The Third Case: Providence and Unanswered Prayer
HOw may a Christian discern when a Providence is sanctified, and comes from the love of God to him?
There are two sorts or kinds of Providences versant about men in this world, the issues and events of which are vastly different, yea, contrary to each other.
To some all Providences are over-ruled and ordered for good, according to that blessed Promise, Romans 8:28 not only things that are good in themselves, as Ordinances, Graces, Duties and Mercies; but things that are evil in themselves, as Temptations, Afflictions, and even their Sins and Corruptions shall turn in the issue to their advantage and benefit. [] though sin be so intrinsecally and formally evil in its own nature, that in it self it be not capable of sanctification; yet out of this worst of evils God can work good to his people; and though he never make sin the Instrument of good; yet his Providence may make it the occasion of good to his people; so that spiritual benefits may by the wise over-ruling of Providence be occasioned to the people of God by it.
And so for afflictions of all kinds, the greatest and sorest of them; they do work in the influence of Providence a great deal of good to the saints, and that not only as the occasions, but as the Instruments and means of it, Isaiah 27:9 by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, (i. e.) by the instrumentality of this sanctified affliction.
To others nothing is sanctified either as an Instrument or occasion of any spiritual good; but as the worst things are ordered to the benefit of the saints, so the best things wicked men enjoy do them no good. Their prayers are turned into sin, Psalm 109:7 The Ordinances are the savour of Death, 2 Corinthians 2:16 The grace of God turned into wantonness, Jude v. 4. Christ himself a rock of Offence, 1 Pe. 2:8 Their Table a snare, Psalm 69:22 Their Prosperity their ruine, Proverbs 1:32 As persons are, so things work for good or evil. Tit. 1:15 To the pure all things are pure, but to them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure.
Seeing therefore the Events of Providence fall out so opposite to each other upon the Godly, and Ungodly; every thing farthering the eternal good of the one, and the ruine of the other; it cannot but be acknowledged a most important case in which every soul is deeply concern'd, whether the Providences under which he is, be sanctified to him or no?
For the clearing of which I shall premise two necessary Considerations, and then subjoyn the Rules which will be useful for the determination of the question.
And first, Let it be considered, that we cannot know from the matter of the things before us, whether they be sanctified or unsanctified to us; for so consider'd, all things come alike to all; and no man knows either love or hatred by all the things that are before him. Ecclesiastes 9. 1, 2. We cannot understand. the mind and heart of God, by the things he dispenseth with his hand. If prosperous Providences befall us, we cannot say, Herein is a sure sign that God loves me; for who have more of those Providences than the people of his wrath? Psalm 73:7 They have more than their hearts can wish. Sure that must be a weak Evidence for Heaven, which accompanies so great a part of the world to Hell. By these things we may testifie our love to God; but from ten thousand such enjoyments we cannot get any solid assurance of his love to us.
And from adverse afflictive Providences we cannot know his hatred. If afflictions, great afflictions, many afflictions, long continued afflictions should set a brand, or fix a Character of Gods hatred upon the persons on whom they all; where then shall we find Gods people in the world? We must then seek out the proud vain sensual wantons of the world, who spend their days in pleasure, and say these are the men whom God loves.
Outward things are promiscuously dispensed, and no man's spiritual estate is discernable by the view of his temporal. When God draws the Sword, it may cut off the righteous as well as the wicked, Ezekiel 21:3
Though the Providences of God materially considered afford no evidence of Gods love to us, yet the manner in which they befall us, and the effects and fruits they produce in us, do distinguish them very manifestly; and by them we may discern whether they be sanctified Providences, and fruits of the love of God, or no. But yet these effects and fruits of Providences by which we discern their nature, do not always presently appear; but time must be allowed for the souls exercise under them. As it is Hebrews 12:11 Now no affliction for the present seemeth joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of Righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
The benefit of a Providence is discern'd as that of a medicine is, for the present it gripes, and makes the stomach sick and loathing; but afterwards we find the benefit of it in our recovery of health and chearfulness. Now the Providences of God being some of them comfortable, and others sad and grievous to nature, and the way to discern the sanctification and blessing of them, being by the manner in which they come and their operations upon our spirits; I shall consider the case as it respects both sorts of Providences, and shew you what effects of our troubles or comforts will speak them to be sanctified and blessed to us.
