"Providential Care"

In every trial and tribulation, let us find comfort in the knowledge that God, in His infinite wisdom, orchestrates all for the good of His chosen people. God's hand is behind every event, crafting our lives for His glory. 

[John Owen] 

The providence of God is a tapestry of grace, where every thread, even the darkest, contributes to the glorious picture of our salvation. His providence is a rich treasure; He knows how to turn our trials into triumphs, our sorrows into songs. [Thomas Watson] 

The heart that loves God finds peace in knowing that even the most confusing paths are ordered by Him for our benefit. [Richard Sibbes] 

To love God is to rest in His sovereign will, trusting that even the most perplexing circumstances are shaped for our ultimate good. In every situation, whether in joy or sorrow, we are called to trust that God is orchestrating the events of our lives for His glory. 

[Jonathan Edwards] 

Though the winds may howl and the storms rage, we are assured that God's hand is upon us, guiding every event to our benefit and His glory. 

[Richard Baxter] 

God's providence is a divine compass, guiding our lives through every storm, always pointing us toward our true good and His eternal glory. In the tapestry of life, every thread of sorrow is skillfully woven by God, contributing to the beauty of our salvation. 

[Matthew Henry] 

God's providence is like a skilled artisan who, though unseen, is weaving our lives into a masterpiece, with every thread serving His holy purpose! 

[John Bunyan] 

All that befalls us, whether sweet or bitter, is ordained by God, who works all things in concert for the good of those who are called according to His purpose. 

[William Perkins]

Trust in the Lord, for He has a wise design in every affliction, transforming our pain into a pathway of grace. Trust the divine Designer; He weaves even our pain into His purpose. 

[Samuel Rutherford] 

We may often walk through the valley of shadows, but remember, dear believer, that God is sovereignly guiding our steps toward a glorious end! We may rest assured that even the harshest providences are part of God's plan, working towards a good that we may not yet see. 

[John Flavel]

Romans 8:28 ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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Tenacious Upon The Mad Pursuit!

Worldly men imagine that there is true excellence and true happiness in those worldly things that they so arduously pursue. They imagine that if they could but obtain them, they would be happy. But when they procure them and cannot find happiness in that then they change their course and look for happiness in some other earthly vanity. 

Hence, they spend their life tenacious upon the mad pursuit! "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!" (Ecclesiastes 12:8) But Christ Jesus has true excellence, and so great excellence that when they come to know Him, they look no further, but the mind rests there! "Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" (Song of Solomon 5:16)  

A saving knowledge of Christ is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to Heaven, fully to enjoy Him, is the fullness of bliss! He who has Christ, has all that he needs, and needs no more. 

[Jonathan Edwards] 

Matthew 13:44-46 ... Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

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Alone Time.

I believe it is a relentless drive for 'alone time' w/God that makes spiritual giants out of mere men & women in every century. I also believe time alone with God is the secret to indomitable faith, desire for holiness, quiet inner strength, endless sobriety for strugglers, and deep joy on the journey of life. 

[Jonathan Edwards]

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Job 22:21 ... Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

1 Corinthians 1:9 ... God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm 46:10 ... Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  ❤

So Great an Excellency!

Worldly men imagine that there is true excellency and true happiness in those things which they are pursuing. They think that if they could but obtain them, that they would be happy. But when they obtain them and cannot find happiness then they look for happiness in something else and are still upon the futile pursuit. There is a transcendent glory, and an ineffable sweetness in Christ. Jesus Christ has true excellency, and so great an excellency that when you come to truly see Him, you look no further, but your mind rests there. You see that you had been pursuing shadows, but now you have found the substance. You realize that you had been seeking happiness in the stream, but now you have found the ocean. The excellency of Christ is an object adequate to the natural cravings of the soul and is sufficient to fill its capacity. Christ has an infinite excellency, such as the mind desires, in which it can find no bounds. 

The more the mind contemplates Him, the more excellent does He appear. Each new discovery of Christ makes His beauty appear more ravishing, and the mind can see no end to His excellency. There is room enough for the mind to go deeper and deeper, and never come to the bottom. Christ's excellency is always fresh and new and will as much delight us after we have beheld Him a thousand or ten thousand years as when we have seen Him the first moment. The soul is exceedingly ravished when it first looks on the beauty of Christ. It is never weary of Him. 

[Jonathan Edwards] 

Song of Solomon 5:16 ...  His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

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No Strange Thing!

Men that have their spirits heated and enraged and rising in bitter resentment when they are injured act as if they thought some strange thing had happened to them. Whereas they are very foolish in so thinking for it is no strange thing at all but only what was to be expected in a world like this. They therefore do not act wisely that allow their spirits to be ruffled by the injuries they suffer. 

[Jonathan Edwards]

1 Peter 4:12-13 ... Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

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Why Conceal The Truth?

What has more especially given offence to many and raised a loud cry against some preachers, as though their conduct were intolerable is their frightening poor children with talk of Hell-fire and eternal damnation. But if those who complain so loudly of this, really believe the Scriptures that all by nature are children of wrath and and heirs of Hell and that every one that has not been born again, whether he be young or old, is exposed every moment to eternal destruction, then such a complaint and cry as this betrays a great deal of weakness and inconsideration. 

