Chapter 29: Things in the Deep Are Unseen — No Eye Can Trace God's Hidden Paths

Things in the bottom are unseen: No eye Can trace God's Paths, which in the Deeps do lie.

OBSERVATION.

THE Ocean is so deep, that no Eye can discover what lies in the bottom thereof. We use to say proverbially of a thing that is irrecoverably lost, It is as good it were cast into the Sea. What lies there, lies obscure from all eyes, but the Eye of God.

APPLICATION.

Thus are the Judgments of God, and the Ways of his Providence, profound and unsearchable, Psalm 36:16. The Righteous is like the great Mountains, and your Iudgments are a great Deep: (i. e.) his Providences are secret, obscure, and unfathomable; but even then, and in those Providences, his Righteousness stands up like the great Mountains, visible and apparent to every eye. Though the Saints cannot see the one, yet they can clearly discern the other, Ier. 12. 1. Ieremiah was at a stand; so was Job in the like case, Job 12. 7. So was Asaph, Psalm 73.▪ and Habbakkuk, Chap. 1. 3. These Wheels of Providence are dreadful for their height, Ezekiel 1:18. There be deep Mysteries of Providence, as well as of Faith. It may be said of some of them, as of Paul's Epistles, That they are hard to be understood. Darkness and Clouds are round about the Throne of God: No man can say what will be the particular issue and event of some of his dispensations. Luther seemed to hear God say to him, when he was importunate to know his mind in some particular Providence, Deus sum non sequax: I am a God not to be traced. Some Providences, like Hebrew Letters, must be read backward, Psalm 92:7. Some Providences pose Men of the greatest parts and graces. His way is in the Sea, his paths in the great Vvaters, and his foot-steps are not known, Psalm 77:19. Who can trace Foot-steps in the bottom of the Sea? The Angels, Ezek. 1. Have their hands under their wings. The hand is either, Symbolum roboris, The Symbol of strength; or Instrumentum Operationis, The Instrument of Action: Where these hands are put forth, they work effectually, indeed, but very secretly, they are hid under their wings. There be some of God's Works that are such Secrets, as that they may not be enquired into; they are to be believed and adored, but not pryed into, Romans 11:33. Others that may be enquired after, but yet are so profound, that few can understand them, Psalm 111:2. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all those that have pleasure therein. When we come to Heaven, then all those mysteries, as well in the Works, as in the Word of God, will lie open to our view.

REFLECTION.

O then, why is my heart disquieted, because it cannot sometimes discern the way of the Lord, and see the connection and dependence on his providential dispensations? Why are you so perplexed, O my Soul, at the Confusions and Disorders that are in the world! I know that Goodness and Wisdom sits at the Stern: And though the Vessel of the Church be tossed and distressed in Storms of Trouble, yet it shall not perish. Is it not enough for me, that God has condescended so far for my satisfaction, as to show me plainly the ultimate and general issue of all these mysterious Providences, Ephesians 1:22. Romans 8:28. unless I be able to take the height of every particular? Shall I presume to call the God of Heaven to account? Must he render a reason of his ways, and give an account of his matters to such a worm as I am? Be silent (O my Soul) before the Lord; subscribe to his Wisdom, and submit to his Will, whatever he does. However it be, yet God is good to Israel; the event will manifest it to be all over a design of love. I know not how to reconcile them to each other, or many of them to the Promise; yet are they all harmonious between themselves, and the certain means of accomplishing the Promises. O what a favor is this, that in the midst of the greatest confusions in the world, God has given such abundant security to his people, that it shall be well with them? Amos 9. 8. Ecclesiastes 8:12.

THE POEM.

Lord! how stupendious, deep, and wonderful,

Are all your draughts of Providence! So full

Of puzling Intricacies, that they lie

Beyond the ken of any mortal eye.

A Wheel within a Wheel's the Scripture Notion.

And all those Vvheels transverse, and cross in motion.

All Creatures serve it in their place; yet so,

As thousands of them know not what they do.

At this or that, their aim they do direct;

But neither this, nor that, is the effect:

But something else they do not understand,

Vvhich sets all Politicians at a stand.

Deep Counsels, as the birth, this hand does break,

And deeper things performeth by the weak.

Men are like [•]orses, set at every stage,

For Providence to ride from age to age;

Vvhich like a Post spurs on, and makes them run

From stage to stage until their Iourney's done;

Then take a fresh: But they the business know,

No more than Horses the Post-Letters do.

Yet though its work be not conceal'd from sight,

'Twill be a glorious piece, when brought to light.