Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

(5.) The corruption of the heart shows it self, in raising up great expectations to our selves from the Creature, and projecting abundance of felicity and contentment from some promising and hopeful enjoyments we have in the world. This we find to have been the case of holy Job in the days of his prosperity, Job 28. 19. Then I said, I shall dye in my nest, I shall multiply my days as the sand. But how soon were all these expectations dashed by a gloomy Providence, that benighted him in the Noon-tide of his prosperity: and all this for his good, to take off his heart more fully from creature expectations. We ⟨p. 116⟩often find, the best men to over-reckon themselves in worldly things, and over-act their confidences about them. They that have great and well-grounded expectations from Heaven, may have too great and ungrounded expectations from the Earth. But when it is so, it's very usual for Providence to undermine their Earthly hopes, and convince them by experience how vain they are. Thus Haggai 1. 9. the peoples hearts were intently set upon prosperous Providences, full Harvests, and great Increase; whilst in the mean while no regard was had to the Worship of God, and the things of his House; therefore Providence blasts their hopes, and brings them to little.

(5.) The corruption of the heart shews it self, in raising up great expectations to our selves from the Creature, and projecting abundance of felicity and contentment from some promising and hopeful enjoyments we have in the world. This we find to have been the case of holy Job in the dayes of his prosperity, Job 28. 19. Then I said, I shall dye in my nest, I shall multiply my dayes as the sand. But how soon were all these expecta•ions dasht by a gloomy Providence, that benighted him in the Noon-tide of his prosperity: and all this for his good, to take off his heart more fully from creature expectations. We ⟨p. 116⟩often find, the best men to over-reckon themselves in worldly things, and over-act their confidences about them. They that have great and well-grounded expectations from Heaven, may have too great and ungrounded expectations from the Earth. But when it is so, it's very usual for Providence to undermine their Earthly hopes, and convince them by experience how vain they are. Thus