Providence on Miscellanea

Our Constitutional Temperament

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:32:00 -0400

I would observe farther, that our spiritual exercises are not a little influenced by our constitutional temperament. As you are only an ideal correspondent, I can but conjecture about you upon this head. If your frame is delicate, and your nervous system very sensible and tender, I should probably ascribe some of your apprehensions to this cause.

It is an abstruse subject, and I will not enter into it; but according to the observations I have made, persons of this habit seem to live more upon the confines of the invisible world, if I may so speak, and to be more susceptive of impressions from it, than others. That complaint which, for want of a better name, we call lowness of spirits, may probably afford the enemy some peculiar advantages and occasions of distressing you.

Is He Not Gracious and Faithful?

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Let us suppose the thing we are most afraid of actually to happen. Can it come a moment sooner, or in any other way, than by His appointment?

Is He not gracious, and faithful, to support us under the stroke?

Is He not rich enough to give us something better than ever He will take away?

Is not the light of His countenance better than life and all its most valued enjoyments?

Beware Doubting His Kindness

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 15:52:52 +0000

If God has given His Son to die for us, let us beware of doubting His kindness and love in any painful providence of our daily life. Let us never allow ourselves to think hard thoughts of God. Let us never suppose that He can give us anything that is not really for our good.

Heavenly Hosts Keeping Watch

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:33:31 +0000

For if the fact that all of the heavenly hosts are keeping watch for his safety will not satisfy a man, I do not see what benefit he could derive from knowing that one angel has been given to him as his especial guardian. Indeed, those who confine to one angel the care that God takes of each one of us are doing a great injustice both to themselves and to all the members of the church; as if it were an idle promise that we should fight more valiantly with these hosts supporting and protecting us round about!

Honor the Lord with your wealth

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Calvin on Submission to Authority

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 11:27:05 +0000

Knowing that someone has been placed over by the Lord’s ordination, we should render to him reverence, obedience, and gratefulness, and should perform such other duties for him as we can.

It makes no difference whether our superiors are worthy or unworthy of this honor, for whatever they are they have attained their position through God’s providence.

Habitual Resignation

Sun, 04 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Let us strive and pray for a habitual resignation to his will—for he does all things well.

It is never ill with us—but when our evil hearts doubt or forget this plainest of truths!

Submitting to Our Own Rule

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

For the plague of submitting to our own rule leads us straight to ruin, but the surest way to safety is neither to know nor to want anything on our own, but simply to follow the leading of the Lord.

God is Never Weary of Doing Good

Thu, 23 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

God is never weary of doing us good. Therefore, we should not be weary of serving Him.

God Speaking

Sun, 10 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Though infidels and petty reasoners will, doubtless, labour to persuade themselves that [’the late dreadful hurricanes in the West Indies’] proceeded merely from natural causes, Christians, I trust will acknowledge the voice of God speaking, and speaking to us out of the whirlwind.

Our Insignificant Selves

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 00:00:00 +0000

We take it for granted that the Sun, the Moon, Jupiter and the rest are exactly where they should be, and move just as they ought.

But if we are content the Lord should manage the heavenly bodies without our assistance, we are ready enough to advise him how He should dispose our insignificant selves.

The Longsuffering of God

Sat, 25 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

[The Lord] knows our frame and how to bear with us though we can hardly bear with ourselves, or with one another.

Freedom from God’s Will?

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Emancipation from the blessed will of God always involves bondage to some worse taskmaster.

The Crowd and Hurry of Earthly Business

Thu, 24 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

And yet do not be so intent upon your particular callings as to make them interfere with your general calling.

Beware you do not lose your God in the crowd and hurry of earthly business.

Heart-Eating Anxieties

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

We have liberty to express our desires to the Lord; but the more simply we can commit the how, the when, and the where, to his wisdom and will, the more we shall be freed from heart eating anxieties.

Our Part is Submission

Sun, 13 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Now that the Lord has made known his will by the event—our part is submission.

The Lord’s Political Instruments

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The instruments whom the Lord employs in political matters are usually such as are incapable of better employment.

