Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

(5.) Compare the carriage of Providence towards you, with your own carriage towards the Lord; and it must needs melt your hearts to find so much mercy bestowed, where so much sin hath been committed. What place did you ever live ⟨p. 195⟩in, where you cannot remember great provocations committed, and manifold mercies notwithstanding that, received? O with how many notwithstandings and neverthelesses, hath the Lord done you good in every place! What Relation hath not been abused by sin; and yet both raised up and continued by Providence for your comfort? In every place God that left the marks of his goodness, and you the remembrances of your sinfulness: give your selves but leave to think of these things, and it's strange if your hearts relent not at the remembrance of them.

(6.) Or Lastly, Do but compare your dangers with your fears, and both with the strange out-lets and doors of escape Providence hath opened, and it cannot do less than over power you with a full sense of divine care and goodness.

(6.) Or Lastly, Do but compare your dangers with your fears, and both with the strange out-letts and doors of escape Providence hath opened, and it cannot do less than over power you with a full sense of divine care and goodness.

There have been dark clouds seen to rise over you, judgement even at your door, sometimes threatening your life, sometimes your liberty, sometimes your estates, and sometimes your dearest relations, in whom it may be, your life was bound up; remember in that day, what faintness of spirit seized you, what charges of guilt stirring up fears of the issue within you: You turned to the Lord in that distress, and hath he not made a way to escape, and delivered you from all your fears?