LETTER VII.

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

To —

The excellent Dr. Hawker remarks, in his “Gleaner,” “It would be well if every child of God would form one memorandum, at least, in his mind, which no passing event could obliterate; namely, that the Lord’s eye is over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers.” The Lord revealed himself to the patriarch, Jacob, as the God of his Fathers, in an everlasting covenant, and with this precious addition—“And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again to this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”—_Gen._ xxviii. to the end.

The reader of Jacob’s history, in the Bible, will know, that many a dark providence beset Jacob after this, and numberless sharp exercises, but the promise never failed. It has been, and still is, the Lord’s delight to manifest his care for his this people in a way of providence, before and after their conversion; a being enabled to trace some of those gracious manifestations, and to be assured that the chequered inditings of providence are written with the finger of love, will most blessedly bow our necks to the yoke, and produce our resignation to his sovereign will.—The whole Bible is an exhibition of what the Lord is to his people, and what he has done for them in grace and providence; and what is providence, but the hand of Divine Faithfulness, making good his precious promises? The word providence is never but once used in the Bible, that I remember, and that is in the flattering speech of Tertullus, _Acts_, xxiv, 2. And what is providence, but the Creator of all things, making provision for all his creatures? As the God of providence, he is the Saviour of all men—the preserver—but especially of them which believe; this was an article in Abraham’s faith—he called the name of that place Jehovah, Jireh, God will provide. It is our mercy to be enabled to watch his hand in our personal concerns—and those who regard not the work of the Lord, he will destroy them.

The proud hearts of the carnal wicked world, in general, ascribe their mercies to fortune, luck, and chance—the trinity of fools; and such pour sovereign contempt on that Providence which ordereth all things in heaven and on earth; but whoso is wise will observe these things, and he shall understand the kindness of the Lord. Hence the saying of the wise—“Whoso eyeth the providence of the Lord shall never want a providence to watch.” This has been true in the experience, more or less, of all the Lord’s tried people, who have waded through much tribulation, and arrived safe at home: and this is the present experience of the Lord’s people upon earth; it is a part of their life of faith, and often produces prayer and praise, watchfulness, and gratitude—so I have found it, almost through the whole course of my life. Amongst thousands of circumstances I have read of the Lord’s gracious dealings with his people, in providence, I remember one, in particular, in the case of Mr. Fox, who wrote the Book of Martyrs, in the close of the reign of Henry the Eighth;—that he went to London, where the want of employment soon reduced his pocket to emptiness, and every source of maintenance failed: in this situation, as he sat one day in St. Paul’s church, spent with long fasting, his countenance thin, his eyes hollow, and with the ghostly appearance of a dying man, every one seemed to shun him with horror; there came one to him whom he had never seen before, and thrust into his hand an untold sum of money, bidding him to be of good cheer, and accept that small gift in good part; adding, that in a few days new hopes were at hand, and a more certain condition of livelihood; and sure enough it came to pass—for, within three days after, the Duchess of Richmond sent for him, to live in her house, and to become the tutor of the Earl of Surrey’s children, then under her care. Thus, as the German proverb says,—“When the bricks are doubled, then comes Moses;”—that is, man’s greatest extremity is God’s opportunity.

The best treatise I ever read on Divine Providence is the excellent Flavell’s “Mystery of the Divine Conduct:” and the most remarkable accounts of the appearance of Providence, next to the Bible, is in Professor Frank’s account of the building of the orphan-house at Glauca, which astonished the King of Prussia, so that he desired the whole account of it. I wish every Christian was in possession of it.—The account of the life of Mr. Barry, as re-published by Mr. Huntington, is very interesting; so also is that gentleman’s “Bank of Faith:” it has encouraged many of the Lord’s people to trust in the Saviour; and they have proved him to be “The faithful God.” Infidels who are white-washed with a profession of religion, have made that book the subject of their sport, banter, and ridicule; but it is a simple correct statement of facts; and my readers, if taught of God, can probably give their testimony, likewise, to similar facts—“For the hand of the Lord shall be known towards his servant.” Foote, in his play of “The Minor,” ridiculed this subject of Providence in a most scurrilous manner, wherein that revered character, the rev. George Whitfield, under the assumed name of Dr. Squintum, is made to pervert and abuse Divine Providence, in the following doggerel lines:—

