Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

Consult the various Providences of your life in this point, and I doubt not, but you will find the truth of these Promises as often confirmed, as you have been in trouble. Ask your own hearts, where, or when was it that your God forsook you, and left you to sink and perish under your burdens? I doubt not, but most of you have been at one time or other plunged in difficulties, difficulties out of which you could see no way of escape by the eye of reason; yea, such, as it may be, staggered your faith in the Promise, as David's was, 1 Sam. 27. 1. when he said, I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul. All men are Liars, (even Samuel himself) and yet notwithstanding ⟨p. 140⟩all, we see him emerge out of that Sea of trouble, and the Promises made good in every tittle to him. The like doubtless you may observe in your own cases. Ask your own souls the question, and they will satisfy it. Did God abandon and cast you off in the day of your straits? certainly you must belie your own experience, if you should say so. 'Tis true, there have been some plunges and difficulties you have met with, wherein (1.) You could see no way of escape, but concluded you must perish in them. (2.) Difficulties that have staggered your faith in the Promises, and made you doubt, whether the fountain of All-sufficiency would let out it self for your relief. (3.) Yea, such difficulties as have provoked you to murmuring and impatience, and thereby provoked the Lord to forsake you in your straits; but yet you see he did not. He hath either (1.) Strengthened your back to bear, or (2.) Lightened your burden, or (3.) Opened an unexpected door of escape, according to that Promise, 1 Cor. 10. 13. so that the evil which you feared, came not upon you.

Consult the various Providences of your life in this point, and I doubt not, but you will find the truth of these Promises as often confirmed, as you have been in trouble. Ask your own hearts, where, or when was it that your God forsook you, and left you to sink and perish under your burdens? I doubt not, but most of you have been at one time or other plunged in difficulties, difficulties out of which you could see no way of escape by the eye of reason; yea, such, as it may be, staggered your faith in the Promise, as David's was,