As innocent as children seem to us yet if they are out of Christ, they are not so in the sight of God; but are in a most miserable condition, as well as grown up persons. They are naturally senseless and stupid, being born as the wild donkey's colt, and need much to spiritually awaken them. Why should we conceal the truth from them? Will those children who have been dealt overly tender in this respect, and lived and died insensible of their misery till they come to feel it in Hell, ever thank parents and others for their tenderness in not letting them know their danger? 

If parent's love towards their children were not blind, it would affect them much more to see their children every day exposed to eternal burnings, and yet senseless of their doom; than to see them suffer the distress of that awakening which is necessary in order to escape from Hell, and which tends to their being eternally happy as the children of God. A child that has a dangerous wound may need the painful lance, as well as grown persons; that would be a foolish pity in such a case, which should hold back the lance, and throw away the life! 

I have seen the happy effects of dealing plainly and thoroughly with children in the concerns of their souls, without sparing them at all. I never knew any ill consequence of it, in any one instance! 

[Jonathan Edwards]

Proverbs 13:24 ... He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

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Holiness!!

Holiness, as I then wrote down some of my contemplations on it-appeared to me to be of a sweet, calm, pleasant, charming, serene nature, which brought an inexpressible purity, brightness, peacefulness, ravishment to the soul; in other words, that it made the soul like a field or garden of God, with all manner of pleasant fruits and flowers, all delightful and undisturbed, enjoying a sweet calm and the gentle vivifying beams of the sun.

[Jonathan Edwards] 

Romans 6:22 ...  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.♥

The Beauty of Holiness

Holiness appeared to me to be of a sweet, pleasant, charming, serene, calm nature; which brought an inexpressible purity, brightness, peacefulness and ravishment to the soul.

[Jonathan Edwards]

2 Chronicles 20:21 … And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 96:9 … O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

Ephesians 4:24 … And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.❤

How Astonishing!

How astonishing it is, that One who is forever blessed and is infinitely and essentially happy should endure the greatest sufferings that ever were endured!

How astonishing it is, that One who is the supreme Lord and Judge of the world should be arraigned and stand at the judgment seat of mortal worms, and then be condemned!

How astonishing it is, that One who is the living God and the fountain of all life should be put to death!

How astonishing it is, that One who created the world and gives life to all His creatures should be put to death by His own creatures!

How astonishing it is, that One of infinite majesty and glory, and so the object of the love, praises and adoration of angels should be mocked and spit upon by the vilest of men!

How astonishing it is, that One who is infinitely good and who is love itself should suffer the greatest cruelty!

How astonishing it is, that One who is infinitely beloved by the Father should be put to inexpressible anguish under His own Father's wrath!

How astonishing it is, that One who is the King of Heaven, who has Heaven for His throne and earth for His footstools should be buried in the dungeon of the grave!

How astonishing is all of this!

And yet this is the way that God's wisdom has fixed upon as the way of sinners' salvation, as neither unsuitable nor dishonorable to Christ.

[Jonathan Edwards]

1 John 3:1 … Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

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True Excellency

Worldly men imagine that there is true excellency and true happiness in those things which they are pursuing. They think that if they could but obtain them, that they would be happy. But when they obtain them, and cannot find happiness then they look for happiness in something else, and are still upon the futile pursuit.  There is a transcendent glory, and an ineffable sweetness in Christ.

Jesus Christ has true excellency, and so great an excellency, that when you come to truly see Him, you look no further, but your mind rests there.  You see that you had been pursuing shadows, but now you have found the substance.  You realize that you had been seeking happiness in the stream, but now you have found the ocean.

The excellency of Christ is an object adequate to the natural cravings of the soul, and is sufficient to fill its capacity.  Christ has an infinite excellency, such as the mind desires, in which it can find no bounds.  The more the mind contemplates Him, the more excellent does He appear.  Each new discovery of Christ makes His beauty appear more ravishing, and the mind can see no end to His excellency. There is room enough for the mind to go deeper and deeper, and never come to the bottom.

Christ's excellency is always fresh and new, and will as much delight us after we have beheld Him a thousand, or ten thousand years--as when we have seen Him the first moment.  The soul is exceedingly ravished when it first looks on the beauty of Christ. It is never weary of Him.

[Jonathan Edwards]

Song of Solomon 5:16 … His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

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The Remedy

Christ is not only a remedy for your weariness and trouble, but he will give you an abundance of the contrary, joy and delight. They who come to Christ, do no only come to a resting-place after they have been wandering in a wilderness, but they come to a banqueting-house where they may rest, and where they may feast. They may cease from their former troubles and toils, and they may enter upon a course of delights and spiritual joys.

[Jonathan Edwards]

Romans 15:13 ... Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.❤

Not Innocent in God's Eyes

What has given offense to many and raised a loud cry against some preachers, as though their conduct was intolerable is their frightening of poor, innocent children with talk of Hell-fire and eternal damnation.  But if those who complain so loudly of this, really believe that all are by nature the children of wrath and heirs of Hell and that everyone who has not been born again, whether he is young or old is exposed every moment to eternal destruction, and under the wrath of Almighty God, I say, if they really believe this, then such a complaint betrays a great deal of weakness and inconsideration.

