Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

Providence may long delay the performance of those mercies we have prayed and waited upon God for.

For the right understanding of this, know that there is a two-fold term or season fixed for the performance of mercy to us. One by the Lord our God, in whose hand times and seasons are, Acts 1. 7. Another by our selves, who raise up our own expectations of mercies sometimes merely through the eagerness of our desires after them, and sometimes upon uncertain conjectural grounds and appearances of encouragement that lye before us.

For the right understanding of this, know that there is a two-fold term or season fixed for the performance of mercy to us. One by the Lord our God, in whose hand times and seasons are, Acts 1. 7. Another by our selves, who raise up our own expectations of mercies sometimes meerly through the eagerness of our desires after them, and sometimes upon uncertain conjectural grounds and appearances of encouragement that lye before us.

Now nothing can be more precise, certain and punctual, than is the performance of mercy at the time and season which God hath appointed, how long soever it be, or how many obstacles ⟨p. 225⟩soever lye in the way of it. There was a time prefixed by God himself for the performance of that Promise of Israel's deliverance out of Egypt; and it's said,