The Fourth Case: Providence and Spiritual Desertion
HOw may we attain unto an evenness and steddiness of spirit under the Changes, and contrary Aspects of Providence upon us?
Three things are supposed in this Case.
That Providence has various and contrary Aspects upon the people of God. That it is a common thing with them, to experience great disorders of spirit under those Changes of Providence. That these disorders may be (at least in a great measure) prevented, by the due use and application of those rules and helps that God has given us in such Cases.
That Providence has various, yea, contrary Aspects upon the people of God, is a case so plain, that it needs no more than the mentioning, to let it in to all our Understandings. Which of all the people of God have not felt this truth? Providence rings the changes all the world over. He encreaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he enlarges the nations, and straitneth them again, Job 12:23 The same it does with persons, Psalm 102:10 Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. See what a sad Alteration Providence made upon the Church, Lam. 1. 1, 12. How does the City sit solitary that was full of people! How is she become as a Widow! She that was great among the nations, and Princess among the Provinces, how is she become tributary! Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. And how great an Instance was Joh of this truth, Job 29. per tot. and 30. compared? How many thousands have complained with Naomi, whose condition has been so strangely altered, that others have said as the people of Bethlehem did of her, Is this Naomi? Ruth 1. 19, 20, 21.
These Vicissitudes of Providence commonly cause great disorders of spirit in the best men. Look as intense heat and cold try the strength and soundness of the constitution of our bodies, so the alterations made by Providence upon our conditions, try the strength of our graces; and too often discover the weakness and corruption of holy men. Hezekiah was a good man; but yet his weakness and corruption was bewrayed by the alterations Providence made upon his conditions. When sickness and pains summoned him to the grave, what bitter complaints and despondencies are recorded? in Isaiah 38. per tot. and when Providence lifted him up again into a prosperous condition, what ostentation and vain glory did he discover? Isaiah 39:2 David had more than a common stock of inherent grace, yet not enough to keep him in an equal temper of spirit under great alterations, Psalm 30. 6, 7. In my prosperity I said I shall never be moved; you hidest your face and I was troubled. It is not every man can say with Paul, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound every where, and in all things I am instructed both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need, Philippians 4:12 He is truly rich in grace, whose riches or poverty neither hinders the acting, nor impoverisheth the stock of his graces.
Though the best men be subject to such disorders of heart under the changes of Providence; yet these disorders may in a great measure be prevented by the due application of such Rules and helps, as God has given us in such cases.
Now, these helps are suited to a threefold Aspect of Providence upon us: namely,
1. Comfortable, 2. Calamitous, 3. Doubtful.
To all which I shall speak particularly and briefly.
Quest. 1.
HOw may we attain to an Evenness and Steddiness of heart under the comfortable Aspects of Providence upon us?
Under Providences of this kind, the great danger is, lest the heart be lifted up with pride and vanity, and fall into a drowsie and remiss temper. To prevent this, we had need urge humbling and awakening Considerations upon our own hearts; such are these that follow.
First Consideration.
These gifts of Providence are common to the worst of men, and are no special distinguishing fruits of Gods love. The vilest of men have been filled even to satiety with these things, Psalm 73:7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Second Consideration.
Think how unstable and changeable all these things are. What you glory in to day, may be none of yours to morrow, Proverbs 23:5 Riches make themselves wings, and flee away as an Eagle towards Heaven. As the Wings of a Fowl grow out of the substance of its body, so the cause of the Creatures transitoriness is in it self: It's subjected to vanity, and that vanity, like Wings, carries it away: they are but fading flowers, James, 1:10
Third Consideration.
The Change of Providences is never nearer to the people of God, than when their hearts are lifted up, or grown secure by prosperity. Doth Hezekiah glory in his Treasures? The next news he hears, is of an impoverishing Providence at hand, Isaiah 39. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Others may be left to perish in unsanctified Prosperity, but you shall not.
Fourth Consideration.
This is a great discovery of the Carnality and corruption that is in your heart: it argues an heart little set upon God, little mortified to the world, little acquainted with the vanity and ensnaring nature of these things. O you know not what hearts you have, till such Providences try them. And is not such a discovery matter of deep humiliation?
Fifth Consideration.