As innocent as children seem to be to us, yet if they are out of Christ then they are not innocent in God's sight, but are young vipers! They are infinitely more hateful than vipers and are in a most miserable condition, as well as grown persons.  Why should we conceal the truth from them? Will those children who have been dealt tenderly with in this respect, and lived and died insensible of their misery until they come to feel it in Hell ever thank parents and others for their tenderness in not letting them know what they were in danger of?

If parents' love toward their children was not blind then it would affect them much more to see their children every day exposed to eternal burnings!  A child who has a dangerous wound may need the painful lance, as well as grown persons. That would be a foolish pity in such a case, which would hold back the lance and throw away the child's life.

That little children have committed no positive acts of vice is no argument that they have not a corrupt nature within them. A young viper has a malignant nature though incapable of doing a malignant action, and at present appearing to be a harmless creature.  I have seen the happy effects of dealing plainly and thoroughly with children in the concerns of their souls, without sparing them at all; and never knew any ill consequence of it, in any one instance.

[Jonathan Edwards]

Ephesians 2:3 ... Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

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Christ, The Example of Ministers

It is not only our great duty, but will be our greatest honor, to imitate Christ, and do the work that He has done and so act as co-workers with Him.  The ministers of Christ should be persons of the same spirit that their Lord was of the same spirit of humility and lowliness of heart; for the servant is not greater than his Lord.  They should be of the same spirit of heavenly-mindedness, and contempt of the glory, wealth, and pleasures of this world.  They should be of the same spirit of devotion and fervent love to God.

They should follow the example of His prayerfulness; of whom we read from time to time of His retiring from the world, away from the noise and applause of the multitudes, into mountains and solitary places, for secret prayer, and holy converse with His Father.

Ministers should be persons of the same quiet, lamb-like spirit that Christ was of; of the same spirit of submission to God's will; of the same patience under afflictions, and meekness towards men; of the same calmness and composure of spirit under sufferings from the malignity of evil men; of the same spirit of forgiveness of injuries; of the same spirit of charity, of fervent love and extensive benevolence; of the same disposition to pity the miserable, and to weep with those who weep; of the same spirit of condescension to the poor and lowly, tenderness and gentleness toward the weak, and great and sincere love to enemies.

They should also be of the same spirit of zeal, diligence, and self-denial for the glory of God, and advancement for his kingdom, and for the good of mankind; for which things sake Christ went though the greatest labors, and endured the most extreme sufferings.

And in order to our imitating Christ in the work of the ministry, in any tolerable degree we should not have our hearts weighed down, and time filled up with worldly affections, cares, and pursuits.

The duties of a minister that have been recommended, are absolutely inconsistent with a mind much taken up with worldly profit, glory, amusements and entertainments.

[Jonathan Edwards]

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1 Peter 2:21 ... or even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:


1 John 2:6 ...  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.


1 Corinthians 11:1 ... Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.❤

A Great Tree

That which was in the heart on earth as but a grain of mustard seed, shall be as a great tree in Heaven.

[Jonathan Edwards]

Psalm 52:8 ...  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

Psalm 92:12 ... The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Luke 13:18-19 ... Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?   It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.❤

Never Have I Been So Sensible

Never have I been so sensible of how vain a creature man is, what a leaf driven by the wind, what dry stubble, what poor dust, a bubble, a shadow, a nothing, and more vain than nothing!

And never have I been so sensible of what a vain and vile and helpless creature I am, and how much I need God's help in everything.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

 

 

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Job 42:5-6 ... I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
 

Psalm 39:6 ... Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
 

Psalm 119:117 ... Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
 

John 15:5 ... I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.❤

My Portion!

The redeemed have all their good in God. God Himself is the great good which they are brought to the possession and enjoyment of by redemption. He is the highest good, and the sum of all that good which Christ purchased. God Himself is the inheritance of the saints; He is the portion of their souls. God Himself is their wealth and treasure, their food, their life, their dwelling place, their ornament and diadem, and their everlasting honor and glory!

 

The glorious excellencies and beauty of God will be what will forever entertain the minds of the saints. The love of God will be their everlasting feast. The redeemed will indeed enjoy other things; they will enjoy the angels, and will enjoy one another. But that which they shall enjoy in the angels, or each other, or in anything else whatsoever, which will yield them delight and happiness, will be what will be seen of God in them!

[Jonathan Edwards]

 

 

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Psalm 16:5 ... The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

 

 

 

Psalm 119:57 ...  Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.

 

 

 

Psalm 73:26 ... My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.


Psalm 142:5 ... I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.❤

True Love to God

A true love to God must begin with a delight in His holiness, and not with a delight in any other attribute; for no other attribute is truly lovely without this.

[Jonathan Edwards]

Psalm 96:9 ... O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

1 Chronicles 16:29 ... Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

1 John 5:2 ... By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. ❤