Wretched Man That I Am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Feb

5

The Mystery of Providence-Chapter 1

Filed Under puritan reading challenge, reading

And so we begin month two of the Puritan Reading Challenge…

Timmy Brister’s post on Who is John Flavel.

 

Introduction

I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me - Ps 57:2

The Duty Resolved On

  • Intense and Fervent Prayer

The Encouragement to that Resolution

  • Taken from the sovereignty of God and from the experience of His Providence

I will cry unto God most high p17-Upon this he acts his faith in extremity of danger. Saul is high, but God is the most high, and without His permission he is assured Saul cannot touch him. He had none to help, and if he had, he knew God must first help the helpers or they cannot help him.

This reminds me of thoughts I’ve had and things I’ve read regarding being discontented with your current situation (work, spouse, children, illness, etc).
How can we possibly feel we are deserving of more than what God wants for us at any given time. If He wanted us to be happier at work, or to have a perfect marriage or ideal children or clean health… we would. We are where we are because he wants us there.

p18 - Payment is the performance of promises. Grace makes the promise, and Providence te payment.

p19 - Providence not only undertakes but perfects what concerns us.

Providence isn’t an attempt… it is an accomplishment. It is finished.

p19 - For what are the works of Providence but the execution of God’s decree and the fulfilling of his Word?

If we want to know where we are going to end up, we have the answer right in our hands. His Holy Word. It may even help answer some of the questions we raise about what we are going through on the way…

p20 - It is the duty of the saints, especially in the times of straits, to reflect upon the performances of Providence for them in all the state and through all the stages of their lives.
If thou be a Christian indeed, I know thou hast, if not in thy book,yet certainly in thy heart, a great many precious favours upon record; the very remembrance and rehearsal of them is sweet; how much more sweet was the actual enjoyment? - Baxter

Sure… but how do we muster up those feelings and reflections when we need them… the Holy Spirit…

p21 - Twofold reflection upon the providential works of God
1-Entire and full, in its whole complex and perfect system
2-Partial and imperfect which we have on the way to glory, during which we only view it inits signle acts, or at most, in some branches and more observable series of actions.

Chapter 1

p38 - If no sin were punished here, no Providence would be believed; and if every sin should be punished here, no judgment would be expected-Augustine.

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