Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

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, Hab. 2. 3. The Vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lye: though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

But for the seasons which are of our own •ixing and appointment, as God is not tyed 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 Arithmetick, You have both these Rules compared, and the ground of our mistake detected in that Scripture,