Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

The Third Motive

IN the next place, I beseech you consider, What an effectual means the due observation of Providence will be to over-power and suppress the natural Atheism that is in your hearts.

There is a natural seed of Atheism in the best hearts, and this is very much nourished, by passing a rash and false judgement upon the works of Providence. When we see wicked ones to prosper in the world, and godly men crushed and destroyed in the way of righteousness and integrity; it may tempt us to think, there is no advantage by religion, and all our self-denial and holiness, to be little better than lost labour. Thus stood the case with good As•ph, Psal. 73. 12, 13. B• hold, these are the ungodly that prosper in the world, they increase in riches: and what doth the flesh in•er from thence? Why no less than the unprofitableness of the ways of holiness, Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. This irreligious Inference carnal reason was ready to draw from the dispensations of outward prosperity to wicked men; but now if we would heedfully observe, either the signal retributions of Providence to many of them in this world, or to all of them in the world to come; O what a full confirmation is this to our faith! Psal. 9. 16. The Lord is known by the Judgements that he executeth. The fifty eighth Psalm contains the Characters of the most prodigious sinners, whose wickedness is aggravated,

There is a natural seed of Atheism in the best hearts, and this is very much nourished, by passing a rash and false judgement upon the works of Providence. When we see wicked ones to prosper in the world, and godly men crushed and destroyed in the way of righteousness and integrity; it may tempt us to think, there is no advantage by religion, and all our self-denyal and holiness, to be little better than lost labour. Thus stood the case with good Asph,