence as it passes through the several stages of our lives opened : and the proper course of improving all Providences / directed in a treatise upon Psalm 57 ver 2 by John Flavell ...Divine conduct, or, The mysterie of Providence wherein the being and efficacy of Providence is asserted and vindicated : the methods of Providence as it passes through the several stages of our lives opened : and the proper course of improving all Providences / directed in a treatise upon Psalm 57 ver 2 by John Flavell ...
London: printed by R.W. for Francis Tyton, 1678
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
How surprising the mercy was, which it performed for you in that day. Providence had a design upon you, for your eternal good, which you understood not. The time of mercy was now fully come; the Decree was now ready to bring forth that mercy, with which it had gone big from Eternity, and its gracious design must be executed by the hand of Providence, so far as concerned the external means and instruments: and how aptly did it cause all things to fall in with that design, though you knew not the meaning of it? Look over all the before mentioned Examples, and you shall see the blessed work of Conversion begun upon those souls, when they ⟨p. 75⟩minded it no more, than Saul did a Kingdom, that morning he went out to seek his Fathers Asses, 1 Sam 9. 3, 20. Providence might truly have said to you in that day, as Christ said to Peter, John 13. 7. What I do thou knowest not now, but hereafter thou shalt know it. Gods thoughts are not as our thoughts; but as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are his thoughts higher than ours, and his ways than our ways. Little did Zacheus think, when he climbed up into the Sycamore-tree, to see Christ as he passed that way, what a design of mercy Christ had upon him, who took thence the occasion of becoming both his Guest and Saviour, Luke 19. 5, 6, 7, 8. And as little did some of you think, what the aim of Providence was, when you went (some out of custom, others out of curiosity, if not worse ends) to hear such a Sermon. O how stupendous are the ways of God!
How surprizing the mercy was, which it performed for you in that day. Providence had a design upon you, for your eternal good, which you understood not. The time of mercy was now fully come; the Decree was now ready to bring forth that mercy, with which it had gone big from Eternity, and its gracious design must be executed by the hand of Providence, so far as concerned the external means and instruments: and how aptly did it cause all things to fall in with that design, though you knew not the meaning of it? Look over all the before mentioned Examples, and you shall see the blessed work of Conversion begun upon those souls, when they ⟨p. 75⟩