Eleothriambos, or, The triumph of mercy in the chariot of praise a treatise of preventing secret and unexpected mercies with some mixt reflexions.

CHAP. II. The Government of the World administred by preventing Providences and Mercies.

THe most Wise and Holy God having finish'd all in number, weight and measure, and adjusted all the proportions of Heaven and Earth in his Sacred Balance; that not the least Atom of dust in the Mountains, or Drop in the Ocean, or Vapour in the Air, but came out of his accurate Scales, and setled in their due place by his arbitrement. Neither is his Infinite Wisdom more radiant and magnificent in the com∣posure of the vast circumference of the Celestial Bodies, then admirably curious and stupendious in those mi∣nute and numerous Creatures, which by reason of their smalness fly the sight of man. Insomuch that the Majesty of God is most illustrious and conspicuous in those lesser

Beings; which the world never un∣derstood till he blessed it with the rare invention of Microscopes. By which we are assisted to contem∣plate his Glory, while sitting under he shadow of a Plant that grows it a canker'd Rose leaf, as well as of he tallest Cedar. May not admi∣ration be inflamed to view the quick and voluble motion of those Eels that swim up and down in their little Sea of a drop of Vinegar, more then when Mariners from their Ships gaze at the tumblings of Whales in he Atlantick Ocean? Or when we consider the fineness of those Spirits that agitate the Nerves of Mites, or of those supposable Creatures that may draw their origin from the corruption of those little bodies, or creep among their hairs while yet alive: Or when we view by the aid of those discovering Glasses the 8 Eyes in a Spider, or the 24 Teeth in the mouth of an Ant, as black as Ebony, as well as those vast Ivory Tusks in the head of the generous Elephant: Or when we delight our Eyes in the rare textures of vivid

marbling colours in the flowers of Eye-bright, Panzies, or the chequer'd Fritillary, as well as the propheti∣cal varieties in the Rainbow: We may well cry out with Pliny, while he descants on the great voice of a Gnat flying about in a Summers E∣vening, Rerum natura nusquam magis quam in minimis tota sit. That the great God of Nature is never more admirable then in framing the least of Beings.

But howsoever unspeakably and unimaginably glorious his Divine Providence shines in the management and government of all his works: It is yet most admirable in his preven∣ting goodness to the sinful sons of Adam, and much more to his own chosen Inheritance.

As to Man in general, he makes his Sun to rise every morning upon the unjust, and his Moon to fill her Orb with light upon the Turkish Crescent: His paths in the Clouds drop fatness upon the fields of bloo∣dy Tyrants, and his Ocean is open, and sweet Western Gales often swell he Sails of rambling and roving Pi∣rates:

The Earth is full of his good∣ness. He spread and fill'd the Tables of Heliogabalus with his hidden Treasures. No Inhabitant but is la∣den with his benefits, however abu∣sed to their luxury, pride, and wan∣tonness: His Mercies are over all his Works: He makes the out-go∣ings of the Morning, and Evening to sing: He preserves the goings out and comings in of the Children of Men.

All the operations and influences of second causes are primarily a∣scribed to him. The formation of our bodies, when curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth, was of his secret texture. The race of the Sun, the bright appearance of Venus like the Moon, and the nim∣ble motions of Mercury and the 4 Planets dancing their measures about Jupiter, and all the Ordinances of Heaven, they are his, he sets the do∣minion of them in the Earth. He binds up the sweet influences of the Pleiades in April, and looseth the frosty bands of Orion in November when he pleases: he is the Father of

the Rain, and the pearly drops of Dew he hath begotten them from the Morning Womb. He calleth for the waters of the Sea, and pour∣eth them out upon the face of the Earth, the Lord is his Name. He sends the turbulent and tempestuons winds out of the hollow of his Hand. He looketh on the Earth and it trembleth, he toucheth the Hills and they smoak, he shook late∣ly the Cities of Ragusa and Rimini into ruines. He cast up out of the bowels of Aetna the late dreadful River of sulphureous flames to run six miles breadth by the City Catania into the Sea. He kindles the Light∣nings in the Regions of the Air, and they answer to him, here we are. 'Tis the voice of his Thunder that breaketh the Cedars of Lebanon, and makes Mount Sirion to skip like a young Unicorn. Whatever he pleaseth, that he doth in Heaven and Earth, in the Seas, and in all deep places. He causeth Grass to grow for the Cattle, and Herbs for the service of Man, the Wine to re∣joyce his Spirits, the Oyl to make strengthen his heart. He gives life

