quillity in our minds, amidst the vicissitudes and revolutions of things in this unstable, vain world.

"I will both lay me down in peace and sleep," says David, "for the Lord only maketh me to dwell in safety."

He resolves that the sinful fears of events shall not rob him of his inward quiet, nor torture his thoughts with anxious presages. He commits all his concerns into that faithful, fatherly hand, that had hitherto wrought all things for him, and he means not to lose the comfort of one night's rest, but wisely enjoys the sweet felicity of a resigned will. Now this tranquillity of mind is as much begotten and preserved, by a due consideration of Providence, as by any thing whatsoever. There are several things in it that naturally compose the mind of a Christian to peace, and bring it to a sweet rest, whilst events hang in a doubtful suspense. Consider some of them. The supremacy of Providence and its uncontroulable power in working. This is often seen in the good that it brings us, in a way that is above the thoughts and cares of our minds, or labors of our hands. The profound wisdom of Provi

dence, in all that it performs for the people of God. This wisdom shines out to us in the unexpected, yea, contrary events of things. How often have we been courting some beautiful appearance that invited our senses, and with trembling shunned the formidable face of other things, when notwithstanding, the issues of Providence have convinced us, that our danger lay in what we courted, and our good in what we so studiously declined! The Christian knows not, but that his good may be imported in what seemed to threaten his ruin. Many a time have we kissed those troubles at parting which we met with trembling. The conjectures Christians may make of the way of Providence towards them, from what its former methods have been, are exceedingly quieting and cheering. Christian, examine thine own heart, and thou wilt find, that it is usually the way of God to prepare some smart rods to correct thee, when either thy heart has secretly revolted from God, and is grown vain, careless, and sensual; or when thy steps have declined, and thou hast turned aside to the commission of iniquity. And then, when those

rods have been sanctified to humble and purge thy heart, it is usually observed, that those sad providences are upon the change, and then the Lord changes the voice of his providence towards thee. If therefore I find the blessed effects of the rod upon me, that it has done its work to break the hard heart, and pull down the proud heart, and awaken the drowsy heart, and quicken the slothful, negligent, lazy heart; now with great probability I may conjecture, a more comfortable aspect of Providence will quickly appear; the refreshing and reviving time is nigh.-It is usual with Christians to argue themselves into fresh reviving hopes, when the state of things is most forlorn, by comparing the providences of God one with another. It is a composing meditation to compare the providences of God towards the inanimate and irrational creatures, with his providences towards us. Doth he take care for the very fowls of the air, for whom no man provides, as well as for those at the door which we daily feed? Doth he clothe the very grass of the field? And can it be supposed that he should forget his own people who are of much

more value than these? And it must surely quiet us when we consider what the Lord did for us in the way of his providence, when we ourselves were in the state of nature and enmity against God. Did he not then look after us when we knew him not? provided for us, when we owned him not in any of his mercies? bestowed thousands of mercies upon us when we had no title to Christ or any one promise? And will he now do less for us since we are reconciled and become his children?

IX. A due observation of the ways of God in his providence will have an excellent usefulness and aptitude to advance and improve holiness in our hearts and lives.

1. His providences, if duly observed, promote holiness by stopping up our way to sin. O if men would but mark the designs of God in his preventive providences, how useful would it be to keep them upright and holy in their ways! For why is it that the Lord so often hedges up our ways with thorns, but that we should not find our paths to sin? Why does he clog us but to prevent our straying from him?

O it is good to attend to these works of God, and study the meaning of them!

2. The providences of God may be observed to conduce to our holiness, not only by preventing sin that we may not fall into it, but also by purging our sins when we are fallen into them. Not that they can purge us from sin by their own power, for if so those who have most afflictions would have most grace also: but it is in the virtue of Christ's blood, and God's blessing upon afflictive providences, that they purge us from sin. A cross without Christ never did any man good.

3. Holiness is promoted in the soul by cautioning and warning the soul against sin for time to come. "I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.' O happy providences, how severe soever, that make the soul for ever afraid of sin! Surely such rods are well bestowed. If a man has been under a sanctified rod, which has showed him the evil of sin and kindly humbled him for it, and a temptation should again solicit him to the same evil, Why, thinks he, what madness is it for me to buy repentance at so dear a rate! Have I not smarted enough already? You