Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

First Consideration.¹

1. 1Consid.

Though Providence do not yet perform the mercies you wait for, yet you have no ground to entertain hard thoughts of God; for it's possible God never gave you any ground for your expectation of these things from him. It may be you have no Promise to bottom your hope upon; and if so, why shall God be suspected and dishonoured by you in a case wherein his truth and faithfulness was never engaged to you? If we are crossed in our outward concernments, and see our ⟨p. 229⟩expectations of prosperity dashed; if we see such or such an outward comfort removed, from which we promised our selves much; why must God be accused for this? these thing you promised yourselves: but where did God promise you prosperity, and the continuance of those comfortable things to you? produce his Promise, and show wherein he hath broken it. It is not enough for you to say, There are general Promises in the Scripture, that God will withhold no good thing, and these are good things which Providence withholds form you; for that Promise, Psal. 84. 11. hath its limitations, it is expressly limited to such as walk uprightly; and it concerns you to examine whether you have done so, before you quarrel with Providence for non-performance of it. Ah friend, search thine own heart, reflect upon thine own ways; seest thou not so many •laws in thine integrity, so many turnings aside from God, both in heart and life, that may justice God, not only in withholding what thou lookest for, but in removing all that thou enjoyest? And besides this limitation as to the Object, it's limited (as all other promises relating to externals are) in the matter or things premised by the Wisdom and Will of God, which is the only Rule by which they are measured out to men in this World, (i.e.) such mercies in such proportions as he sees needful and most conducible to your good; and these given out in such times and seasons as are of his own-appointment, not yours.