Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

How is it (if the Saints Concerns are not ordered by a special divine Providence) that natural causes unite and associate themselves for their relief and benefit in so strange a manner as they are found to do? It is undeniably evident, that there are marvellous coincidences of Providence, confederating and agreeing as it were, to meet and unite themselves to bring about the good of Gods Chosen. There is ⟨p. 19⟩a like face of things showing it self in divers places at that time, when any work for the good of the Church is come upon the stage of the world. As when the Messiah the capital mercy came to the Temple, then Simeon and Anna were brought thither by Providence, as witnesses to it. So in Reformation work, when the Images were pulled down in Holland, one and the same spirit of zeal possessed them in every City and Town, that the work was done in a night. He that heedfully reads the History of Joseph's advancement to be the Lord of Egypt, may number in that story twelve remarkable acts or steps of Providence, by which he ascended to that honour and authority: if but one of them had failed, in all likelihood the Event had done so too: but every one sell in its order, exactly keeping its own time and place. So in the Churches deliverance •rom the plot of Haman, we find no less than seven acts of Providence concurring strangely to produce it, as if they had all met by appointment and consent, to break that snare for them: one thing so aptly suiting with, and making way for another, that every heedful observer must needs conclude, this cannot be the effect of casualty, but wise counsel. Even as in viewing the accurate structure of the body of a man, the •igure, position, and mutual respects of the several members and vessels hath convinced some, (and is sufficient to convince all) that it was the effect of divine Wisdom and power: in like manner, if the admirable adaptation of the means and instruments employed for mercy to the people of God be heedfully considered,