Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

(2.) And as it's a pleasant sight to see the harmony of Gods Attributes, so it is exceeding pleasant to behold the resurrection of our own prayers and hopes as from the dead. Why, this you may often see, if you will duly observe the works of Providence towards you. We hope and pray for such and such mercies to the Church, or to our selves; but God delays the accomplishment of our hopes, suspends the answer of our prayers, and seems to speak to us, as Hab. 2. 3. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lye: though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry: but we have no patience to wait the time of the Promise, our hopes languish and dye in the interim; and we say with the despondent Church, Lam. 3. 18. Our hope is perished from the Lord; but Oh, how sweet and comfortable is it, to see these prayers fulfilled, after we have given up all expectation of them! May we not say of them, as the Scripture speaks of the restoration of the Jews, it is even life from the dead. This was David's case, Psal. 31. 22. he gave up his hopes and prayers for lost, yet lived to see the comfortable and unexpected returns of them. And this was the case of Job, chap. 6. 11. he had given up all expectation of better days, and yet this man lived to see a resurrection of all his lost ⟨p. 171⟩comforts with an advantage. Think how that change and unexpected turn of Providence affected his soul: it is with our hopes and prayers as with our Alms, Cast thy bread on the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days, Eccles. 11. 1. or as it was with Jacob, who had given ov•r all hopes of ever seeing his beloved Joseph again, but when a strange and unexpected Providence had restored that hopeless mercy to him again, Oh how ravishing and transporting was it? Gen. 46. 29, 30.