Was it not better with you in a low condition, than it is now? Reflect, and compare state with state, and time with time. How is the frame of your hearts altered with the alteration of your condition? So God complains of Israel, Hosea 13. 5, 6. I did know you in the Wilderness, the land of drought; according to their pasture, so were they filled: they were filled, and their heart was exalted, therefore have they forgotten me says the Lord: q. d. You and I were better acquainted formerly when you were in a low condition; Prosperity has estranged you, and altered the case. How sad is it, that Gods mercies should be the occasion of our estrangement from him?
Quest. 2.
UPon the other side, it's worth considering how our hearts may be establisht and kept steddy under Caamitous and adverse Providences.
Here we are in equal danger of the other Extream, namely, despondency and sinking under the frowns and strokes of cross Providences. Now to support and establish the heart in this case, take three helps.
First Consideration.
First, Consider, That afflictive Providences are of great use to the people of God, they cannot live without them. The Earth does not more need chastening frosts, and mellowing snows, than our hearts do nipping Providences. Let the best Christian be but a few years without them, and he will be sensible of the need of them; he will find a sad remission and declining upon all his graces.
Second Consideration.
No stroke of Calamity upon the people of God, can separate them from Christ, Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall Tribulation? There was a time when Job could call nothing in this world but trouble his own: he could not say, my Estate, my Honour, my Health, my Children; for all these were gone; yet then he could say, my Redeemer, Job 19:25 Well then, there is no cause to sink whilst Interest in Christ remains sure to us.
Third Consideration.
All your calamities will have an end shortly. The longest day of the saints troubles has an end; and then, no more troubles for ever. The troubles of the wicked will be to Eternity; but you shall suffer but a while, 1 Peter 5:10 If a thousand troubles be appointed for you, they will come to one at last, and after that no more: Yea, and though our troubles be but for a moment, yet they work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Let that support your hearts under all your sufferings.
Quest. 3.
LAstly, Let us consider, what may be useful to support and quiet our hearts under doubtful Providences, when our dear concernments hang in a doubtful suspence before us, and we know not which way the Providence of God will cast and determine them.
Now the best hearts are apt to grow solicitous and pensive, distracted with thoughtfulness about the event and issue. To relieve and settle us in this case, the following Considerations are very useful. [][]
First Consideration.
First, Let us consider the vanity and inutility of such a solicitude, Matth. 6:27 Which of you (says our Lord) by taking thought can add one Cubit? We may break our peace, and waste our Spirits, but not alter the Case. We cannot turn God out of his way, Job 23:13 He is in one mind. We may by strugling against God increase, but not avoid or lighten our troubles.
Second Consideration.
How often do we afflict and torment our selves by our own unquiet thoughts, when there is no real cause or ground for so doing? Isaiah 51:13—And hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy, and where is the fury of the oppressor? O what abundance of disquiet and trouble might we prevent, by waiting quietly till we see the issues of Providence, and not bringing as we do the evils of the morrow upon the day?
Third Consideration.
How great a ground of quietness is it that the whole dispose and management of all our affairs and concerns is in the hand of our own God and Father? No Creature can touch us without his commission or permission. I know (says Christ) you couldst have no power against me, except it were given you from above, John 19:11 Neither Men nor Devils can act any thing without Gods leave; and be sure he will sign no order to your prejudice.
Fourth Consideration.
How great satisfaction must it be to all that believe the Divine Authority of the Scripture, that the faithulness of God stands engaged for every line and syllable found therein? And how many blessed lines in the Bible may we mark, that respect even our outward concerns, and the happy issue of them all? Upon these two grounds, namely, that our outward concerns with their steddy direction to a blessed end is ound in the Word; and this Word being of Divine Authority, the faithfulness and honor of God stands good for every Title that is found there. I say these are grounds of such stability, that our minds may repose with greatest security and confidence upon them even in the cloudiest day of trouble. Not only your eternal salvation, but your temporal Interests are there secured. Be quieted therefore in the confidence of a blessed issue.
Fifth Consideration.
How great and sure an expedient have the saints ever found it to their own peace, to commit all doubtful issues of Providence to the Lord, and devolve all their cares upon him, Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works unto the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established. By Works he means any doubtful, intricate, perplexing business. about which our thoughts are rackt and tortur'd. Roll all these upon the Lord by faith, leave them with him, and the present immediate benefit you shall have by it (besides the comfort in the last issue) shall be tranquillity and peace in your thoughts. And who is there of any standing or Experience in Religion that has not found it so?