his face to shine, and Bread to strengthen his heart. He gives life and food to all Creatures, they wait upon him to receive their meat in due season, he opens his Hand every mor∣ning, the Fowls of the Heaven fly to his feet and are filled with good. The Gardiner may plant, and his servant may water, but 'tis God that gives increase to the stature of Vegeta∣bles, their Verdure, their Flowers and Fruits. He clothes the Tulips of Persia, those Lillies of the Plains of Shushan, with more Royal Attire then Solomons.

As to the Church in special, he often and mercifully prevents the fears of his people. How gracious∣ly he dealt with Jacob in the case of Laban, commanding him in the night not to speak roughly to his ser∣vant from good to bad, and made the face of Esau to shine upon him as the face of God. In the time of Fa∣mine he planted a Corn-field in the bottom of a barrel of meal for Eli∣jah, and an Olive-yard in a cruse for the Widow of Sarepta, and open∣ed as it were the Windows of Heaven

in the time of Elisha, and poured out Corn among the poor in the streets of Samaria.

Such stupendious Mercies, which the ungrateful world calls hap and fortune, are the sudden and sweet dispensations of his Heavenly and Holy Providence. He is pleased out of his munificent bounty to prevent our expectations with sudden and surprizing benefits to amuse, yea a∣maze, us under the sense of Divine Goodness, and to draw our Hearts with the silken cords of love.

It's his favour that drops the incli∣nations of affection into the hearts and tempers, the reciprocal tides in the breasts of such whom he ordains for conjugal relation. His Eye gui∣ded out-cast Hagar to a shrub in Pa∣ran; and rather then her son should perish for thirst, an Angel must point out a Well to slake her sorrow.

Wonderful are the instances both in sacred and civil Story in discovery of means, ordering of method, gui∣ding of accidents to the prevention of dangers, and preservation of life, and the sudden issuing of sudden di∣stresses.

No less admirable are many quick and stupendious deliverances out of Dungeons and Prisons to great and famous Advancements; and by providences to us occasional and acci∣dental, flow high and exalted mani∣festations of God to his Church and people.

Not to be curious in ranking under distinct heads, give leave to mention a few mixt Examples in various kinds.

Pharaohs Daughter coming occa∣sionally to the Rivers side, had com∣passion on little Moses weeping in his Cradle of Bulrushes. Her heart wept over the tears of Moses, & she brought him up like a Prince in Egypt to be Prince of Israel. Thus God makes his enemies to foster their own Sup∣planters, and to build up their own destroyers. After this, the Humani∣ty of Moses to the Daughters of Je∣thro in watering their Sheep, advan∣ced him to be Son in Law to the Prince of Midian. A poor Captive Maiden in the Land of Syria, by a few words, was the occasion of the cure of Naamans Leprosie both in soul and body. And another find∣ing

favour in the eyes of the great King of Persia, was the occasion of delivering the Jews from destructi∣on in 127 Provinces; and the Read∣ing of that Kingdoms Chronicles opened a door to Mordecai's Glory and Haman's Infamy. Joseph and Daniel arrived to unexpected Prefer∣ment by exposition of Princes Dreams, whereby the Church of God was strangely preserved, and at length delivered from Exile. Si∣meon and Anna coming into the Temple, at an instant of Providence met with the Lords Anointed, and saw his Salvation. Many of the choicest Mercies fall under this head. The first and primary Mercy to the World, the Protevangelium, the preaching of the Gospel to Adam by God himself, transcended the thoughts and imaginations of our fallen Parents. The sending of the Messiah's Sceptre out of Zion among the Gentile Idolaters, who sought him not; and the Conversion of whole Nations to the Obedience of his Spiritual Law, was performed by preventing Grace to the whole