“Near the mad mansion of Moorfields I bawl, Friends, fathers, mothers, sisters, one and all, _Shut up your shops_, and listen to my call; With labour, toil, all _second means dispense_; And live a rent charge upon _Providence_: Prick up your ears, a story I will tell, Which once a widow and her child befel; I knew the daughter and her mother well. Poor, it is true, they were, but never wanted, For, whatsoe’er they asked, it was granted; One fatal day, the matron’s faith was tried, She wanted meat and drink, and fairly cried. ‘Mother! you cry;’ ‘Oh! child, I’ve got no bread;’ ‘What matters that?—Why, Providence arn’t dead!’ With reason good this truth the child might say, For there came in at noon, that very day, Bread, greens, potatoes, and a leg of mutton, A better, sure, a table ne’er was put on.”

_Gospel Mag. Feb._ 1824.

This is a base attack upon Divine Providence, as though persons who believe in it, and have so much experience of it, gave themselves up to indolence, neglecting the use of means to support themselves and families. It is to be lamented that there are some in all churches and chapels, who are mumping about in idleness, and talking about religion, to deceive the simple and unwary, and from such I have suffered a little in pocket and character. But the apostle, by virtue of his high commission, has said—“For this we commanded you, that if any _will not_ work, neither shall he eat.” A neglect of the means is most daring presumption; and none but a hypocrite could act so: but the sincere Christian, who, in the use of means, is watching the hand of God, will be often honoured with the gracious appearances of God in his divine providences; for that God who fed the Israelites forty years in the wilderness, conducted Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees, increased the widow’s oil and meal, sent out his apostles with a staff only, will supply the _needs_, not the _wants_ of his people. Surely I can set to my seal. This is true.

The good hand of God appeared in answering my poor breathings, at an early period. I was about 18 years of age when I particularly began to watch the hand of God in a providential way. I was involved in a difficulty, although not of my own seeking; yet I had to bear the trouble. I was exceedingly distressed for a few shillings, and it came into my mind to call on the Lord to send it me, by some means, as I had not a friend in the world, to whom I could apply for it. I traversed the garden of the house where I lived, and made my case known to the Lord, urging his care of me, and the early tokens he had given me of his love. The next morning I had occasion to go out on an errand, and, in a very conspicuous place, I saw a one-pound note lay on the ground; and, although it was very windy weather, being in the month of March, yet the note lay still. I could see no one near, to whom it belonged, nor did I ever hear of any one who had lost it. This delivered me entirely from that trouble: I bought a Bible and another good book with the change—this taught me the blessedness of carrying my temporal affairs to the Lord, who has the concerns of all his dear people in his hands, and is the appointed heir of all things to his church.

Soon after this I had a very severe trial to undergo. My arbitrary master had endeavoured to prejudice the Governors of the Foundling Hospital against me, entirely on account of religion; I had to make my appearance before them, to answer for my conduct. I laid this case before the Lord, and begged his Divine Majesty to fulfil his gracious promise, in my experience, as he did for his dear servants, the apostles.—“I will give you a mouth and wisdom.” This promise I turned into constant prayer, and the Lord answered me, to the joy of my heart. My adversary was conquered, and I was commended.