And first for sad and afflictive Providences in what kind or degree soever they befall us, we may warrantably conclude, they are blessings to us, and come from the love of God, when
They come in a proper season, when we have need of them, either to prevent some sin we are falling into, or recover us out of a remiss, upine, and careless frame of spirit into which we are already fallen, 1 Peter 1:6 if need be, ye are in heaviness. Certainly, it is a good sign that God designs your good by those troubles which are so fitted and wisely order'd to nik the opportunity. If you see the Husbandman lopping a tree in the proper Season, it argues he aims at the fruitfulness and flourishing of it; but to do the same thing at Midsummer speaks no regard to it, yea, his design to destroy it.
When they are fitted both for quality and degree to work properly upon our most predominant corruptions, then they look like sanctified strokes. The wisdom of God is much seen in the choice of his rods. It is not any kind of trouble that will work upon and purge every sin; but when God chuses for us such afflictions as like Physick are appropriated to the disease the soul labors under; this speaks divine care and love. Thus we may observe, it's usual with God to smite us in those very comforts which stole away too much of the love and delight of our souls from God: to cross us in those things from which we raised up too great expectatios of comfort. These Providences speak the jealousie of God over us, and his care to prevent far worse evils by these sad but needful strokes. And so for the degrees of our troubles, sanctified strokes are ordinarily fitted by the wisdome of God to the strength and ability of our inherent grace, Isaiah 17:8 in measure when it shooteth forth you wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind. It is an Allusion to a Physician who exactly weighs and measures all the ingredients which he mingles in a potion for his sick patient; that it may be proportionate to his strength and no more: and so much the next words intimate, by this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged.
It is a good sign our troubles are sanctiied to us, when they turn our hearts against sin, and not against God. There be few great afflictions which befall men, but they make them quarrelsome and discontented. Wicked men quarrel with God, and are filled with discontent against him. So the Scripture describes them, Revelation 16:9 They were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which has power over these plagues. But Godly men to whom afflictions are sanctified, they justifie God, and fall out with sin, they condemn themselves and give glory to God, Daniel 9:7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto you, but unto us confusion of faces, &c. And Lam. 3:39 Wherefore does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Happy afflictions which make the soul fall out and quarrel only with sin.
It is a sure sign afflicting Providences are sanctified when they purge the heart from sin, and leave both heart and life more pure, heavenly, mortified, and humble than they found them. Sanctified afflictions are cleansers, they pull down the pride, refine the earthliness, and purge out the vanity of the Spirit. So you read, Daniel 11:35 it purifies and makes their souls white: Hence it's compar'd to a furnace which separates the dross from the pure metal, Isaiah 48:10 Behold I have refined you, but not with Silver: I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction. But for wicked men, let them be never so long in the Furnace, they lose no dross, Ezekiel 24:6 How many Christians can bear witness to this truth! After some sharp affliction has been upon them, how is the earthliness of their hearts purged! they see no beauty, taste no more relish in the world than in the white of an Egg. Oh how serious, humble, and heavenly are they, till the impressions made upon them by afflictions be worn off, and their deceitful lusts have again entangled them! And this is the reason. why we are so often under the discipline of the rod. Let a Christian (says a late writer) be but two or three years without an affliction, and he is almost good for nothing: he cannot pray, nor meditate, nor discourse at that rate he was wont to do: but when a new affliction comes, now he can find his tongue, and come to his knees again, and live at another rate.
It is a good sign afflictive Providences are sanctified to us, when we draw near to God under them and turn to him that smites us. A wicked man under affliction revolts more and more, Isaiah 1:5 turns not to him that smites him, Isaiah 9:13 but grows worse than before; formality is turned into stupidity and dedolency.
But if God afflict his own people with a sanctified rod, it awakens them to a more earnest seeking of God: it makes them pray more frequently, spiritually and fervently than ever. When Paul was buffeted by Satan, he besought the Lord thrice, 2 Corinthians 12:8
We may conclude our afflictions to be santified, and to come from the love of God to us, when they do not alienate our hearts from God, but inflame our love to him. This is a sure rule, Whatever ends in the increase of our love to God, proceeds from the love of God to us. A wicked man finds his heart rising against God when he smites him; but a gracious heart cleaves the closer to him: he can love, as well as justifie an afflicting God. All this is come upon us: yet have we not forgotten you, neither have we dealt falsly in your Covenant. our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from your way: though you hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons, and covered us with the shadow of Death, Psalm 44. 17, 18, 19. Here you have a true account of the temper and frame of a gracious soul under greatest afflictions. To be broken in the place of Dragons and covered with the shadow of death imports the most dismal state of affliction: yet even then a gracious heart turns not back (i. e.) does not for all this abate one drachm of love to God: God is as good and dear to him in afflictions as ever.
