God's Providence (1)

The consideration of God's continual providence is a great stay to our faith. It is good to know that God's providence is extended as far as his creation. Every creature, in every element and place receives a powerful influence from God, who does what pleases him, both in heaven and earth, in the sea, and all places. We must know that God does not put things into being, and then leave them to their own motion, as we do clocks, after we have once set them right, and ships, after we have once built them, commit them to wind and waves; but as he made all things, and knows all things, so, by a continued kind of creation, he preserves all things in their being and working, and governs them in their ends. He is the first mover that sets all the wheels of the creature working. One wheel may move another, but all are moved by the first. If God moves not, the clock of the creation stops. If God should not uphold things, they would presently fall to nothing, from where they came. If God should not guide things, Satan's malice, and man's weakness, would soon bring all to a confusion. The wise providence of God keeps everything on its right hinges. All things stand in obedience to this providence of God, and nothing can withdraw itself from under it. If man, the most unruly and disordered creature of all, withdraw himself from God's gracious government of him to happiness, he will soon fall under God's just government of him to deserved misery. If he shakes off God's sweet yoke, he puts himself under Satan's heavy yoke, who, as God's executioner, hardens him to destruction. While he rushes against God's will, he fulfils it; and while he will not willingly do God's will, God's will is done upon him against his will.
The most casual things fall under providence, yea, the most disordered thing in the world, sin, and, of sins the most horrible that ever the sun beheld, the 'crucifying of the Lord of life' (Acts 3:15), was guided by a hand of providence to the greatest good.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Soul's Conflict with Itself, Works, vol. 1, pp. 204-05
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