the Saviour of all men, especially of them that believe." 1 Tim. 4:10. Things are so laid and ordered, as that their eternal good shall be promoted and secured by all that Christ doeth.

INFERENCE 1. If so, see then to whom you are indebted for your lives, liberty, comforts, and all that you enjoy in this world. Is it not Christ that orders all for you? He is, indeed, in heaven, out of your sight; but though you see him not, he sees you, and takes care of all your concerns. When one was told of a plot laid to take away his life, he answered, "If God take no care of me, how do I live?" how have I escaped hitherto ? In all thy ways acknowledge him." Prov. 3: 6. It is he that hath appointed the state thou art in, as most proper for thee. It is Christ that doeth all for you that is done. He looks down from heaven upon all that fear him; he sees when you are in danger by temptation, and interposes something, you know not how, to hinder it. He sees when you are sad, and orders reviving providences to refresh you. He sees when corruptions prevail, and orders humbling events to purge them. Whatever mercies you have received, all along the way you have gone hitherto, are the orderings of Christ for you. And you should carefully observe how the promises and providences have kept equal pace with one another, and both gone step by step with you until now.

2. Hath God committed the government of the world to Christ, and trusted him over all? Then do you also leave all your particular concerns in the hands of Christ, and know that the infinite wisdom and love which rules the world, manages every thing that relates to you. It is in good hands, infinitely better than if it were in your own. I remember when Melancthon was under some despondency of spirit about the situation of God's people in Germany, Luther chides him thus for it, "Let Philip cease to rule the world." It is not ours to guide

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the course of providence, or direct its motions, but to submit quietly to God. Yet how apt are we to regret providences, as if they had no tendency at all to the glory of God, or to our good, Exod. 5: 22; yea, to limit the Almighty to our way and time! Thus, the "Israelites tempted God, and limited the holy One." Psalm 78: 18, 41. How often also do we, unbelievingly, distrust God, as though he could never accomplish what we profess to expect and believe! "Our bones are dry, our hope is lost; we are cut off." Ezek. 37: 11. So Gen. 18: 13, 14; Isa. 40: 17. There are but few Abrahams among believers, who against hope believe in hope," "giving glory to God." Rom. 4: 20. And it is but too common for good men to repine and fret at providences, when their wills are crossed: this was the great sin of Jonah. Brethren, these things ought not to be so: did you but seriously consider, either the design of these providential dealings, which is to bring about the gracious purposes of God towards you, formed before the world was, Eph. 1:4; or that it is opposing your wisdom to his, as if you could better order affairs; or that you have to do herein with a great and dreadful God, in whose hands you are, who may do what he will with you, and all that is yours, without giving you an account of any of his matters, Job, 33: 13; I say, if such considerations as these could but have place with you in troubles and temptations, they would quickly mould your hearts into a better and more quiet frame.

Oh that I could but persuade you to resign all to Christ. He is a skilful workman, Prov. 8: 25-30, and can effect what he pleaseth. It is a good rule, De operibus Dei non est judicandum, ante quintum actum. Let God work out all that he intends, but have patience till he hath accomplished his design, and then find fault with it, if you can." "Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord." James, 5: 11.

3. If Christ be Lord over the providential kingdom, and that for the good of his people, let none that are Christ's henceforth indulge a slavish fear of creatures. "It is a great consolation" says Grotius on my text "that Christ hath so great an empire, and that he governs it for the good of his people, as a head consulting the good of the body." Our Head and Husband is Lord of all the hosts of heaven and earth; no creature can move hand or tongue without him: the power that any have is given them from above. John, 19: 11, 12. The serious consideration of this truth will make the feeblest spirit cease trembling, and cause it to shout, "The Lord is King of all the earth, sing ye praises with understanding." Psalm 47: 7. Has he not given you abundant security in many express promises, that all shall issue well for you that fear him? "All things shall work together for good to them that love God." Rom. 8: 28. Verily "it shall be well with them that fear God," even with them that fear before him. Eccl. 8: 12. And suppose he had not, yet the very understanding of our relation to such a King should, in itself, be sufficient security for he is the universal, supreme, absolute, meek, merciful, victorious, and immortal King. He sits in glory, at the Father's right hand; and his enemies are a footstool for him. His love to his people is unspeakably tender and fervent, he that touches them, "touches the apple of his eye." Zech. 2: 8. Till this be forgotten, the wrath of man is not feared; he that fears a man that shall die, forgets the Lord his Maker. Isa. 51: 12, 13.