No Great Matter Where We Are

Thu, 13 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000

It is no great matter where we are, provided we know that the Lord has placed us there, and that he is with us!

Living in Dependence on Him

Thu, 22 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

God will continually put His people into situations where they must live in dependence on Him expressed through prayer.

Comfort from Sovereignty

Sun, 11 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

When heavy trials in life are appointed to us, and we are called to give up, or perhaps to pluck out, a right eye—it is an easy matter for a bystander to say ‘Be comforted;’ …

…and it is as useless as easy…

…but a view of Jesus by faith comes home to the point.

When we can fix our thoughts upon him, as laying aside all his honors, and submitting for our sakes to drink off the bitter cup of the wrath of God to the very dregs; …

Use of Creation

Mon, 05 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Six ways that we can use God’s creation well and right.

Use all things for the end that God has made them [for the glory of God].
Walk with God in the use of the world and answer God’s call.
Use the things of the world to promote spiritual good in ourselves and others.
Use the world slightly and consider the things of God and of my soul as my main business.
Use the world in moderation, keeping your affections in check.
Give a good and cheerful account to God concerning what we have had in the world.

The Patient Guidance of God

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Indeed we may admire His patience towards us.

If we were blind, and reduced to desire a person to lead us, and should yet pretend to dispute with him, and direct him at every step, we should probably soon weary him, and provoke him to leave us to find the way by ourselves if we could.

But our gracious Lord is long-suffering and full of compassion; He bears with our forwardness, yet He will take methods to both shame and to humble us, and to bring us to a confession that He is wiser than we.

Wait His Leisure

Sun, 14 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Only be still, and wait his leisure In cheerful hope, with heart content To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure And all deserving love hath sent; Nor doubt our inmost wants are known To him who chose us for his own.

Jesus is Mine!

Sun, 31 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Jesus is mine! I’m now prepared To meet with what I thought most hard; Yes, let the winds of trouble blow, And comforts melt away like snow:

No blasted trees, or failing crops, Can hinder my eternal hopes; Though creatures change, the Lord’s the same; Then let me triumph in his name.

End of Fear

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The clearer sight we have of the sovereignty and power of heaven the less we shall fear the calamities of this earth.

Faith Can Do This

Fri, 20 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000

So what do you get by being a believer, a Christian? What can you do by your faith? I can do this: I can in all states cast my cares upon God, cast my burden upon God, I can commit my way to God in peace: faith can do this.

God’s Tools in Providence

Thu, 19 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000

‘I think I could be content with God’s hand,’ says one, ‘so far as I see the hand of God in a thing I can be content. But when men deal so unreasonably and unjustly with me, I do not know how to bear it.’

Though they are men who bring this cross on you, yet they are God’s instruments. God has a hand in it, and they can go no further than God would have them go.

We Are Prone to Lean Too Hard on Ministers

Fri, 13 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

The fountain from which your dear pastor obtained the water of life, which he communicated to his congregation—is still full and still flowing; and you are still welcome to come to Him and drink!

But we are prone to lean too hard upon the ministers, by whom the Lord conveys His blessings to us—as if they were necessary. Perhaps to cure us of this mistake, is one reason why He often unexpectedly takes them from us!

He Overrules All the Designs of Men

Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

He overrules all the designs of men–for the furtherance and accomplishment of his holy plan. Not only his friends, but his enemies contribute to it.

He Who Called Us

Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

He who called us can easily call others.

God For Me

Sun, 09 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Satan hates me; Satan accuses me; Satan temps me.

Conversely, you lose much comfort when you fail to see the promises and providence of God as available for your own specific needs: God loves me; God pardons me; God takes care of me.

The Nature of Inspiration

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

When we think of God the Lord giving by His Spirit a body of authoritative Scriptures to His people, we must remember that He is the God of providence and of grace as well as of revelation and inspiration, and that He holds all the lines of preparation as fully under His direction as He does the specific operation which we call technically, in the narrow sense, by the name of ‘inspiration.’

