MEDITATION XXVII.

Of the Providence of God.

My foul, thou needeft not fear that he, who in wifdom has made all his works, will leave them to be carried at random, after he has made them; but difpofe of them, and fhew a particular care for them, fo that every serious obferver may fee his over-ruling good hand upon them, what the Lord did at firft, in like manner does he ftill; even whatever he pleases, in heaven and in earth. 'Tis as he will, and fecond caufes are not left loose to act as they lift, without a fubordination to the first caufe of all. No, the fupreme Mover puts and keeps all the wheels in motion, and still orders them their feveral turns, both how and when. So that the things which feem merely cafual accidents to us, are not fo to him; but certain effects and appointments according to the counsel of his own will; to whom are known all his works from the beginning. Even thofe things that appear moft likely to be left at perfect liberty, as depending upon the free-will of man, even the preparations of the heart in man, as well as the ordering of his ways, yet are of the Lord. Yea, the very mifcarriages of his creatures, though he is never acceffary to them, yet he suffers, and over-rules them. And when wicked men mean only the gaining of their own ill ends, he makes them ferve his holy defigns. And thofe things which feem fo far below the leaft glance of God's eye, yet does he no more difdain to make them the fubject of his providence, than he did to make them the work of

his hands. The birds from day to day, find fupplies without their catering; and he feeds them, though they know not who it is that provides for them. Nay, even one of the moft worthlefs fort, a fparrow fhall not lofe its life without fomewhat of God in it. And lower yet, that which is fo contemptible, to a proverb, (ne pili facio, not valued of a hair) yet the very hairs of your head are all numbered," faith our Lord, Matt. x. 29, 30. He is not unconcerned in the smallest things that concern his fervants. "Does God take care for oxen, then?" 1 Cor. ix. 9. Is not a fcruple, fuppofing those creatures to be extempt from the laws of providence, but only an intimation of God's more peculiar care for those whom thefe do ferve. As if the apoftle had faid, he that cares for oxen, which drudge for men, will fure regard the men much rather. As nothing is too big for his power, fo nothing is too little for his notice: but his concern lies from the top of the creation, quite to the bottom. He has every creature under his control, as well as in his eye. He neglects not the conduct of any; and yet he is infinitely great, even in ordering of the leaft.

Here then is a noble theme for thy contemplation, O my foul, wide as the world, and high and deep enough to employ all thy wonder. But O how small is the juftice that can be done to its tractation in this narrow room? Yet look a little further where the profpect is fo inviting; for no optics so pleasant as to fee divine Providence, operating every where, among all the creatures, in various manners. And where the great God fo condefcends to work all in all, do thou afcend to obferve him in his works, and remember him in his ways. But where thou art not able to discover his work abroad, from the beginning to the end, keep more at home, and fee what remarks thou canft make in the hiflory of myself::

not

not afcribing all to chance and fortune, to good or bad luck, when a hand from on high has been stretched out in every turn; and a gracious providence ftill has chofe all my inheritance, for me and raised me the friends and fupplies, which are owing to his fatherly care and love; and not to any of my forecast and conduct. O how often have kind events been wrought off to my hands, and things done for me, even without me; yea, and made to fucceed beft of all to my wifhes; even when brought about against my designs? How often have I had strong impreffions upon my fpirit, to go to fuch places where I fcarce knew what was my business; and yet the event taught me how well it was that I went; and fhewed me the work there provided, that I had to do. And how often have events befallen me, that looked fore againft me, and I was ready to quarrel with Heaven for being fo hard with me? yet afterwards I have not only been reconciled to thecroffes, but faw caufe to pay my devout thanks to the wife mercy of my God, for doing me so much good by the feeming evils. So have I feen, not only the fmiling face of God in my comforts, but felt the kind touch of his good hand in my very croffes. How often have I been furprised with fuccefs in my journeys; as if the Lord had fent his angel before me to prepare my way, and contrive the accidents of my ftages, to carry me on with courage and comfort? how often have I found myfelf fupported in threat-ening dangers; as if a hand out of the clouds had catched hold of me, to bear me up and pluck me out when I faw no way to efcape, and had no power to do any thing for myfelf? how often have I had a fudden impulfe to begin the work, which before I never had thoughts of, and faw but a very few fileps before me how I fhould go through with it? yet fetting upon it, I was in the progrefs, furprised with affiftances fo coming in, that I fcarce knew where to

leave off. I fee, my foul, that I am not fo much mafter of myself, as to direct my own path, or to command my own choice. And I must say, here I am now, but I know not what the Lord has yet to do with me: for I find myself as an inftrument in his hands, and more at his disposal than my own. Yea, even when the doors are all locked up with fleep and I am purely paffive; yet he comes in upon me, and warns me in a dream, and makes my reins inftruct me in the night-feasons.

Befides the way of God's calling me at first, and opening before me the paffage to a better life, as fome changes of lower circumftances that made way for a greater change; the moft pertinent books hit upon, without my feeking; the moft efficacious minifters and advantageous friends, fent to me, or I to them, beyond my own contriving or thinking : all which furnifh me with many fweet experiences of the loving kindness of the Lord; though I am not to tell every particular to the world. That which to me looks the most amazing of all, is, that the holy righteous God fhould not only bear with me fo ftrangely in all my fins, but even when I have been engaged in a way that was not good, and broke through the rebukes of confcience, to take a loofe in the course where my heart condemned me; the God of all grace has then thrown fome bar in the way to ftop me; and when I was impatient fo to be hindered, and would rush on notwithstanding; yet he has not left me off fo, nor let me alone to finifh my fin; but, with one method after another, fo followed and plucked me back; till I have been convinced and reduced, and become other wife minded; and brought again to my obedience, and my peace and comfort; fettled in a more hopeful pofture, and glad with all my heart to have the curfed thing ftruck out of my hand, which I was fo loth to part with, and rejoicing that I was fo interrupted, nor fuffered

according

according to my own ill bent, to run upon the precipice to my ruin.

Here might I proceed, in tracing the paffages of fuch particular providences: but it may be thought too much preaching of myfelf: therefore I add no more; nor fhould have gone fo far, if not to provoke others more to reflect on themselves, and take a furvey of their lives, and be fo wife to obferve fuch things, that they may understand the loving kindnefs of the Lord.

Thus, he that took me out of the womb, has held me up, and led me on, ever fince I was born. And how do I rejoice to think, that still I am in fuch gracious hands? to which I commit myfelf, and truft in the Lord that his goodnefs and mercy fhall follow me all the days of my life; and that he will be my guide, even until death, and never leave me nor forfake me, till he has brought me fafe through that dark vale, to the blessed land of everlasting life. Blefs the Lord then, O my foul, and forget not all his benefits; but treasure them up in grateful memory, to his honour, and to thy everlasting confolation. These are thy fweet and wonderful ways, dear Lord of love; fo thou bringeft many fons to glory, after thou haft firft guided them with thy counfel. So, my God, doft thou watch over thy children for good; not fuffering those who would, to be thy foes. Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but to thy name be all the glory, now and for ever.

"THE

HE fame good hands of thine, O Lord, that made me, I perceive ftill taking hold of me, "and reaching out to me, to fupport and lead me, "to guide and feed me, for it is not in me to di"rect my own path, to command my own fafety, VOL. I.

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