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miferable on the Account of thofe Sins in a future State, yet he frequently ordereth it fo that they fuffer under the Effects of them in this. A remarkable Inftance of which we have in God's Dealing with David. Though when he was brought to a deep and ingenuous Repentance for his Sins, the Prophet Nathan was commiffioned to declare to him in the Name of God, The Lord hath put away thy Sin, thou shalt not die. 2 Sam. xii. 13. yet many and grievous Penalties were inflicted upon him, the most shocking Calamities were raised against him out of his own Family; all which were to be regarded as the Judgments of God upon him on the Account of his Sins. And this is certainly a very wife Procedure well fuited to this State of Difcipline, the more effectually to impress Mens Minds with a deep Senfe of the great Evil of Sin, and God's just Displeasure against it; in that he will not let it go folutely unpunished, even in those who have turned to him with a true Contrition. Let no Man, therefore, prefume to venture upon Sin in the Hope and Expectation of Pardon upon Repentance; fince even though his Repentance fhould be fincere, and of the right Kind, yet many bad Effects of his Sins may ftill continue. How often doth it happen that Perfons, even af

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ter Repentance and Reformation, are made to poffefs the Sins of their Youth! In confequence of their former Vices they suffer by grievous Pains and Diseases of Body, or by Breaches made upon their Fortunes, even after they have heartily repented, and forfaken thofe Sins which first brought those Evils upon them.

Seventhly, The Inequality of Mens outward Conditions and Circumstances, the Uncertainty and Inftability of human Affairs, and the many Viciffitudes to which they are fubject, which have been often urged as Objections against Providence, do yet, if duly confidered, furnish manifest Proofs of the divine Wisdom. It might eafily be shewn that the remarkable Variety of Mens Conditions and Circumftances in this prefent State is much more wifely ordered, than if all Men were levelled to the fame Condition. It gives greater Scope for Industry, and is better fuited to the Variety of Mens Powers and Capacities. It would be as abfurd to expect or require, that all Men in the Community or political Body fhould be in the fame Station or Circumstances, as that all the Members of the natural Body should be exactly in the fame Situation and Pofition. Different Abilities, Conditions, and Stations, are necessary to mutual Affistance and Dependence, and to

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the Exercise of focial Virtues, and bind Men more strongly together in Society; all concurring in their feveral Ways to the Service and Advantage of one another, and of the whole. Thofe in an inferior Station are as useful and as neceffary in their Place in Society, as thofe in a higher. And it is manifeftly proper that most of Mankind fhould be in a low Condition, and have Tempers and Capacities fitted for it. So that it may be justly faid, that the Difference of Genius's, Conditions, and Circumstances, tendeth to public Happiness, and to the greater Good of the whole; and that without it much of the Beauty, Order, and Harmony of Society would be loft.

The Uncertainty of Events, and Instability of human Affairs, is also very fuitable to the Nature of a State of Trial and Difcipline. It tendeth to humble our Vanity and Self-confidence, and to make us fenfible of our Dependence upon a superior Power, as alfo to keep us from fetting too high a Value on earthly Things, or feeking for Reft and Happiness in them. It should both prevent our being haughty and infolent when poffeffed of Riches and outward Advantages, and our being immoderately dejected when deprived of them. We are thereby farther instructed that the best Way

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we can take for our own Security, is to keep close to the Rule of Duty, which is a fteady and constant Thing, and can alone make us uniform in our Conduct. Whereas those who without Regard to this, endeavour, according to the Maxims of a worldly Policy, to accommodate themselves to the Times, and to the present View of Affairs, often meet with miserable Disappointments through unforeseen Changes in the Face of Things; fo that their own Arts turn to their Prejudice. It may be added, that thefe Uncertainties and Fluctuations of human Affairs often give an Opportunity to the Exercise of the nobleft Virtues, fuch as Patience, Fortitude, Equanimity, and a steady Confidence in God under the feverest Trials.

The last Thing I would mention with regard to the Wisdom of Providence, is this, that God often bringeth about his Designs by hidden Methods which we are unable to search out or to comprehend. This hath been frequently made an Objection against Providence. But whofoever confidereth this Matter with Attention will be fenfible, that if there be a Providence at all, many of its Methods must be unfearchable, and exceed our Comprehenfion. If it were otherwife, and we could easily comprehend all the Reafons of the divine

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Proceedings, we should be apt to enter tain too low an Opinion of God's Wisdom, and too high an one of our own.

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look as if his Wisdom were finite and limited, and his Views fhort and narrow like ours. Among Men, they are accounted but shallow Politicians, all whofe Counfels are easily penetrated by the Vulgar. It may therefore be juftly affirmed, that if the World be wifely governed, there will be fecret and hidden Ways of Providence. It is the Glory of God to conceal a Thing, faith the Wife-man. Prov. XXV.. 2. It tendeth to the Glory of his Divine Majefty, that in many Instances he governeth by Methods which are concealed from us, and above our Reach. This hath a Tendency to keep us humble, and to exercise our Faith and Refignation to God, and constraineth us to cry out with a devout and awful Admiration, Oh the Deph of the Riches both of the Wif dom and Knowledge of God! How unfearchable are his Judgments, and his Ways paft finding out! Rom. xi. 33.

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fecret Things belong to God. Deut. xxix. 29. Verily, faith the Prophet, thou art a God that hideft thyself, O God of Ifrael the Saviour. Ifa. xlv. 15. Some of God's most remarkable Works of Providence in Favour of his Church and People have been brought

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