His Great Salvation

Sun, 12 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

By slow steps and gradual stages He at once works out His saving purpose and molds the world for its reception, choosing a people for Himself and training it through long and weary ages, until at last when the fulness of time has come, He bares His arm and sends out the proclamation of His great salvation to all the earth.

One Little Word Shall Fell Him

Sun, 02 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.

New Things Each Day

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Every new day is filled up with new things, new mercies on the Lord’s part, new ingratitude on mine.

He Does All Things Well

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Let us strive and pray for a habitual resignation to his will; for He does all things well. It is never ill with us but when our evil hearts doubt or forget this plainest of truths.

Though Friends Should All Fail Us

Sun, 06 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Though troubles assail us and dangers affright, / Though friends should all fail us and foes all unite, / Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, / The promise assures us, ‘The Lord will provide.’

Isaac’s Sacrificial Ram

Mon, 26 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

When the hour of darkness should come, it was the Lord who would himself be Isaac’s sacrificial ram.

The Judge of All the Earth will do Right

Thu, 08 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

That the Judge of all the earth will do right, is to me as evident and necessary is that two and two make four. I believe that He has a sovereign right to do what He will for his own, not the sovereignty is but another name for the unlimited exercise of wisdom and goodness. My reasonings are often such, as if I had never heard of these principles, or had formally renounced them. I feel the workings of a presumptuous spirit, that would account for everything, adventure to dispute whatever I cannot comprehend. What an evil is this, for a potsherd of the earth to contend with its Maker!

Political Comfort

Sun, 04 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

There is one political maxim which comforts me: ‘The Lord reigns.’

He has dealt bountifully

Sat, 09 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Resentment and Impatience

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Our resentment is against the timetable which the sovereign God has assigned us, a schedule based on a plan of which we are usually ignorant. It is this ignorance which brings about our frustration, the seeming senselessness of delay, loss, or failure. But this is the reason why impatience is such a noxious weed—it leaves God out of our thinking.

Trueman on Humility

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Acknowledging that God works in history means that we acknowledge that he has worked in the past; and acknowledging that he has worked in the past means that we acknowledge that we may not ignore that past as if we today had all the answers.

Calvin on Prayer

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

We must, therefore, maintain both of these truths, that He freely anticipates our wishes, and yet that we obtain by prayer what we ask.

The Doctrine of Providence

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The doctrine of providence is not a philosophical system but a confession of faith that, notwithstanding appearances, only God–by his almighty and everywhere present power–preserves and governs all things. This conviction spares us from superficial optimism and presumptuous pessimism alike; we neither deny life’s riddles nor wallow in despair.

I Sing the Goodness of the Lord

Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

I sing the goodness of the Lord / That filled the earth with food; / He formed the creatures with his word, / And then pronounced them good.

God's Infinite Liberality

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts.

George Ladd on the Kingdom of God

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Kingdom of God is a miracle. It is the act of God. It is supernatural. Men cannot build the Kingdom; they cannot erect it. The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of God; it is God’s reign, God’s rule. God has entrusted the Gospel of the Kingdom to men. It is our responsibility to proclaim the good news about the Kingdom. But the actual working of the Kingdom is God’s working.

Steadfast Love of the Lord

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,and his righteousness to children’s children.

I Will Sing to the Lord

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Calvin on Astronomy

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

For astronomy is not only pleasant, but also very useful to be known: it cannot be denied that this art unfolds the admirable wisdom of God.

Clement on Beards

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

For God wished women to be smooth and to rejoice in their locks alone growing spontaneously, as a horse in his mane. But He adorned man like the lions, with a beard, and endowed him as an attribute of manhood, with a hairy chest–a sign of strength and rule.

Things of This World

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Thorns will not prick of themselves, but when they are grasped in a man’s hand they prick deep. So this world and the things thereof are all good, and were all made of God for the benefit of his creature, did not our immoderate affection make them hurtful, which indeed embitters every sweet unto us.

The flowers beneath the mower’s hand

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Like flowery fields the nations stand Pleased with the morning light; The flowers beneath the mower’s hand Lie withering ere ‘tis night.