Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

(4.) What unspeakable comfort is it for a poor soul, that sees nothing but sin and vileness in ⟨p. 172⟩it self, at the same time to see what an high esteem and value the great God hath for him! This may be discerned by a due attendance to Providence, for there a man sees goodness and mercy following him through all his days, as it is Psal. 23. 6. Other men prosecute good, and it flies from them, they can never overtake it; but goodness and mercy follow the people of God, and they cannot avoid or escape it: it gives them chase day by day, and finds them out; even when they sometimes put themselves by sin out of the way of it. In all the Providences that befall them, goodness and mercy pursues them. O with what a mel•ing heart do they sometimes reflect upon these things! and will not the goodness of God be discouraged from following me, notwithstanding all my vile affronts and abuses of it in former mercies? Lord, what am I, that mercy should thus pursue me, when vengeance and wrath pursue others as good by nature as I am? It certainly argues the great esteem God hath of a man, when he thus follows him with sanctified Providences (whether they be comforts or crosses) for his good. And so much is plain, from Job 7. 18. Lord what is man, that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment? Certainly, Gods people are his treasure, and by this it appears that they are so, that he withdraws not his eye from them, Job 36. 7. I say not, that Gods favour and respect to a man, may be concluded singly from his Providences; but sanctified Providences may very much clear it to us: and when it doth so, it cannot but be matter of exceeding great joy.

(4.) What unspeakable comfort is it for a poor soul, that sees nothing but sin and vileness in ⟨p. 172⟩it self, at the same time to see what an high esteem and value the great God hath for him! This may be discerned by a due attendance to Providence, for there a man sees goodness and mercy following him through all his dayes, as it is