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nute that they were thought ripe and ready to break forth into Action, have been blafted by fome invisible Power, by fome fecret Stroke on a fuddain dafht to pieces. The whole Elaborate Machine and well laidContrivance vanishing immediately and disappearing, like the Fabulous inchanted Castles in a Romance. And then the vain Authors of this Politick Fabrick, Difappointed and defeated of their mighty Aims, find out at laft that they have not all this while been playing the Knaves only, but, which to them is more mortifying, the Fools too: and confirming that of the Son of Sirach, TheKnowledge of Wickedness is not Wisdom,nor at any time the Counsel of the Wicked Prudence. Whilst on the other hand, he who always aims at a good End defigns nothing but with Sincerity and Righteousness, and profecutes thofe Designs by none but just and allowable and Righteous means, has all the reafon in the World, even God's own Word, to have Hope and Confidence that Pro vidence will direct, counsel and guide him, and bring a happy Iffue to all his juft Undertakings. For it is a moft undoubted Truth, that the compaffing of any Effects depends more upon God and his Providence, than any Human means. The best and likelieft Preparations can never bring them about, when He goes not along with them;

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and the lowest and most unlikely are fure to do it, when he does. Now the way to have God with us is to Truft in Him, and to Keep his ways.

If we dare rely on Providence and Trust God, he will not fail those that Trust in him, but take the tendereft Care of them, and fhew himself remarkable in speeding their Matters on. I mean thofe Matters which, in confiftence with the Designs of his Providence, he fees fit fhould take effect; and no Means or Methods can bring about any things elfe. As there is no Friend or Deliverer like God, and no Comfort like Hope in Him; So is there no way to make an Intereft with him like confiding in,and depending on Him. But to mistrust God is the way to difoblige and lofe him, and together with him our ownProfperity andSuccefs too. And there is no greater Inftance of Diftrusting God, than to aim at compaffing any Defign by forfeiting Our Integrity, and betaking Ourselves to the use of any Means unallowable by his moft Holy Laws. Our Trust in Him therefore must be fhew'd by keeping in his Own ways; which when they feem to have the least of visible Probability, have the most of Providence; and fo to those that ascribe moft to Providence, must needs appear the fureft way to Succefs. Wait on the Lord and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee

to Inherit the Land. Pfal.37. 34. But if, when there is no vifible Appearance of Succeeding, or being Safe otherwife, to fave ourselves we step out of God's way, and instead of what is lawful, betake ourselves to what feems ferviceable and expedient; in leaving the way of Innocence, we are like alfo to leave the way of Succefs; and when we defert God, God and Providence will defert ús. Order thy way aright and trust in him, says the wife Son of Sirach, but go not afide left you fall. Ecclus 2. 6, 7. We fhall not only this way be unreliev'd by the Bleffing and Affiftance, but broken and oppos'd most commonly by the juft Judgment of Provi dence fetting itself against us. For he difap pointeth the Deceits of the Crafty, fo that their hands cannot perform their Enterprize. He taketh the Wife in their own Craftiness, making their Methods bring about what they study'd to avoid, and the Counsel of the froward is carry'd headlong. They meet with Darkness in the Day time, and grope in the Noon day as in the Night, as it is elegantly fet forth in the 5th Chap. of Job 12, 13, 14. Commit thy Works unto the Lord, favs Solomon, and fofball thy Thoughts be establish'd; and his Father before him, Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy trust in him, and He fball bring it to pass; and Eliphaz in Job before 'em both, if thou re turn to the almighty and make thy Prayer to

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Him, Thou shalt alfo Decree a thing and it fball be establish'd, and the Light fall fbine = upon thy ways. Upon which Account alfo the Satisfaction, that arises to the Honeft and Just Dealer upon the good Success of his Undertakings, is infinitely heighten'd and enhanc'd in its Price. For He that in the beginning of any Action of Moment has first Commended Himself, and Committed his Works to the Lord, and after used the fairest means to accomplish them,looks upon every Business that profpers in his Hand, not barely as a Human Succefs, but as a Divine Benediction; receives it not as the Product of his Industry or Wisdom, but as the Return of his Prayers, and the Reward of his Integrity. So that every good thing, Thus obtain'd, comes not fingle; but, befides its own intrinfick Goodness, brings that with it, which is infinitely more valuable, an Affurance of the Divine Favour and Love. And 'tis That alone that can make the acquifition of any thing, that we moft heartily wish or moft eagerly pursue, a folid Comfort or real Bleffing to us. For the Wicked and Deceitful often may fucceed in their crooked and perverfe ways; but then, what they think their Happiness, as often proves their Punishment; their very Success is a Curfe, and as the Wife Man fays, The Profperity of Fools fball Destroy them. For fuch

in Solomon's Language are all thofe that lean upon their own Understanding, and Trust not their Works unto the Lord. That which they with so much Artifice and Cunning, so much Pains and Labour, have brought about, is at laft no more a True Bleffing to them, than it is the True Product, as they vainly flatter themselves, of their own Counfel and Wisdom. Alas! all the Best and Wife Counfels are nothing without God; much less all the Wiles and Contrivances, and the little Tricks and Deceits of the Wicked. What they think, and pride themselves in, as the Sole Authors of, (and there fore are really Guilty of all the Iniquity that they intended) is but under the Order and Difpofal of an All-controlling tho' Invifible Providence. With Him, fays Holy Job, is Strength and Wisdom; the Deceiv'd and the Deceiver are his (Job. 12. 16.) Even when They refift God's Reveal'd Will, they are fullfilling his Secret Will; and when Voluntarily Rebellious to the One, are in fpight of themselves Subfervient to the Other; and they wickedly execute, what his Wisdom, unknown to them, has juftly ordain'd.

Upon a full affurance of this Over-ruling Providential Power, the Righteous Man fets to work and having taken the Prudenteft means that Honefty and Confcience will let

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