A39659:363
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.
It were easy to multiply Examples in this kind, Histories abounding with them; but I think there are few of us, but are furnished out of our own experience abundantly; so that I shall rather choose to press home the sense of these Providences upon you, in order to a suitable return to the God of your mercies for them, than add more Instances of this kind. To this purpose, I desire you seriously to weigh the following particulars.
It were easie to multiply Examples in this kind, Histories abounding with them; but I think there are few of us, but are furnisht out of our own experience abundantly; so that I shall rather chuse to press home the sense of these Providences upon you, in order to a suitable return to the God of your mercies for them, than add more Instances of this kind. To this purpose, I desire you seriously to weigh the following particulars.
(1.) Consider what you owe to Providence for your protection, by which your life hath been protracted unto this day, with the usefulness and comfort thereof. Look abroad in the world, and you may daily see some in every place, who ⟨p. 106⟩are Objects of pity, bereaved by sad accidents of all the comforts of life,1 whilst in the mean time Providence hath tenderly preserved you, keeping all your bones, so that not one of them is broken, Psal. 34. 20. Is not the Elegant and Comely Structure of thy Body spoiled, thy members d• storted, or made so many seats of Torment, the usefulness of any part deprived? why, this is because Providence never quitted its hand of thee since thou camest out of the womb, but with a watchful eye and tender hand hath guarded thee in every place, and kept thee as its charge.
- 1The learned Alsted sets himself to enumerate the manifold hazards through which the life of man is carrJed in the hand of Providence, in Theol. Catechet. p. 191, 192, &c. and pJously concludes in these words, Denique, qud ab innumeris malis, quae ab omnibus creaturis omni tempore tibi impendent, mirabiliter liberais; in his omnibus inquam, quae simus rebro evenire solita, ac proinde it a se habent, ut nobis quoque possint evenire, solam Dei providentiam debes suspicere & praedicare.