Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

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, Exod. 12. 41. At the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self same day it came to pass, that all the host of the Lord went out of the Land of Egypt. Compare this with Acts 7. 17. and there you have the ground and reason why their deliverance was not, nor could be delayed one day longer, because the time of the Promise was now come. Promises like a pregnant woman must accomplish their appointed months, and when they have so done, Providence will Midwife the mercies they go big withal into the world, and not one of them shall miscarry.

But for the seasons which are of our own •ixing and appointment, as God is not tied to them, so his Providences are not governed by them: and hence are our disappointments. We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of health, and behold trouble, Jer. 8. 15. And hereupon is it that we fret at the delays of Providence, and suspect the faithfulness of God in their performance. But his thoughts are not our thoughts, Isa. 55. 8. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as men count slackness, 2 Pet. 3. 9. It is slackness if you reckon by our own rule and measure, but it is not so, if you reckon and count it by God's. The Lord doth not compute and reckon his seasons of working by our Arithmetic, You have both these Rules compared, and the ground of our mistake detected in that Scripture,