A Body of Practical Divinity

Use 1. By way of Exhortation, in these particulars, 1st, Admire God's Providence: The Providence of God keeps the whole Creation upon the Wheels, or else it would soon be dissolved, and the very Axle-tree would break in pieces: If God's Providence should be withdrawn but for a while, Creatures would be dissolved, and run into their first Nothing. Without this wise Providence of God there would be an Anxiety and Confusion in the whole World; just like an Army when it is routed and scattered. The Providence of God infuses Comfort and Virtue into every thing we enjoy; our Clothes would not warm us, our Food would not nourish us without the special Providence of God. And doth not all this deserve your Admiration of Providence?

Use 1. By way of Exhortation, in these particulars, 1st, Admire God's Providence: The Providence of God keeps the whole Creation upon the Whee•s, or else it would soon be dissolved, and the very Axle-tree would break in pieces: If God's Providence should be withdrawn but for a while, Creatures would be dissolved, and run into their first Nothing. Without this wise Providence of God there would be an Anxiety and Confusion in the whole World; just like an Army when it is routed and scatter'd. The Providence of God infuses Comfort and Virtue into every thing we enjoy; our Cloaths would not warm us, our Food would not nourish us without the special Providence of God. And doth not all this deserve your Admiration of Providence?

2. Learn quietly to submit to Divine Providence; do not murmur at things that are ordered by Divine Wisdom. We may no more find fault with the Works of Providence, then we may with the Works of Creation: It is a Sin as well to quarrel with God's Providence, as to deny God's Providence. If Men do not act as we would have them, they shall act as God would have them. His Providence it is his Master-wheel that turns these lesser Wheels, and God will bring his Glory out of all at last: Psal. 39.9. I was dumb and opened not my mouth, because thou, Lord, didst it. It may be we think sometimes we could order things better if we had the Government of the World in our hands; but, alas! should we be left to our own Choice, we should choose those things that are hurtful for us. David did earnestly desire the Life of his Child which was the Fruit of his Sin; now had the Child lived it had been a perpetual Monument of his Shame. Let us be content God should Rule the World; learn to acquiesce in his Will, and submit to his Providence: Doth any Affliction befall you, remember God sees it is that which is fit for you, or it should not come; your Clothes cannot be so fit for you as your Crosses. God's Providence may sometimes be secret, but it is always wise: Tho' we may not be silent under God's Dishonour, yet we should learn to be silent under his Displeasure.