Fourth case. How may we attain unto an evenness and steadiness of spirit, under the changes and contrary aspects of Providence upon us?
“Three things are supposed in this case. 1. That Providence hath various and contrary aspects upon the people of God, 2. That it is a common thing with them to experience great disorders of spirit under those changes of Providence. 3. That these disorders may be, at least ina great measure, prevented by the due use and application of those rules and helps that God hath given us in such cases.
1. That Providence hath 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 increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again,’ Job xii. 23. The same it doth with persons: Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down,” Psal. cii. 10. See what a sad alteration Providence made upon the church: How doth 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 1s done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierceanger,”” Lam. i. 1. 12. And how great an instance was Job of this truth! See Job xxix, compared with chap. xxx. How many thousands have complained with Naomi, whose condition hath been so strongly altered that others have said, as the people of Bethlehem did of her, Is this Naomi,” Ruth i. 19-21.
2. These vicissitudes of Providence commonly cause great disorders of spirit in the best men. 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 discovered by the alterations Providence made upon his condition. When sickness and pains summoned him to the grave, what bitter complaints and despondencies are recorded! See Isa. xxxviii. And when Providence lifted him up again into a prosperous condition, what ostentation and vain-glory did he discover! Isa. xxxix. 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. In my prosperity, I said, I shall never be moved; thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled, Psal, XxX. 6, 7. It is not every man that can say with Paul, 1 know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where, and in all things 1 am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need,” Phil. iv. 12. He is truly rich in grace, whose riches or poverty neither hinders the acting nor impoverishes the stock of his graces. oT ll v
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 hath given us in sueh 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.
Question 1. How may we attain to an evenness and steadiness 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 drowsy and remiss temper. T’o prevent this, we had need to urge humbling and awakening considerations upon our heart; such are these that follow.
(1.) “These gifts of Providence are common to the worst of men, and are no special distinguishing fruits of God’s love. ‘The vilest of men have been filled even to satiety with these things. “Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish,” Psal. xxiii. 7.
(2.) Think how unstable and changeable all these things are. What you glory in to-day may be none of yours to-morrow. Riches make themselves wings, and flee away as an eagle towards heaven,” Prov. xxiii. 5. As the wings of a fowl grow out of the substance of the body, so the cause of the creature’s transitoriness is in itself’; it is subjected to vanity, and that vanity, like wings, carries it away; they are but fading flowers, - James i. 10.
(8.) The change of providences are 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, Isa. xxxix. 2—7. Others may be left to perish in unsanctified prosperity, but you shall not.
(4.) This is a great discovery of the carnality and corruption that is in thy hear: it argues a heart litle set on 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?
(5.) 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: «1 did know thee 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,” saith the Lord, Hos. xii. 5, 6: as if he had said, You and I were better acquainted formerly, when you were in a low condition; prosperity hath estranged you, and altered the case. How sad is it, that God’s mercies should be the occasion of our estrangement from Question 2. Upon the other side, it is worth considering, how our hearts may be established and kept steady under calamitous and adverse providences. ”
flere we are in equal danger of the other extreme—despondency and sinking under the frowns and strokes of cross providences. Now to support and establish the heart in this case take three helps. ——
(1.) Consider, that afflictive providences are of great use to the people of God; they cannot live without them. The earth doth not more need chastening frosts and mellowing snows, than our hearts do nipping providences. Let the best Christian be but for a few years without them, and he will be sensible of the want of them; he will find a sad remission and declining of all his graces.
(2.) No stroke or calamity upon the people of God can separate them from Christ: Who shall separate us {rom the love of Christ? shall tribulation?’ Rom. viii. 25. 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 xix. 25. Well, then, there is no cause to sink whilst interest in Christ remains sure to us.
(3.) All your calamities will have an end shortly. The longest day of tlie 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 awhile,” 1 Pet. v. 13. 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 a moment, yet they work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” 2 Cor. iv. 1. Let that support your hearts under all your sufferings.
Question 3. Let us consider what may be useful to support and quiet our hearts under doubtful providences, when our dear concerns hang in a doubtful suspense 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.
(1.) Let us consider the vanity and inatility of such a solicitude: Which of you,” saith our Lord, by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?’ Matt. vi. 27. We may break our peace, and waste our spirits, but not alter the case. We cannot turn God out of his way: He is in one mind,” Job xxiii. 13. We may, by struggling against God, increase, but not avoid, or lighten our troubles.
(2.) How often do we afflict and torment ourselves by our own unquiet thoughts, when there is no real cause or ground for so doing! Thou 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?” Isa. li. 13. Oh 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!
(3.) What a great ground of quietness is it, that the whole disposal 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,” saith Christ, thou couldst have no power against me, except it were given thee from above,” John xix. 11. Neither men nor devils can act any thing without God’s leave; and be sure he will sign no order to your prejudice.
(4.) What a great satisfaction must it te to all that believe the Divine authority of the Scriptures, that the faithfulness 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: That our outward concerns, with their steady direction to a blessed end, is found in the word; and this word being of Divine authority, the faithfulness and honour of God stands good for every tittle that is found there. I say, these are grounds of such stability, that our minds may repose with the 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.
(5.) 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! Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established,” Prov. xvi. 3. By works he means any doubtful, intricate, perplexing business, about which our thoughts are racked and tortured. 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 hath not found it so?