Providence

A doctor of divinity, of singular learning and piety, sent his maid to the market, to..get provision for the following week: But all the money he and his wife could make, was but five shillings ; his wife fell a weeping, and told her husband, that there was likelihood they could live.together, and that therefore she would take one or two of her children with her, and live among her friends, if he Could provide for himself and the rest of his children? Nay, dear wife, said he, we have lived thus long together, let not us now part, let us rely on God's providence: She in her grief and haste answered, Well, send providence to market, and see what it will bring home. It was so that day, a nobleman, who knew this doctor very well, dining with divers gentlemen at an inn, looking out of the window, saw the doctor's maid, whom being an ancient servant, he knew, and sent for her up, asking her how her master did; she answered, very well, and fell a weeping; he enquiring the cause, she told him what straits they were brought to; he wondering, and being troubled at it, called the inn-keeper, and wished him to give that maid ten pounds, and every one of the gentlemen gave twenty shillings a piece: So the doctor sending providence (of which the angels are servants and instruments) 10 market, it brought him home fifteen pounds; Doubtless it is because we do not trust, not because God either cannot, or will not give, that makes us so often want mercies; and such providences would be usual, if our confidence' in God were but so. 'Idem' ibidem. from Isaac Ambrose

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Muckle Kate Not a very ordinary name! But then, Muckle Kate, or Big Kate, or Kate-Mhor, or Kate of Lochcarron was not a very ordinary woman! The actual day of her salvation is difficult to trace to its sunrising, but being such a glorious day as it was, we simply wish to relate something of what shone forth in the redeemed life of that "ill-looking woman without any beauty in the sight of God or man." Muckle Kate was born and lived in Lochcarron in the county of Ross-shire. By the time she had lived her life to its eighty-fifth year she had well-earned the reputation of having committed every known sin against the Law of God with the exception murder. Speaking after the manner of men, if it took "Grace Abounding" to save a hardened sinner like John Bunyan, it was going to take "Grace Much More Abounding" to save Muckle Kate. However, Grace is Sovereign and cannot be thwarted when God sends it on the errand of salvation, and even the method used in bri...
Read more

"Heaven is my throne...Isaiah 63"

GOD'S REJECTION OF ALL MATERIAL TEMPLES. There was a time when it could be said that there was a house of God on earth. That was a time of symbols, when as yet the Church of God was in her childhood. She was being taught her A B C, reading her picture-book, for she could not as yet read the Word of God, as it were in letters. She had need to have pictures put before her, patterns of the heavenly things. Even then, the enlightened amongst the Jews knew well that God did not dwell between curtains, and that it was not possible that He could be encompassed in the most holy place within the veil It was only a symbol of His presence. But the time of symbols is now passed altogether. In that moment when the Saviour bowed His head, and said "It is finished! " the veil of the temple was rent in twain, so that the mysteries were laid open. So, one reason why God saith He dwelleth not in temples made with hands, is, because He would have us know that the symbolical worship is ended...
Read more

Lo, I am with you always

Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20) SUCH were “the words of Jesus” when He was just about to ascend to Heaven. The mediatorial throne was in view – the harps of glory were sounding in His ears; but all His thoughts are on the pilgrim Church He is to leave behind. His last words and benedictions are for them. “I go,” He seems to say, “to Heaven, to my purchased crown – to the fellowship of angels – to the presence of my Father; but nevertheless, ‘Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’” How faithfully did the apostles, to whom this promise was first addressed, experience its reality! Hear the testimony of the beloved disciple who had once leaned on his Divine Master’s bosom – who “had heard, and seen, and looked upon Him.” That glorified bosom was now hid from his sight but does he speak of an absent Lord, and of His fellowship only as among the holy memories of the past? No! With rejoicing emphasis he can exclaim – “Truly o...
Read more