A39659:27
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.
However, the manifestations of God by his Works, whether of Creation or Providence have their value, and glory: but the prime glory ⟨image 8⟩and excellency of his Providential works consists in this, that they are the very fulfillings and real accomplishments of his written word. By a wise and heedful attendance hereunto, we might learn that excellent Art, which is (not unfitly) called by some ScJentJa architectonica, an Art to clear the Mysterious occurrences of Providence, by reducing them to the written word, and there lodge them as Effects in their proper Causes. And doubtless, this is one of the rarest essays men could pursue against Atheism, to show, not only how Providences concur in a most obvious tendency to confirm this great Conclusion, Thy word is Truth; but how it sometimes extorts also the confession of a God, and the truth of his Word, from those very tongues which have boldly denied it. Aeschylus the Persian relating their discomf• ture by the Grecian Army,1 makes this not able observation, When the Grecian Forces hotly pursued us, (saith he) and we must needs venture over the great water Strymon, then frozen; but beginning to thaw; when a hundred to one we had all dyed for it, with mine eyes I then saw many of those Gallants whom I had heard before so boldly maintain, there was no God, every one upon their knees, with eyes and hands lifted up, begging hard for help and mercy, and entreating that the Ice might hold till they got over. Many thousand seals hath Providence forced the very ⟨image 8⟩Enemies of God to set to his Truths, which greatly tends to our confirmation therein; but especially, to see how the Word and Providences of God do enlighten each other; and how the Scriptures contain all those Events, both great and small, which are disposed by Providence in their seasons: And how not only the Promises of the Word, are in the general faithfully fulfilled to the Church in all her Exigences and Distresses; but in particular to every member of it; they being all furnished by Providence with multitudes of Experiences to this use and end. O how useful are such observations!
However, the manifestations of God by his Works, whether of CreatJon or Providence have their value, and glory: but the prime glory