world; and the particular turnings of Rebellious Souls to God are often managed by secret instincts. Austin would needs sail over Sea to Rome against the prayers and tears and fears of his holy Mother. She dread∣ed his being corrupted by the de∣bauchery of Rome, but God sent him to Milan to be converted by Am∣brose: and as he speaks sweetly of Gods denial of her prayers as to his journey, Sed tu alte consulens & ex∣audiens cardinem desiderii ejus, non curasti quod tunc petebat, ut in me fa∣ceres quod semper petebat. But thou in wise counsel didst regard the hinge on which her desires turned, didst reject her present prayer, to give in the effect of her constant petitions. Many times such who run from the means of their own Salvation, fall in∣to the happy snares of Divine Mer∣cy; and such who are naturally un∣willing to be saved, (praevenisti ut vellem) the secret Wisdom of Provi∣dence allures to become a willing people in the day of his Power. Should I enlarge upon the many rare cases of special preventing Mercies,

this Discourse would run over the banks of Volumes. Famous is the Instance of that man, whose Horse in a dark night wafted him over a Plank laid upon the breach of Rochester Bridge, and the next day coming to see the place of his strange deliver∣ance, sunk into the deep waters of Amazement and died away. Great Salvation did the Lord work also for a Friend of mine, who riding in the night along the High Way at Menegizy Cliffs in Cornwall, which was fallen down into the Sea at a vast depth, might have perish'd inevita∣bly, had not a man suddenly stept out of his door at his passing by, and pre∣vented the mischief. More admirable the safe fall of a Butcher upon his Sheep from the Cliff at Dover Castle, as the Inhabitants report. How did an impulse upon Mr. Dods Spirit to visit a Friend two miles off in the night, prevent the Self-murder of that person by a Halter, who was esteemed truly gracious, but over∣whelmed by direful tentations? How did an unexpected Fog prevent a second Battel between the English

and Dutch in the late Wars? And the like happened in the days of King Edward the Confessor upon the Na∣vies addressing to fight. How ad∣mirably have many persons been cu∣red, preserved, delivered by sudden accidents? Memorable is that story in Tilingius, of one who being cured of a Dropsie by the poison of a Toad designed for his destruction, be∣came the Publisher of that Specifick. Some by Falls into Rivers have been cured of Madness; others by sudden frights restored to the use of their Limbs; and others by Shipwreck have escaped Piracy. And (which is distinct as to relief unexpected in deep poverty) that of Accesilaus is re∣markable, who caused a Bag of Mo∣ney to be conveyed under the pillow of a sick Friend, modestly hiding his poverty, that he might find it rather then receive it. And others that have let fall Money into the laps of persons from a window, as if it fell from Heaven.

As to preventing Mercy in refe∣rence to prayer. Sometime before we call God is pleased to answer.

When the Heart is but a tuning, he discovers the Lesson and turns it into a Song of praise. When David was under resolutions of Confession, God actually forgave the iniquity of his sin. Before Eliezer had done speak∣ing in the case of Isaac, out comes Rebecca with the answer of prayer. When Hezekiah was praying and weeping, Turn again (says the Lord to Isaiah) and tell the Captain of my people, I will heal thee. And Gabriel told beloved Daniel, that at the be∣ginning of his Supplication he was commanded to fly more swiftly down to Daniel, then his prayer could fly up to Heaven. So ready is our gracious Father to smell a savour of rest, when the Incense of prayer is but newly kindled.

Notes

• Hook. Mi∣crograph. p. 124.
• As Mites in Spiders. Power, p. 19.
• Plin. l. 11. c. 2.
• Psal. 65.11.
• Psal. 119.64.
• Psal. 65.8. & 121.8.
• Psal. 139.15.
• Job 38.33
• Amos 5.8.
• Psal. 104.32.
• Job 38.35
• Psal. 29.5, 6.
• Psal. 135.6.
• Psal. 104.14, &c.
• 1 Chron. 3.6. Mat. 6.28.
• Gen. 31.24
• Gen. 33.10
• Gen. 24.39, 40, 58. & 29.11.
• Exo. 2.6.
• Confes. 1. •• c. 8.
• Austin.
• M. Charles Morton.
• ••. 65.24.
• Ps. 32.5.
• Gen. 24.15, 45.
• 2 Kings 20.5.
• Dan. 9.20, 21, 23.