Lastly, We may call our afflictions sanctified when divine teachings accompany them to our souls, Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom you chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of your law. Sanctified afflictions are eye-salve, they teach us sensibly and effectually when the Spirit accompanies them; the evil of sin, the vanity of the creature, the necessity of securing things that cannot be shaken. Never does a Christian take a truer measure both of his corruptions and graces, than under the rod. Now a man sees that ilthiness that has been long contracting in prosperity, what interest the Creature has in the heart, how little faith, patience, resignation, and self-denyal we can find, when God calls us to the exercise of them. O 'tis a blessed sign, that trouble is sanctified, that makes a man thus turn in upon his own heart, search it, and humble himself before the Lord for the evils of it!
IN the next place let us take into consideration the other branch of Providences which are comfortable and pleasant. Sometimes it smiles upon us in successes, prosperity, and the gratification of the desires of our hearts. Here the Question will be how the sanctification o these Providences may be discovered to us? For resolution in this matter, I shall for clearness sake lay down two sorts of Rules; one Negative, the other positive.
First Negative.
It is a sign, that comfort is not sanctified to us, which comes not (ordinarily) in the way of prayer. The wicked boasteth of hi hearts desire, and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth. The wicked through the pride of his countenance will [] sk after God; God is not in all his thoughts, Psalm 10. 3, 4. Here you see Providence may give men their hearts desire, and yet they never once open their desires to God in prayer about it. But then those gifts of Providence are only such as are bestowed on the worst of men, and are not the fruits of love.
Whatever success, prosperity or comfort men acquire by sinful mediums, and indirect courses, are not sanctified mercies to them. This is not the method in which those mercies are bestowed. Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenews without right, Proverbs 16:8 better upon this account, that it comes in Gods way, and with his blessing, which never follows the way of sin. God has cursed the ways of sin, and no blessing can follow them.
Whatever prosperity and success makes men forget God, and cast off the care of duty, is not sanctified to them. It is unsanctified prosperity which lulls men asleep into a deep oblivion of God, Deuteronomy 32. 13, 14, 15, 18. He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oyl out of the flinty rock, butter of Kine, and milk of Sheep, with fat of Lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and Goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat, and you didst drink the pure blood of the grape; but Iesurun waxed fat and kicked; you art waxed fat, you art grown thick, you art covered with fatness: then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. Of the Rock that begat you you art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed you. Rarè fumant foelicibus arae.
When prosperity is abused to sensuality, and meerly serves as fuell to maintains fleshly lusts, it is not sanctified. See Job 21. 11, 12, 13. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their Children dance. They take the Timbrell and Harp, and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
It's a sign that prosperity is not sanctified tomen, when it swells the heart with pride and self-conceitedness, Daniel 4. 29, 30. At the end of twelve moneths he walked in the Palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The King spake and said, Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honor of my Majesty?
That success is not sanctified to men, which takes them off from their duty, and makes them wholly negligent, or very much indisposed to it, Jeremiah 2:31 O generation, see the Word of the Lord; have I been a Wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? Wherefore say my people, We are Lords, we will come no more unto you?
Nor can we think that prosperity sanctified,which wholly swallows up the souls of men in their own enjoyments, and makes them regardless of public miseries or sins, Amos 6. 4, 5, 6. They lye upon beds of Ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall. They chant to the sound of the Viol, and invent to themselves Instruments of musick like David. They drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments; but they are not grieved for the afflictions of Ioseph.
But then Positively.
Those mercies and comforts are undoubtedly sanctified to men, which humble their souls kindly before God in the sense of their own vileness and unworthiness of them, Genesis 32:10 And Jacob said, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, &c.
Sanctified mercies are commonly turned into Cautions against sin, Ezra 9:13 they are so many bands of restraint upon the soul that has them, to make them shun sin.
They will engage a mans heart in love to the God of his mercies, Psalm 18:1 compared with the Title.
They never satisfy a man as his Portion, nor will the soul accept all the prosperity in the world upon that score, Hebrews 11:26 Esteeming the reproach, of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Nor do they make men regardless of Publick sins or miseries, Nehem. 2. 1, 2, 3. compared with Acts 7:23
It's a sure sign that mercies are sanctified, when they make the soul more expedite and enlarged for God in duty, 2 Chron. 17. 5, 6. Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand, and all Iudah brought to Iehoshaphat presents, and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart was lift up in the ways of the Lord, &c.
To conclude, That which is obtained by prayer, and returned to God again in due praise carries its own testimonials with it, that it came from the love of God, and is a sanctified mercy to the soul.
And so much of this Third Case.
