The Mystery of Providence Chapter 9

Chapter 9 is one of the longest chapters in The Mystery of Providence. The major theme of this chapter is direction on meditating upon the Providence of God. Flavel will give 5 major headings of advice and then various pointers under each of these. The best way to outline this would be to give the 5 major headings and then expound a little upon each. To avoid a very lengthy post I will give the five headings and link to a page where you can read more on each point.

• Labor to get as full and thorough a recognition as you are able of the providences of God concerning you from first to last. Read more...
• In all your observations of Providence have special respect to that Word of God which is fulfilled and made good to you by them. Read more...
• In all your reviews and observations of Providence, be sure that you eye God as the author and orderer of them all. Read more...
• Work up your hearts to those frames, and exercise those affections which the particular providences of God that concern you call for. Read more...
• If Providence delays the performance of any mercy to you that you have long waited and prayed for, yet see that you do not despond, nor grow weary of waiting upon God for that reason. Read more...
• Do not pry too curiously into the secrets of Providence, nor allow your shallow reason arrogantly to judge and censure its designs. Read more...

Discussion:

Flavel's first point is an encouragement to keep a journal. One of the best ways to remember the workings of Providence is to look back over past journal entries. We are prone to forget prayers, and often those "little" things that are major workings of God in us.

Would it be a good practice to determine all of the promises of God and mark their fulfilment in your life?

There is no doubt that Flavel's statement on page 127 is true: "One of word of God can do more than ten thousand words of men to relieve a distressed soul." Yet, why is it that so often when I am distressed I turn to find comfort in people instead of quietly sitting under the Word? Certainly, the Lord speaks through people--but shouldn't our first instinct be to find comfort in our prayer closets?

Do our affections match that of God? This is Flavel's concern on page 132. Yet, is this such a thing that we could even attain to? Isn't the affection of God so diverse that no human can really even comprehend it? Certaintly, there is, though, something for us to learn from Flavel's exhortation.

Oh, what pity it is to be outside of saving grace! To think that even the difficult times of life are a sign of patient mercy and are far better than what you have awaiting. To the believer, difficult times are but a temporary affliction that will be cast of forever. To the unbeliever, difficult times are but a tempoprary mercy that will not last forever, and serves as more a preview of things to come. Oh, how sad, and how open our hearts should be to preach the gospel to every soul.

This statement greatly spoke to me: "Beware therefore you do not lean too much to your own reasonings and understandings. Nothing is more plausible, nothing is more dangerous."