Monday, January 9, 2023

God's providence is one work

 

'Tis with God's work of providence as it is with his work of creation: 'tis but one work. The events of providence ben't so many distinct independent works of providence, but they are rather so many different parts of one work of providence: 'tis all one work, one regular scheme. 

God's works of providence ben't disunited and jumbled, without connection or dependence. 

But all are united, just as the several parts of one building: there are many stones, many pieces of timber, but all are so joined and fitly framed together that8 they make but one building. They have all but one foundation, and are united at last in one topstone.

-- 520 --

God's providence may not unfitly be compared to a large and long river, having innumerable branches beginning in different regions, and at a great distance one from another, and all conspiring to one common issue. 

After their very diverse and contrary courses which they hold for a while, yet all gathering more and more together the nearer they come to their common end, and all at length discharging themselves at one mouth into the same ocean. The different streams of this river are ready to look like mere jumble and confusion to us because of the limitedness of our sight, whereby we can't see from one branch to another and can't see the whole at once, so as to see how all are united in one. 

A man that sees but one or two streams at a time can't tell what their course tends to. Their course seems very crooked, and the different streams seem to run for a9 while different and contrary ways. 

And if we view things at a distance, there seem to be innumerable obstacles and impediments in the way to hinder their ever uniting and coming to the ocean, as rocks and mountains and the like. But yet if we trace them they all unite at last and all come to the same issue, disgorging themselves in one into the same great ocean. 

Not one of all the streams fail of coming hither at last.




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