Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

That it supposeth the people of God to have §1a foresight of troubles and distresses approaching and drawing near to them: I confess 'tis not always so, for many of our afflictions, as well as comforts, come by way of surprisals upon us: but oft times we have forewarnings of trouble• both public and personal, before we feel them: as the weather may be discerned by the •ace of the Sky, when we see a morning Sky red and ⟨p. 258⟩louring, this is a natural sign of a foul and rainy day, Matth. 16. 3. and there are as certain signs of the times, whereby we may discern when trouble is near, even at the door: And these forewarnings are given by the Lord to awaken us to our duties, by which they may either be prevented, Zeph. 2. 1, 2. or sanctified and sweetened to us when they come. These signs and notices of approaching troubles are gathered partly from the observation and collation of parallel Scripture cases and examples, God generally holding one tenor and steady course in the administrations of his Providences in all ages, 1 Cor. 10. 6. partly from the Reflections Christians make upon the frames and tempers of their own hearts, which greatly need awakening, humbling and purging Providences. For let a Christian be but a few years or months without a rod, and how formal, earthly, dead and vain, will his heart grow? And such a temper presages affliction to them that are beloved of the Lord, as really as the giving or sweating of the stones doth rain. Lastly, The ordering and disposing of the next causes into a posture and preparation for our trouble, plainly premonisheth us that trouble is at the door. Thus when the symptoms of sickness begin to appear upon our own bodies, the wi•e of our bosom, or our children that are as our own souls, Providence herein awakens our expectations of death and doleful separations: so when enemies combine together and plot the ruin of our liberties, estates, or lives, and God seemeth to loose the bridle of restraint upon their necks, now we cannot but be alarmed with the near approach of troubles, especially when at the same