A79420:208
A discourse of divine providence I. In general
A discourse of divine providence I. In general: that there is a providence exercised by God in the world. II. In particular: how all Gods providences in the world, are in order to the good of his people. By the late learned divine Stephen Charnock, B.D. sometime fellow of New-College in Oxon.A discourse of divine providence I. In general: that there is a providence exercised by God in the world. II. In particular: how all Gods providences in the world, are in order to the good of his people. By the late learned divine Stephen Charnock, B.D. sometime fellow of New-Colledg in Oxon.
London: printed by R. Roberts for Thomas Cockerill, 1684
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. In omissions of prayer. One reason to prove the fools denying God's government of the world, is, that they call not upon the Lord. Psal. 14.1, 4. The Lord looked down from heaven to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. 'Tis certainly either a denying of God's sufficiency to help us, when we rather beg of every creature, than ask of God; or a charging him with a want of providence, as though he had thrown off all care of ⟨p. 127⟩worldly matters. 2 King 1.3. Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that you go to enquire of Beelzebub the god of Ekron? Seeking to any thing else with a neglect of God, is a denying the care of God over his creature. Do we not in this case make our selves our own governors and Lords, as though we could subsist without him, or manage our own affairs without his assistance? If we did really believe there was a watchful providence, and an infinite powerful goodness to help us, he would hear from us oftener then he doth. Certainly those who never call upon him, disown his government of the world, and do not care whether he regards the Earth or no. They think they can do what they please, without any care of God over them. The restraining prayer is a casting off the fear of God. Job 15.4. Thou casteth off fear, why? and restrainest prayer before God. The neglect of prayer ariseth from a conceit of the uprofitableness of it. Job 21.15. What profit should we have if we pray unto him? Which conceit must be grounded upon a secret notion of God's carelessness of the world; such fruit ⟨p. 128⟩could not arise, but from that bitter root. But the Prophet Malachi plainly expresses it, Mal. 3.14. Ye have said, it is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances? Whence did this arise, but from a denial of providence, upon the observation of the outward happiness of the wicked? ver. 15. And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness, are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Sometimes it riseth from an apprehension that God in the way of his providence dealeth unjustly with us. A good Prophet utters such a sinful speech in his passion,