A39659:755
Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence
Divine conduct, or, The mystery of Providence wherein the being and efficacy of Providence is asserted and vindicated : the methods of Providence as it passes through the several stages of our lives opened : and the proper course of improving all Providences / directed in a treatise upon Psalm 57 ver 2 by John Flavell ...Divine conduct, or, The mysterie of Providence wherein the being and efficacy of Providence is asserted and vindicated : the methods of Providence as it passes through the several stages of our lives opened : and the proper course of improving all Providences / directed in a treatise upon Psalm 57 ver 2 by John Flavell ...
London: printed by R.W. for Francis Tyton, 1678
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
They come in a proper season, when we have §1need of them, either to prevent some sin we are falling into, or recover us out of a remiss, •upine, and careless frame of spirit into which we are already fallen, 1 Pet. 1. 6. if need be, ye are in heaviness. Certainly, it is a good sign that God designs your good by those troubles which are so fitted and wisely ordered to nick the opportunity. If you see the Husbandman lopping a tree in the proper Season, it argues he aims at the fruitfulness and flourishing of it; but to do the same thing at Midsummer speaks no regard to it, yea, his design to destroy it.
They come in a proper season, when we have §1need of them, either to prevent some sin we are falling into, or recover us out of a remiss, •upine, and careless frame of spirit into which we are already fallen, 1 Pet. 1. 6. if need be, ye are in heaviness. Certainly, it is a good sign that God designs your good by those troubles which are so fitted and wisely order'd to ni•k the opportunity. If you see the Husbandman lopping a tree in the proper Season, it argues he aims at the fruitfulness and flourishing of it; but to do the same thing at Midsummer speaks no regard to it, yea, his design to destroy it.
When they are fitted both for quality and degree §2to work properly upon our most predominant corruptions, then they look like sanctified strokes. The Wisdom of God is much seen in the choice of his rods. It is not any kind of trouble that will work upon and purge every sin; but when God chooses for us such afflictions as like Physic are appropriated to the disease the soul labours under; this speaks divine care and love. Thus we may observe,