Then & Now · 26 of 44

3. Cross Providences

BY working the ſoule to make falſe⁴⁸⁵ inferences from the croſſe actings of providence; ſaith Satan, doſt thou not ſee how Providence croſſes thy prayers, p. 212 and croſſes thy deſires, thy teares, thy hopes, thy endeavours; ſurely, if his love were toward thee, if his ſoule did delight and take pleaſure in thee, he would not deale thus with thee, &c.

485. Pſal. 77. 7. 11. Pſal. 88. 1. ult. Pſal. 73. 2. 23.

BY working the soul to make false³⁶⁷ inferences from the cross actings of providence; saith Satan, dost thou not see how providence crosses thy prayers, and crosses thy desires, thy tears, thy hopes, thy endeavours; surely, if his love were toward thee, if his soul did delight and take pleasure in thee, he would not deal thus with thee, etc‸.

367. Ps 77:‸7, 11. Ps 88:1–18. Ps 73:‸2, 23.

THe firſt Remedie againſt this device⁴⁸⁶ of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider that many things may be croſſe to our deſires, that are not croſſe to our good; Abraham, Jacob, David, Job, Moſes, Jeremiah,⁴⁸⁷ Jonah, Paul, &c. met with many things that were contrary to their de fires, and endeavours, that were not contrary to their good, as all know, that have wiſely compared their deſires and endeavours, and Gods actings together. Phyſick often works contrary to the Patients deſires, when it doth not work contrary to their good. I remember a ſtory of a godly man, who had a great deſire to goe to France, and as he was going to take ſhipping, he broke his leg, and it pleaſed providence ſo to order it, that the ſhip that he ſhould have gone in, at that very ſame time was p. 213 caſt away, and not a man ſaved, and ſo by breaking a bone, his life was ſaved. Though Providence did worke croſſe to his deſires, yet it did not work croſs to his good, &c.

486. 1 Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
487. The Circumcellians being not able to withſtand the preaching, & writing of Auguſtine, ſought his deſtruction, having beſet the way he was to goe his viſitation, but by Gods providence, he miſſing his way, eſcaped the danger.

The first remedy against this device of Satan, is, solemnly to consider that many things may be cross to our desires, that are not cross to our good; Abraham, Jacob, David, Job, Moses, Jeremiah,³⁶⁸ Jonah, Paul, etc‸. met with many things that were contrary to their desires, and endeavours, that were not contrary to their good, as all know, that have wisely compared their desires and endeavours, and God’s actings together. Physic often works contrary to the patient’s desires, when it doth not work contrary to their good. I remember a story of a godly man, who had a great desire to go to France, and as he was going to take shipping, he broke his leg, and it pleased providence so to order it, that the ship that he should have gone in, at that very same time was cast away, and not a man saved, and so by breaking a bone, his life was saved. Though providence did work cross to his desires, yet it did not work cross to his good, etc‸.

368. The Circumcellians being not able to withstand the preaching, and writing of Augustine, sought his destruction, having beset the way he was to go to his visitation, but by God’s providence, he missing his way, escaped the danger.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this device⁴⁸⁸ of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that the hand of God may be againſt a man, when the love and heart of God is much ſet upon a man; No man can conclude how the heart of God ſtands by his hand. The hand of God was againſt Ephraim, and yet his love, his heart was⁴⁸⁹ dearly ſet upon Ephraim. I have ſurely heard Ephraim bemoaning himſelfe thus; thou haſt chaſtiſed mee, and I was chaſtiſed as a bullocke unaccuſtomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was inſtructed, I ſmote upon my thigh; I was aſhamed, yea, even confounded, becauſe I did beare the reproach of my youth. Ephraim is my deare ſonne, he is a pleaſant child; for ſince I ſpake againſt him, I doe earneſtly remember him ſtill: therefore my bowells are troubled for him, I will ſurely have mercy upon him, ſaith the Lord.

488. 2 Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
489. Ier. 31. 18, 19, 20. Gods providentiall hand may be with perſons, when his heart is ſet againſt them; Gods providentiall hand was for a time with Saul, Haman, Aſhur, & Iehu, and yet his heart was ſet againſt them. No man knoweth love or hatred by all that is before them. Eccleſ. 9. 1, 2.

The second remedy against this device of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that the hand of God may be against a man, when the love and heart of God is much set upon a man; No man can conclude how the heart of God stands by his hand. The hand of God was against Ephraim, and yet his love, his heart was³⁶⁹ dearly set upon Ephraim. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Ephraim is my dear son, he is a pleasant child; for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.

369. Jer‸ 31:‸18, 19, 20. God’s providential hand may be with persons, when his heart is set against them; God’s providential hand was for a time with Saul, Haman, Ashur, and Jehu, and yet his heart was set against them. No man knoweth love or hatred by all that is before them. Eccl 9:‸1, 2.

God can look ſowrly, and chide bitterly, and ſtrike heavily, even where, and when he loves dearly. The hand of God was very much againſt Job, and yet p. 214 his love, his heart was very much ſet upon Job, as you may ſee by comparing the 2. firſt chap. of Iob with the two laſt. The hand of God was ſore againſt David, and Jonah, when his heart was much ſet upon them. He that ſhall conclude, that the heart of God is againſt thoſe that his hand is againſt, will condemne the generation of the juſt, whom God unjuſtly would not have condemned.

God can look sourly, and chide bitterly, and strike heavily, even where, and when he loves dearly. The hand of God was very much against Job, and yet his love, his heart was very much set upon Job, as you may see by comparing the 2. first chap. of Job with the two last. The hand of God was sore against David, and Jonah, when his heart was much set upon them. He that shall conclude, that the heart of God is against those that his hand is against, will condemn the generation of the just, whom God unjustly would not have condemned.

