Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

And as the profit and use, so the delight and pleasure resulting from the observations of Providence, is exceeding great. It will doubtless be a part of our entertainment in Heaven, to view with transporting delight, how the designs and methods were laid to bring us thither: and what will be a part of our blessedness in Heaven, may well be allowed to have a prime ingrediency into our Heaven upon Earth▪ To search for pleasure among the due Observations of Providence, is to search for water in the Ocean: for Providence doth not only, ultimately design to bring you to Heaven, but (as intermediate thereunto) to bring (by this means) much of Heaven into your souls in the way thither.

How great a pleasure is it to discern how the ⟨image 9⟩most wise God is providentially steering all to the Port of his own Praise, and his peoples Happiness, whilst the whole world is busily employed in managing the Sails, and tugging at the Oars, with a quite opposite design and purpose? To see how they promote his design by opposing it, and fulfil his will by resisting it, enlarge his Church by scattering it, and make their rest to come the more sweet to their souls, by making their condition so restless in the world. This is pleasant to observe in general: But to record and note its particular designs upon our selves; with what profound wisdom, infinite tenderness, and incessant vigilancy it hath managed all that concerns us from first to last, is ravishing and transporting.

How great a pleasure is it to discern how the ⟨image 9⟩most wise God is providentially steering all to the Port of his own Praise, and his peoples Happiness, whilst the whole world is busily employed in managing the Sails, and tugging at the Oars, with a quite opposite design and purpose? To see how they promote his design by opposing it, and fulfil his will by resisting it, enlarge his Church by scattering it, and make their rest to come the more sweet to their souls, by makeing their condition so restless in the world. This is pleasant to observe in general: But to record and note its particular designs upon our selves; with what profound wisdom, infinite tenderness, and incessant vigilancy it hath managed all that concerns us from first to last, is ravishing and transporting.