raoh and the Egyptians were cruel enemies to God's Israel, and designed the ruin of their innocent babes; and God repaid it, by smiting all the first-born of Egypt in one night, Exod. xii. 29. Haman erected a gallows, fifty cubits high, for good Mordecai; and God so ordered it, that he himself and his ten sons were hanged on it, Esth. vii. 10. Ahithophel plots against David, and gives counsel like an oracle, how to procure his fall: and that very counsel, like a surcharged gun, recoils upon himself, and procures his ruin, 2 Sam. xvii. 23.

Hundreds of like instances might easily be produced to confirm this observation. And who can but see by these things, that "verily there is a God that judgeth the earth?" Yea, so exact have been the retributions of Providence to the enemies of the church, that not only the same persons, but the same members that have been the instruments of mischief, have been made the subjects of wrath. The same arm which Jeroboam stretched out to smite the Prophet, God smites. The emperor Aurelian, when he was ready to subscribe the edict for the persecution of

the Christians, was suddenly so crampt in his fingers, that he could not write. Henry the second of France, in a great rage against a Protestant counsellor, committed him to the hands of one of his nobles, to be imprisoned, with this charge, that he would see him burnt with his own eyes: but mark the righteous providence of God! A few days afterwards, the same nobleman, with a lance put into his hands by the king, did, at a tilting match, pierce the said king in one of his eyes, whereof he died.

Yea, Providence has made the very place of sinning the place of punishment.

In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lick thy blood;" and the threatening was exactly fulfilled, 2 Kings ix. 26. And thus the scriptures are made good by Providence. "Whoso diggeth a pit, shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him," Prov. xxvi. 27. "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again," Mat. vii. 2.

If any yet say, These things may fall out casually; many thousands of the church's enemies have died in peace, and

their end been like that of other men:We answer with Augustine, If no sin were punished here, no Providence would be believed; and if every sin should be punished here, no judgment would be expected.

VI. But that none may think these events to be merely accidental, we yet farther demand, if these things are merely casual, how is it that they agree so exactly with the scriptures in all particulars?

We read in Amos iií. 3, " Can two walk together except they be agreed?" If two men travel in one road, it is likely they are agreed to go to the same place. Providences and scriptures go all one way and if they seem at any time to go contrary ways, we may be sure that they will meet at the journey's end: there is an agreement betwixt them so to do.

Does God miraculously suspend the power of natural causes? Why, this is no accidental thing, but something that harmonizes with his word; "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest

through the fire thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Isa. xliii. 2.

Do natural causes unite and associate themselves for the good of God's people? Why, this is no more than what is contained in the promises; it is but the fulfilling of that scripture in 1 Cor. iii. 22. "All is yours, for ye are Christ's;" that is, the use, benefit, and service of all the creatures are for you, as your need shall require. Are the most likely and powerful means employed for their ruin frustrated? Who can but see the scriptures fulfilled in, and expounded by such providences? Isa.xlv. 15, 17; viii. 7,10; 2 Kings xviii. 17. See you at any time Providence diverting the course of good men from falling into evil, or wicked men from committing evil: how loudly do such providences proclaim the truth and certainty of the scriptures, which tell us, that "the way of man is not in himself, neither is it in him that walketh to direct his steps;" that a man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps." Do you see adequate retributions made to those who injure or befriend the people

of God? When you see all the kindness and love they have shewn the saints, returned with an overplus into their bosoms, how is it possible but that you must see the accomplishment of this scripture "The liberal soul deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things he shall stand." And when you see the evils men have done, or intended to do to the Lord's people, recoiling upon themselves, he is perfectly blind who sees not the harmony such providences bear with these scriptures, Psal. cxl. 11, 12; vii. 14, 16; ix. 16.

Ó what exact proportions do providences and scriptures hold! It has been well observed, that as God has stretched out the firmament over the natural, so he has stretched out his word over the rational world; and as the creatures on earth are influenced by those heavenly bodies, so are all creatures in the world influenced by the word, and infallibly fulfil it even when they design to cross it.

VII. If these things are contingent, how is it that they fall out in such remarkable junctures of time, which makes them so very striking to all that consider them? We find a multitude of providences so