The third Remedie againſt this device⁴⁹⁰ of Satan, is, to conſider, that all the croſſe providences that befall the Saints, are but in order to ſome noble good, that God doth intend to conferre upon them. Providence wrote croſſe to Davids deſire, in taking away the child ſinfully begotten, but yet not croſſe to a more noble good; for was it not farre better for David to have ſuch a legitimate Heire as Solomon was, then that a Baſtard ſhould weare the Crown, and ſway the Scepter?

490. 3 Remedie. [dropped from the edition]

The third remedy against this device of Satan, is, to consider, that all the cross providences that befall the saints, are but in order to some noble good, that God doth intend to confer upon them. Providence wrought cross to David’s desire, in taking away the child sinfully begotten, but yet not cross to a more noble good; for was it not far better for David to have such a legitimate heir as Solomon was, than that a bastard should wear the crown, and sway the sceptre?

Joſeph you know, was ſold into a far Country by the envy and malice of his brethren, and afterwards impriſoned, becauſe he would not be a priſoner to his Miſtriſſes luſts; yet all theſe croſs providences did wonderfully conduce to his advancement, and the preſervation of his Fathers family, which was then the viſible Church of Chriſt. It was ſo p. 215 ordered by a noble hand of providence, that what they ſought to decline, they did promote; Joſeph was therefore ſold by his brethren, that he might not be worſhipped, and yet he was therefore worſhipped, becauſe he was ſold.

Joseph you know, was sold into a far country by the envy and malice of his brethren, and afterwards imprisoned, because he would not be a prisoner to his Mistress’s lusts; yet all these cross providences did wonderfully conduce to his advancement, and the preservation of his Father’s family, which was then the visible church of Christ. It was so ordered by a noble hand of providence, that what they sought to decline, they did promote; Joseph was therefore sold by his brethren, that he might not be worshipped, and yet he was therefore worshipped, because he was sold.

David was deſigned to a Kingdome; but oh the ſtraits, troubles, and deaths, that he run through, before he feels the weight of the Crown; and all this was but in order to the ſweetning of his Crown, and to the ſetling of it more firmly and gloriouſly upon his head; God did ſo contrive it, that Jonah’s offence, and thoſe croſſe actings of his that did attend it, ſhould advantage that end which they ſeemed moſt directly⁴⁹¹ to oppoſe; Jonah he flies to Tanſhiſh, then caſt into the Sea, then ſaved by a miracle: Then the Marriners, as is very probable, who caſt Jonah into the Sea, declared to the Ninivites what had hapned; therefore he muſt be a man ſent of God, and that his threatnings muſt be beleeved, and hearkned to, and therefore they muſt repent, and humble themſelves, that the wrath threatned might not be executed, &c.

491. The motions of divine providence are ſo dark, ſo deep, ſo changeable, that the wiſeſt and nobleſt ſoules cannot tell what concluſions to make.

David was designed to a kingdom; but oh the straits, troubles, and deaths, that he run through, before he feels the weight of the crown; and all this was but in order to the sweetening of his crown, and to the settling of it more firmly and gloriously upon his head; God did so contrive it, that Jonah’s offence, and those cross actings of his that did attend it, should advantage that end which they seemed most directly³⁷⁰ to oppose; Jonah he flies to Tarshish, then cast into the Sea, then saved by a miracle: Then the mariners, as is very probable, who cast Jonah into the Sea, declared to the Ninevites what had happened; therefore he must be a man sent of God, and that his threatenings must be believed, and hearkened to, and therefore they must repent, and humble themselves, that the wrath threatened might not be executed, etc‸.

370. The motions of divine providence are so dark, so deep, so changeable, that the wisest and noblest souls cannot tell what conclusions to make.

The fourth Remedy againſt this device⁴⁹² of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that all the ſtrange, dark, deep, and changeable providences that Believers p. 216 meet with, ſhall further them in their way to heaven, in their journey to happineſſe; divine wiſdome and love will ſo order all things here below, that they ſhall work for the reall, internall, and eternall good of them that love him. All the rugged providences that David met with, did contribute to the⁴⁹³ bringing of him to the Throne; and all the rugged promiſes that Daniel, and the three children met with, did contribute to their great advancement; So all the rugged providences that Believers meet with, they ſhall all contribute to the lifting up of their ſoules, above all things below God. As the waters lifted up Noah’s Ark nearer Heaven: and as all the ſtones that were about Stevens eares, did but knock him the cloſer to Chriſt, the corner-ſtone, ſo all the ſtrange rugged providences that we meet with, they ſhall raiſe us nearer Heaven, and knock us neerer to Chriſt, that precious corner-ſtone, &c.

492. 4 Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
493. Oroſius ſpeaking of Valentinian, ſaith, he that for Chriſts name ſake had loſt a Tribune ſhip, within a while after ſucceeded his perſecutor in the Empire.

The fourth remedy against this device of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that all the strange, dark, deep, and changeable providences that believers meet with, shall further them in their way to heaven, in their journey to happiness; divine wisdom and love will so order all things here below, that they shall work for the real, internal, and eternal good of them that love him. All the rugged providences that David met with, did contribute to the³⁷¹ bringing of him to the throne; and all the rugged providences that Daniel, and the three children met with, did contribute to their great advancement; So all the rugged providences that believers meet with, they shall all contribute to the lifting up of their souls, above all things below God. As the waters lifted up Noah’s ark nearer heaven: and as all the stones that were about Stephen’s ears, did but knock him the closer to Christ, the corner-stone, so all the strange rugged providences that we meet with, they shall raise us nearer heaven, and knock us nearer to Christ, that precious corner-stone, etc‸.

371. Orosius speaking of Valentinian, saith, he that for Christ’s name sake had lost a tribuneship, within a while after succeeded his persecutor in the Empire.