When I left my apprenticeship, being separated from my master by a magistrate, after serving him duty and truly for nine years; yet, having two years more of my time to serve, I was left destitute of a home:—relations I never knew, and where to lay my head I know not. I had but three bad half-peace in the world. I well remember leaning against a post, in Moor-street, Seven Dials, and, while my heart was ready to break, I begged of the Lord to direct me which way to go; but, while looking up for direction, it was brought to my mind where to go, and what to do, and there the Lord opened a door in providence. When I had left my situation in the Borough, a person had previously promised me work; but when I went to him, he pretended to have forgot such a promise, and I was again left destitute. I knew not what to do, but the Lord led out my mind in prayer, that he would appear for me; and, in less than ten minutes, I again found an answer to prayer, by a door being opened for me. I found the Lord appear again in a few months after this, in a most remarkable manner: and thus the Lord continually followed me, wherever I went, and manifested his providential care towards me. I was, at one time, brought very low, and all things seemed to fail, to that I was reduced to a sad extremity; when, passing by St. Clement’s church, by the light of a window, I saw some halfpence lay on the ground, which I greedily picked up, and went on blessing God who had appeared for me, at that time. And, as I found the good hand of God in my low situation, I was destined to see more of his good hand in a more eminent manner; and it would, indeed, fill a volume to rehearse the many conspicuous providences that I experienced in my family. When we have been reduced to the greatest necessity, the Lord has sent relief in the very moment of extremity. Having married, as related before, I was completely destitute of furniture; I acknowledge this was imprudent, but my concern was getting my bird before I had a cage to put it in: yet the Lord, in due time, sent us first one article, and then another, in a most surprising manner. A gentleman also sent me a good suit of clothes, with a charge frequently to read the 12th chapter of Luke.

When I first began to preach, it was in coloured cloaths; but a friend soon after sent me a suit of black. When my wife was taken in labour, with one of her children, we had but two-pence in the world, which distressed her feelings; but, looking to the Lord, without naming our circumstances to any, abundance of mercies flowed in a whole month—and, as my family increased, so the Lord increased my income. When leaving the country, I was sixty pounds in debt; but, in a few weeks, the Lord raised me up friends to pay that: and, how often, when we have been destitute of money, of food, and of clothes, has his good hand appeared! Frequently when others have been distressed, I have relieved them, to my own injury, for the time; but the Lord has always amply repaid me. Amongst many instances I will only relate this:—a poor, but good man, was in prison for debt: he sent to me for thirty or forty shillings; I had just thirty, and sent it to him. On the preaching-night satan harassed my mind sorely in the pulpit, on account of my folly; but, as soon as I had concluded my sermon, a lady came into the vestry, and put two pounds in my hand—thus I was paid well. And so I have found it true, that he that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord; and that which he layeth out he will pay him again.

All my days I have been a pensioner on the Divine Providence for every shilling—for food and raiment. Many a one has relieved my wants, when they had not the least idea I was at that moment in extremity. I can only look back with wonder and gratitude at forty years’ experience of superabounding grace; at thousands of displays of a kind providence; and the amazing manifestations of divine care and faithfulness; and, at times, overwhelmed with a sense of covenant goodness, can only say, with David, “Who am I, O Lord God, that thou hast brought me hitherto; and is this the manner of men, O Lord God?”—Oh, for a grateful heart.

Yours, J. C.

I must observe, here, that it is the business of faith not only to be looking to Jesus for salvation, but to be eyeing God, in Christ, as a covenant God, in temporal mercies; and to be perpetually pleading what God is, and what he has promised in the covenant: it is a mercy to see him, as the Father, the begetter of mercies, and to be looking to his care for us. “He careth for you.” His wisdom in managing; his condescension; his free grace; his divine sovereignty; the gracious ends he has in view; the channel of atoning blood, through which all our temporal mercies flow; and the amazing goodness of God in all, both in what is _denied_ us, and what is _given_ us!

“Good when he gives, supremely good, Nor less, when he denies; E’en crosses, from his sovereign hand, Are blessings in disguise.”

And “All things whatsoever ye shall ask, in my name, I will do it.” This may be ridiculed by fools; but many such have been forced, in extremity, to call upon God to appear in that very providence they have ridiculed; some in storms at sea, and some in trouble on land; the confession of a God of providence has been extorted from the lips of those who have denied him. A great writer remarks, concerning the Persian army, when discomfited by the Grecians—“being hotly pursued, we must needs venture over the great water, Strymon, then frozen, but beginning to thaw—when, a hundred to one but we had all died for it. With mine eyes I then saw so many of these gallants, whom I had heard so boldly maintain _there was no God_, every one upon their knees, with eyes and hands lifted up, begging hard for help and mercy, and entreating that the ice might hold till they get over;” and sure I am, that the character that lives and dies without pleading for mercy, in this world, will beg in vain _for a drop of water in hell_.

Yours, J. C.