A39659:376
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.
(1.) There is in all the regenerate a strong propension and inclination to sin, and in that lies a principal part of the power of sin. Of this Paul sadly complains, Rom. 7. 23. But I see another law in my members▪ warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members: and every believer daily •inds it to his grief. O 'tis hard, 'tis hard to forbear those things that grieve God. God hath made an hedge about us, and fenced us against sin by his Laws; but there is a proneness in nature to break over the hedge, and that against the very reluctations of the Spirit of God in us. Now, see in this case, the concurrence and assistance of Providence, for the prevention ⟨p. 110⟩of sin; look, as the Spirit internally resists those sinful inclinations, so Providence externally lays bars and blocks in our way to hinder and prevent sin: and this is the meaning of those places lately cited, Hosea 2. 6. & 2 Cor. 12. 7. So Job 33. 17, 18, 19. There is many a bodily distemper inflicted on this very score, to be a clog to prevent sin: Oh bear them patiently upon this consideration. Basil was sorely grieved with an inveterate head-ache, he earnestly prays, it might be removed; God removed it: but no sooner was he freed of this clog, but he felt the inordinate motions of lust; which made him pray for his head-ache again. So it might be with many of us, if our clogs were off.
(1.) There is in all the regenerate a strong propension and inclination to sin, and in that lyes a principal part of the power of sin. Of this Paul sadly complains, Rom. 7. 23. But I see another law in my members▪ warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members: and every believer daily •inds it to his grief. O 'tis hard, 'tis hard to forbear those things that grieve God. God hath made an hedge about us, and fenced us against sin by his Laws; but there is a proneness in nature to break over the hedge, and that against the very reluctations of the Spirit of God in us. Now, see in this case, the concurrence and assistance of Providence, for the prevention