Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

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,¹ it's usual with God to smite us in those very comforts which stole away too much of the love and delight of our souls from God: to cross us in those things from which we raised up too great expectations of comfort. These Providences speak the jealousy of God over us, and his care to prevent far worse evils by these sad but needful strokes. And so for the degrees of our troubles, sanctified ⟨p. 240⟩strokes are ordinarily fitted by the wisdom of God to the strength and ability of our inherent grace, Isa. 17. 8. in measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind. It is an Allusion to a Physician who exactly weighs and measures all the ingredients which he mingles in a potion for his sick patient; that it may be proportionate to his strength and no more: and so much the next words intimate, by this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged.

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 chuses for us such afflictions as like Physick are appropriated to the disease the soul labours under; this speaks divine care and love. Thus we may observe,¹ it's usual with God to smite us in those very comforts which stole away too much of the love and delight of our souls from God: to cross us in those things from which we raised up too great expectatios of comfort. These Providences speak the jealousie of God over us, and his care to prevent far worse evils by these sad but needful strokes. And so for the degrees of our troubles, sanctified