4. If the government of the world be in the hands of Christ, then to acknowledge Christ and engage his blessing in all our affairs and business, is the true and ready way to success. If all depend upon his pleasure, surely

*See my Saint Indeed.

it is our wisdom to attempt nothing without him; it is no lost time that is spent in prayer, wherein we ask his direction, and beg his presence with us: and, rely upon it, that which is not prefaced with prayer will be followed with trouble. How easily can Jesus Christ dash all your designs, and frustrate, in a moment, all the pur poses of your hearts! The Turks will pray five times a day, how urgent soever their business be. Blush, you that enterprise your affairs without God.

5. Lastly, Eye Christ in all the events of providence; see his hand in all that befalls you, whether it be evil or good. "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." Psa. 111: 2. How much good might we get by observation of the good or evil that befalls us throughout our course!

(1.) In all the troubles and afflictions that befall you, eye Jesus Christ and set your hearts to the study of these four things in affliction:

Study his sovereignty and dominion; these afflictions rise not out of the dust, nor do they befall you casually; but he raises them up, and gives them their commission; "Behold, I create evil, and devise a device against you." Jer. 18 11. He selects the instrument of your trouble; he makes the rod as afflictive as he pleaseth; he orders the continuance and end of your troubles; and they will not cease to be afflictive to you, till Christ say, Leave off, it is enough. The centurion wisely considered this, when he argued, "I have soldiers under me, and I say to one, Go, and he goeth; to another, Come, and he cometh," Luke, 7: 8; meaning, that as his soldiers were at his command, so diseases were at Christ's, to come and go as he ordered them.

Study the wisdom of Christ in the contrivance of your troubles. His wisdom shines out many ways in them. It is evident in choosing such kinds of trouble for you as are best adapted to purge out the corruption that pre

dominates in you: in the degree of your troubles, suffering them to work to such a height as to reach their end; but no higher, lest they overwhelm you.

Study the tenderness and compassion of Christ over his afflicted people. Oh think, If the devil had the mixing of my cup, how much more bitter would he make it! There would not be one drop of mercy in it: but here is much mercy mixed with my troubles. There is mercy in this, that it is no worse. Am I afflicted? "It is of the Lord's mercy I am not consumed," Lam. 3: 22; it might have been hell instead of this chastisement. There is mercy in his supports under it; I might have been left, as others have been, to sink and perish under my burdens. Mercy, in deliverance out of it; this might have been everlasting darkness, that should never have had a morning. Oh the tenderness of Christ to his afflicted!

Study the love of Christ to thy soul in affliction. "Whom I love, I rebuke and chasten." Rev. 3 19. This is the device of love, to recover thee to thy God, and prevent thy ruin. Oh what an advantage would it be thus to study Christ in all the evils that befall you! (2.) Eye and study Christ in all the good you receive from the hand of providence. View your mercies in all their lovely circumstances.

Eye them in their suitableness: how conveniently providence hath ordered all things for thee. Thou hast a narrow heart, and a small estate suitable to it: hadst thou more of the world, it would be like a large sail to a little boat, which would quickly pull thee under water: thou hast that which is most suitable to thee. Eye the seasonableness of thy mercies, how they are fitted to thy wants. Providence brings forth all its fruits in due season. Eye the peculiar nature of thy mercies. Others have common, thou special ones; others have but a single, thou a double sweetness in thy enjoyments, one natural from the matter of it, another spiritual from the