PREFACE. THERE are two ways whereby the blessed God condescends to manifest himself to men; his word, and his works. Of the written word we must say, No words like these were ever written since the beginning of time. This is the most transcendent and glorious medium of manifestation. But the manifestation of God by his works, whether of creation or providence, has its value and glory. The primé glory and excellency of his providential works consists however in this, that they are the very fulfillings and real accomplishments of his written word. By a wise and heedful attendance hereunto, we might often clear the mysterious occurrences of Providence, by reducing them to the written word, and there lodge them as effects in their proper causes. And, doubtless, this is one of the wisest methods men could pursue against atheism, to show how providences concur in a most obvious tendency to confirm this great conclusion, "Thy word is truth." Many thousand seals has Providence forced the very enemies of God to set to his truth, which greatly tends to our confirmation therein; but especially to see how the word and providences of God enlighten each other; and how not only the pro a mises of the word are faithfully fulfilled to the church in general, in all her exigencies and distresses, but, in particular, to every member of it. O how useful are such observations! And as the profit and use, so the delight and pleasure resulting from the observation of providences, are exceeding great. It will doubtless be a part of our entertainment in heaven, to view with transporting delight how the designs and methods were laid to bring us hither; and what will be a part of our blessedness in heaven may be well allowed to be a prime ingredient in our heaven upon earth. To search for pleasure among the due observations of Providence is to search for water in the ocean; for Providence not only designs to bring you ultimately to heaven, but to bring, by this. means, much of heaven into your souls in the way thither. How great a pleasure is it to discern how the most wise God is providentially steering all to the port of his own praise and his people's happiness, whilst the whole world is busily employed in managing the sails and tugging at the oars with a quite opposite design and purpose! to see how they promote his design by opposing it, and fulfil his will by resisting it, and enlarge his church by scattering it, and make the rest of his people come the more sweet to their souls by making their condition so restless in the world. This is pleasant to observe in general; but to record and note the particular designs of Providence upon ourselves, with what profound wisdom, infinite tenderness, and incessant vigilance it has managed all that concerns us from first to last, is ravishing and transporting. O what a history might we compile of our own experiences, whilst with a melting heart we trace the footsteps of Providence all along the way it has led us to this day! Here it prevented, and there it delivered. Here it directed, and there it corrected. In this it grieved, and in that it relieved. Here was the poison, and there the antidote. This providence raised a dismal cloud, and that dispelled it again. This straitened, and that enlarged. Here a want, and there a supply. This relation withered, and that springing up in its room. Words cannot express the high delights and gratifications a gracious heart may find in such employment as this. O reader, if thy heart be spiritual, and well stocked with experience, if thou hast recorded the ways of Providence towards thee, and wilt but allow thyself time to reflect upon them; what a life of pleasure mayest thou live! I will not here tell thee what I have met with in this path, lest it should seem to savor of too much vanity. There are some delights and enjoyments in the Christian life, which are, and must be, kept private. But try it thyself, taste and see, and thou wilt need no other inducement; thine own experience will be the most powerful oratory to persuade thee to the study and search of Providence. Histories are usually read with delight. When once the fancy is caught, a man knows not how to disengage himself from them. I am greatly mistaken, however, if the history of our own lives, if it were well drawn up and distinctly perused, would not be the pleasantest history that ever we read. The ensuing treatise is an essay to that purpose, in which thou wilt find some remarks on Providence in its passage through the several stages of our lives. But, reader, thou only art able to compile the history of Providence for thyself, because the memorials that furnish it, are only in thine own hands. However here thou mayest find a pattern, and general rules to direct thee in that great and difficult work which is the very end and design of this manual. |