SERM. ing Reft; who hath promifed, that where XII. he is, there hall his Servants be, to behold his Glory; to live and reign with him in Heaven at his Father's right Hand, where there is fulness of Joy, and Pleafures for evermore. SER SERMON XIII. The WAY to improve past PR 0 VIDENCES. DEUT. viii. 2. And thou fhalt remember all the Way which the Lord thy GOD led thee thefe forty Years in the Wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine Heart, whether thou wouldeft keep his Commandments i or no. F ROM these words I made two I. That the wandering of the Ifraelites through the Wilderness to Canaan, is a X 4 natural SERM. natural and lively Emblem of a Christian's Paffage through this World to Heaven. And, II. That whilft we are in this ftate of Pilgrimage, it is our Duty often to recollect, and seriously confider the ways of GOD, and the various Dispensations of his Providence towards us, especially those which have been more extraordinary and remarkable. The former of these Obfervations I have already handled; and proceed now to the immediate Confideration of the latter. treating of which I propose, In I. To specify fome of those providential Difpenfations which we ought in a more especial manner to recollect and confider. II. To fhew how they are to be remembered. And, III, What are thofe Confiderations that should principally induce us hereunto. I. I am to fpecify fome of those providential Difpenfations which we ought in a more more efpecial manner to recollect and con- SERm. fider. And this Review ought to be universal. We should not willingly let pafs any of the ways and difpenfations of Providence towards us without a serious Remark. But as we cannot remember them all, we fhould take the more Care to retain the Impreffion of those that are more remarkable, as a teftimony of our dutiful Acknowledgment of GOD, and our Dependence upon him in all our ways. For thus to think upon, and improve the ways of Providence, is a fign of a ferious and devout Mind; as on the contrary, it is mentioned as a mark of a very stupid and ungrateful People, that they regard not the Work of the Lord, nor confider the Operation of his Hands (a). All the most extraordinary Providences of GOD then, whether afflictive or merciful, temporal or fpiritual, perfonal or family, private or publick, late, or long fince past, are to be faithfully treasured up in our memory, and at certain times seriously reflected upon, for the confirmation of our Hope and Faith, and Truft in Go D. This is the Duty XIII. (a) Ifai. v. 12. SERM. Duty commanded the Ifraelites in the Text, XIII. and is of no lefs concern to us, whofe ftate in this World is fo much like what theirs was in the Wilderness. 1. Then we fhould often call to mind GOD's afflicting and humbling Providences. Have we been afflicted in our Bodies; let us remember how it was with us in our low Estate; what thoughts we then had of our Souls and another World; what ferious Impreffions were made upon our minds, which we should endeavour to renew and retain. Let us confider with ourselves, what fruits of Righteoufnefs thofe Afflictions have wrought out for us; in what Inftance or Degree they have been fanctified; how far the good Ends of them have been answered: For the greateft Affliction of all is to lose the Benefit of our Afflictions; to come out of the Furnace of Affliction unhumbled, unmortified, unrefined; which may justly provoke GOD to throw us into the fame again, and to make it ftill feven times botter. Again, have we been afflicted in our Spirits? By fore Temptations, grievous Dejecti ons, fevere Conflicts with Sin and Satan, little Hopes, great Fears, dreadful Doubts, and |
