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How may a Perfon, who is defirous of following the Dictates of Providence in every Refpect, know the Mind and Will of God in any particular Circumftance, whe ther temporal or fpiritual ?

T

Hands, raised

HIS is a Question of for large an Extent, and of fo great Importance, that the very Sight of it, when it came into my in me a great Defire to give fome Solution of it. But, when I looked more attentively into the Nature and Purport of it, I found it to be a Question attended with so much Difficulty and fo much Nicety in many Cafes, that I was made almost to doubt whether I fhould attempt an Answer to it or no, However, looking up to the Spirit of God, and into the Word of God, for Direction in an Affair of fo much Moment, I have ventured upon it; and shall now offer you my Thoughts on the Subject in the most free and open Manner. And although I cannot pretend to give fuch a particular or fuch an extenfive Answer to it, as the Cafe may require; yet I shall not account my Labour in vain, if enabled to exhibit fome general Rules, which may be helpful to the ferious Chriftian in determining his Course of Duty.

As for those who

have not the Fear of God before their Eyes, they are unconcerned about the Matter; they go on in the Ways of their own Hearts, and in the Sight of their own Eyes,

157 Eyes, and, at beft, advance no higher than to follow the Maxims of human Prudence and worldly Wisdom. But the truly serious Perfon defires to follow the Dictates of Divine Providence in every Refpect, and is concerned to have the Lord going before him in every Step, pointing out his Way, and marking out his Path for him. He would not, he dares not walk at Random, as knowing that the Path of Duty is the only Path of Safety and Comfort. But how the Chriftian fhould know or find out his Path, is the great Queftion be

fore us.

Here then it will be neceffary firft to explain the Terms of the Question, and then give an Answer to it both negatively and pofitively.

I. As to the Explicaion of the Meaning of the Queftion itself: This is fo very needful, that, unless you attend to it, you will not be able to fee into the Nature and Suitableness of the Anfwer. For I apprehend that a great Part of the Difficulty belonging to the Subject arifes from a Mifunderstanding or a Mifapplication of the Terms in which it is conceived; and a clear Conception of the Meaning of the Cafe propofed will of itself prevent many Miftakes, and will give a general Clue for the Solution of it.

There is fome Reason to fear, that, by the Mind and Will of God in a particular Circumftance, many underftand fomething that is abfolutely unknown to us, or not to be known by us without a fpecial, fresh Revelation: And therefore, when they are feeking after, or praying for the Knowledge of the Divine Will, they aim at fome peculiar Illuminations or Impreffions, which are neither to be fought after, nor to be depended upon; by which Means they are unneceffarily perplexed, and often fadly deluded. We must therefore, in this

Cafe,

Cafe, be particularly upon our Guard against a Species of Enthusiasm, which we may be too easily inclined to, and infnared by.

To prevent Mistakes of this Nature, let it be obferved, that these Phrases, the Dictates of Providence, and the Mind or Will of God; though they are very proper to the Subject, yet are truly metaphorical. Let me therefore express what we mean, (1.) by the Dictates of Providence; (2.) by the Mind and Will of God in a particular Circumstance; and, (3.) by following these Dictates of Providence, or conforming ourfelves to this Will of God.

(1.) What is meant by the Dictates or Voice of Providence. We are not to imagine that Divine Providence of itself, abftractedly confidered, makes known any Thing to us: But we muft include his Word of Revelation in the Affair. For in Reality, by the Voice of Providence, we mean the Voice of God in his Word, concerning our Duty as to the particular Providences we are attended with. Thus we fay, that afflictive Providences have an humbling Voice in them; by which, I prefume, is meant, that, when we are under afflictive Difpenfations, the divine Word directs and teaches us to submit to, and be humble under, the mighty Hand of God. Profperous Circumftances call us to Thankfulness; i. e. God requires us to be thankful for all his Mercies to us; and, when fuch Favours are bestowed upon us, it then becomes our Duty to be thankful for them.

A Situation of Special Temptation or Infnarement has a Voice in it to call us to Watchfulness; i. e. 'Tis the Mind and Will of God, by his Word, that we should be peculiarly upon our Guard, when Providence brings us into fuch Circumftances of Trial, Thefe Particulars are

introduced

introduced in this Place as familiar Inftances, to give an Idea of what we mean by the Voice of Providence. And if we clearly conceive the true Import of the Phrafe by these Hints, we may proceed and apply the Thought to those Circumstances, which more nearly concern the prefent Question, after this Manner: Whenfoever Providence hedges or ftops up one Way of Safety, Comfort, or Duty, fo that we cannot proceed any farther in it, and at the fame Time opens out another Way to go in; then it is evidently the Voice or Dictate of this Providence, that we should leave the former Way, and betake ourselves to the other, which appears to be most conducive to our Safety, Usefulness, or Comfort: Which is the fame as to say, that God makes it our Duty, by his Word, to take fuch Steps as appear most conducive to his Glory, and our real Good, in all Circumstances in general; and fo, by this general Rule, it becomes our Duty in the Circumftance above fuppofed to leave one Path of Life, and purfue another. And now it will be more eafy to learn,

(2.) What is meant by the Mind and Will of God in any particular Circumftance. For it cannot intend any Secret locked up in the Divine Breaft, which must be made known by a special Revelation: But we muft understand by it the revealed Will of God, which by its more general, or more particular Rules gives us proper Directions for Duty, and Safety, and Ufefulness, in any diftinct Circumftances of Life or Providence. And therefore,

(3.) To follow the Dictates of Providence, must mean no other than to act agreeable to the Laws of Duty, Prudence, and Safety, in any particular Circumftance, according to the Directions or Determinations of the Word and Law of God. He follows thefe Dictates,

who

who takes a due Survey of the Situation he is placed in, compares that with the Rules of the Word which reach the Cafe, and acts accordingly. Such a Person neither delays when Providence calls, nor hurries on before it calls.

Having thus explained the Terms of the Queftion, I doubt not but you fee that the very Explication itself tends to folve many Difficulties, and prevent many Mistakes, and to give you a general Clue for your Conduct. Let us now bring down what has been faid into the Queftion itself. It fuppofes that you have fome particular Affair depending, whether temporal or fpiritual; that you are at fome Lofs to determine which Way to act, or what Method to take: And you defire to know what is the Mind and Will of God in the prefent Cafe. Here then let me beg you to recollect in your Thoughts, what you do or fhould mean by this Will of God. It certainly means no more than for you to be able to understand and judge what is the propereft Course to be taken, agreeable to the Situation you are in, and agreeable to the Rules and Directions of the divine Word

.in your Cafe. If you mean any more than this, I apprehend you aim at and intrude into thofe Things which are not seen, and which it is not your Bufinefs to know: For fecret Things belong to God. Deut. xxix. 29.

In order to come at the Knowledge of that which it is proper and needful for us to be acquainted with, we are taught by Prudence and Conscience to make Use of, (1.) Deliberation. (2.) Confultation. (3.) Supplication.

Our Deliberation fhould be ferious and attentive. We fhould look around us, and obferve what Condition and Circumftances we are in; fhould turn our Thoughts about every Way that we can, in order to view our Situation in every Point of Light in which it appears;

and