v. 111. The next great advantage and mercy the saints receive from the hand of Providence, is in their preservation from the snares and temptations of sin, by its preventing care over them. That Providence wards off many a deadly stroke of temptation, and puts by many a mortal thrust which Satan makes at our souls, is a truth as manifest as the light that shineth. This is included in that promise, God will with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it,” 1 Cor. x. 13. Providence gives an outlet for the soul’s escape, when it is shut up into the dangerous straits of temptation. There are two eminent ways, whereby the force and efficacy of temptation is broken in believers. One is by the operation of internal grace, The spirit lusteth against the flesh,” Gal. v. 17, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would; that is, sanctification destroys sin after it hath been conceived in the soul. The other way is by the external working of Providence; and of this I am here engaged to speak,
The Providence of God is the great hinderance to a world of sin, which else would break forth, like an overflowing flood, from our corrupt natures. It prevents abundance of sin which else wicked men would commit. The men of Sodom were greedily pursuing their lusts; God providentially hindered it, by smiting them blind, Gen. xix. 11. Jeroboam intended to smite the prophet; Providence interposed, and withered his arm, 1 Kings xiii. 4. Thus you see, when wicked men have contrived, and are ready to execute their wickedness, Providence claps on its manacles, that their hands cannot perform their enterprises,” Jobv. 12:
And so much corruption there remains on good men, that they would certainly plunge themselves under much more guilt than they do, if Providence did not take greater care of them than they do of themselves; for though they make conscience of keeping themselves, and daily watch their hearts and ways, yet such is the deceitfulness of sin, that if Providence did not lay blocks in their way, it would, more frequently than it doth, entangle and defile them. And this it doth divers ways.
1. Sometimes by stirring up others to interpose with seasonable counsels, which effectually dissuade them from prosecuting an evil design. “Thus Abigail meets David in the nick of time and dissuades him from his evil purpose, 1 Sam. xxv. 34, And I find it recorded, as on another account was noted before, of that holy man, Mr. Dod, that being late at night in his study, he was strongly moved (though at an unseasonable hour) to visit a gentleman of his acquaintance; and not knowing what might be the design of Providence therein, he obeyed and went. When he came to the house, after a few knocks at the door, the gentleman himself came to him, and asked him whether he had any business with him? Mr. Dod answered, No; but that he could not be quiet till he had seen him. 0, sir, replied the gentleman, you are sent of God at this hour, for just now (and with that takes the halter out of his pocket) I was going to destroy myself. And thus was the mischief prevented.
2. Sometimes by hindering the means and instruments, whereby the evil itself is prevented. Thus, when good Jehoshaphat had joined himself with that wicked king Ahaziah to build ships at Ezion-Geber to go to T’arshish, God prevents the design by breaking the ships with a storm, as you read in 2 Chron. xx. 35—37.
We find also, in the life of Mr. Bolton, written by Mr. Bagshaw, that, while he was in Oxford, he had familiar acquaintance with Mr. Anderton, a good scholar, but a strong papist, who, knowing Mr. Bolton’s good parts, and perceiving that he was in some outward wants, took this advantage, and used many arguments to persuade him to be reconciled to the church of Rome, and to go over with him to the English seminary, assuring him he should be furnished with all necessaries, and have gold enough. Mr. Bolton being at that time poor in mind and purse, accepted the motion, and the day and place were appointed in Lancashire, where they should meet and take shipping, and be gone: but Mr. Anderton came not, and so he escaped the
is the meaning of, I will hedge up her way with thorns,” Hos. it. 6. Thus Basil was a long time exercised with a violent headache, which, as he observed, was used by Providence to prevent lust. Paul had a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him; and this affliction, whatever it was, was ordained to prevent pride in him, 2 Cor. 4. Sometimes sin is prevented in the saints by the better information of their minds, by the sacred oracles of God. Thus, when sinful motions began to rise in David’s mind, from the prosperity of the wicked, and his own afflicted state, and grew to that height, that he began to think all he had done in the way of religion was little better than lost labour; he is set right again, and the templation dissolved, by going into the sanctuary, where God showed him how to take new measures of persons and things; to judge of them by their ends and issues, not their present appearances, Psal. Ixxiil. pts: 17.
5. And sometimes the providence of God prevents the sins of his people by removing them out of the way of temptation by death! in which sense we may understand this text: The righteous is taken away from the evil to come,” Isa. lvii. 1, the evil of sin as well as sufferings. When the Lord sees his people low-spirited, and not able to grapple with strong trials and temptations, which are drawing on, it is, with respect to them, a providence to be disbanded by death, and set out of harm’s way.,
Now, consider and admire the providence of God, O ye saints, who hath had more care of your souls than ever ye had of them! Had not the providence of God thus wrought for you in a way of prevention, it may be you had this day been so many Mayor Missabibs. How was the heart of David melted under that preventing providence before mentioned in 1 Sam. xxv. 34, he blessed the Lord, the instrument, and that counsel by which his soul was preserved from sin. Do bat seriously bethink yourselves of a few particulars about this case; as, ‘
(1.) How your corrupt natures have often impetwously hurried you on toward sin, so that all the grace you had could not withstand its force, if Providence had not prevented it in some such method as you have heard. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed,” James i. 14. You found yourselves but feathers in the wind of temptation.
(2.) How near you have been brought to the brink of sin, and yet saved by a merciful hand of Providence! May you not say, I was almost in the midst of all evils,” Prov. v. 14; or, “My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped,” Psal. Ixxiii. 2.” Oh merciful Provi-Sones! that stepped in so opportunely to your reief,: _ i
(3.) How many have been suffered to fall by the hand of temptations, to the reproach of religion, and wounding of their own conscience to that degree, that they have never recovered former peace again, but lived in the word devoid of comfort to their dying day!
(4.) How woful your case had been, if the Lord had not mercifully saved you from many thousand temptations which have assaulted you! I tell you, you cannot estimate the mercies you possess by means of such providences. Are your names sweet, and your consciences peaceful? ‘I’wo mercies as dear to you as your two eyes. Why, surely you owe them, if not wholly, yet in a great measure, to the aids and assistances Providence hath given you all along the way you have passed, through the dangerous tempting world, to this day.
Walk, therefore, suitably to this obligation of Providence also, and see that you thankfully own it. Do not impute your escapes from sin to accidents, or to your own watchfulness or wisdom; yet see that you tempt not Providence, on the other hand, by an irregular reliance upon its care over you, without taking all due care of yourselves. + Keep yourselves in the love of God,” Jude 21. Keep your hearts with all diligence,” Prov, iv. 23. Though Providence keep you, yet it is in the way of your duty.: