A Body of Practical Divinity

4. Divine Providence is irresistible, there is no standing in the way of God's Providence to hinder it: When God's time was come for Joseph's Release, the Prison could hold him no longer, The king sent and loosed him, Psal. 105.20. When God would indulge the Jews with Liberty in their Religion, Cyrus, by a Providence, puts forth a Proclamation to encourage the Jews to go and build their Temple at Jerusalem, and worship God, Ezra 1.2, 3. If God will shield and protect Jeremiah's Person in Captivity: the very King of Babylon shall nurse up the Prophet, and give charge concerning him that he want nothing, Jer. 39.11, 12.

4. Divine Providence is irresistible, there is no standing in the way of God's Providence to hinder it: When God's time was come for Ioseph's Release, the Prison could hold him no longer, The king sent and loosed him, Psal. 105.20. When God would indulge the Iews with Liberty in their Religion, Cyrus, by a Providence, puts forth a Proclamation to encourage the Iews to go and build their Temple at Ierusalem, and worship God, Ezra 1.2, 3. If God will shield and protect Ieremiah's Person in Captivity: the very King of Babylon shall nurse up the Prophet, and give charge concerning him that he want nothing, Ier. 39.11, 12.

5. God is to be trusted when his Providences seem to run contrary to his Promises. God promised David to give him the Crown, to make him King, but Providence runs contrary to his Promise: David was pursued by Saul, was in danger of his Life, but all this while it was David's Duty to trust God. Pray observe, the Lord doth oftentimes by cross Providences bring to pass his Promises. God promised Paul the Lives of all that were with him in the Ship; but now the Providence of God seems to run quite contrary to his Promise, the Winds blew, the Ship splits and breaks in pieces, and thus God fulfilled his Promise upon the broken pieces of the Ship, they all come safe to shore. Trust God when Providences seem to run quite contrary to Promises.