feasonable Interpofition of Divine Providence, the Snare is broken, and they escape; fo that they say with Thankfulness and a pious Confidence, Our Help is in the Name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth. Pfal. cxxiv. 7, 8. In fuch Instances the Wisdom as well as Power of God is very confpicuous. This Way of Proceeding tendeth to hide Pride from Men, and to take them off from all Creature-dependence, that they may not make Flesh their Arm, but turn their Hopes and Views to God alone. It exercifeth their Faith and Patience, and putteth them upon earnest Prayers and Supplications, and afterwards giveth a peculiar Accent to their Praises and Thanksgivings. They are hereby better prepared for receiving and improving the intended Mercy; and it is a Ground of Reliance on God in their future Straits and Difficulties. Whereas if their Deliverance had come fooner, and in the Way they expected, before they were reduced to fuch Extremity, they might have been apt to afcribe too much to fecond Causes, and in a great Measure overlook the Providence of God. The 126th Pfalm is remarkable to this Purpose. When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our Mouth filled with Laughter, and our Tongue with fing

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ing.

ing. Then faid they among the Heathen, The Lord hath done great Things for them. The Lord hath done great Things for us, whereof we are glad. Pfal. cxxvi. 1, 2, 3.

Fifthly, The Wisdom of Providence is alfo obfervable in conducting its Defigns through different Paths to the fame admirable Iffue, and caufing a Variety of Things to contribute to the fame End, Providence often feemeth to go a great Way about for accomplishing its Defigns, fo that we scarce know whither Things are tending, till at length, when the whole is finished, it appeareth that every Thing was most wifely conducted. Some of the Inftances that have been already mentioned are remarkable to this Purpose. What a Variety of Things concurred to Jofeph's Advancement, fome of which feemed to tend the quite contrary Way, and threatened his Ruin! By what a long Train of Incidents was the Way prepared for erecting the Jewish Polity, and fettling Ifrael in the Land of Canaan! But especially it deferves to be confidered that as no Event was ever fo important as the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, so never was any Event ushered in with fo great and folemn Preparation. The glorious Scheme was laid from the Beginning; Things were difpofing towards it for many Ages. The calling of Abraham, the choofing the Seed

of

of Jacob, and keeping them diftinct from the rest of Mankind, the whole Mofaical Oeconomy with its typical Rites and Ordinances, containing a Shadow of good Things to come, the raifing up a Succeffion of Prophets, by whom God fpake at fundry Times and in divers Manners; all these Things, which took up a long Time, were defigned to be fubfervient to this moft illuftrious Event, this moft amazing Difpenfation of Divine Providence. And it was fo ordered, that many Things in the civil State of the World did alfo contribute to the fame End.

Sixthly, There are feveral Things relating to the Distribution of Rewards and Punishments in this prefent State, which at first View may have an odd Appearance, and yet, if carefully confidered, fhew the Wisdom of Divine Providence. It hath been often thought very ftrange, that bad Men should have temporal worldly Bleffings and Advantages conferred upon them, and that good Men fhould be chastised with worldly Evils and Calamities; and yet upon an attentive Examination of the Cafe, it will appear, that it is very proper it fhould be frequently fo in this State of Trial. But not to infift upon this at prefent, which fhall be confidered more at large when we come to vindicate the Righteousness of DiS 4 vine

vine Providence; I fhall now inftance in two Things with regard to the present Diftribution of Rewards and Punishments, which deferve our Notice. The one is,

that the Rewards of Mens good Actions, and the Punishments of their evil ones, often extend to their Children or Posterity. The other is, the punishing Men for their Sins even after they have fincerely repented

of them.

It cannot be reasonably denied, that the Rewards of Mens good Actions, and the Punishments of their evil ones, frequently extend in their Effects to their Children or Posterity. How often may we observe, that Perfons fare the better for the Piety and Virtue of their Parents and Ancestors, and enjoy Advantages which were originally owing to the Goodness of those from whom they defcended! And on the other Hand, the Effects of Mens Wickednefs often fall heavy upon their Pofterity. They frequently inherit diftempered Bodies, Poverty, Difgrace, the Lols of Honours and worldly Subftance, and other Evils, which were originally brought on by the bad Conduct of their Parents or Progenitors. This indeed never extendeth to the final Retributions of a future State, fince it could not be thought just or fit, that any Perfons should be made happy or miferable

miferable for ever, for the Virtues or Faults of their Parents or Ancestors. But it is wifely ordered, that it should be frequently fo with regard to temporal Evils or Bleffings in this State of Trial and Discipline, in which alone these Relations of Fathers and Children do properly fubfift. It tendeth greatly to recommend Piety and Virtue, and to make the Benefits and happy Effects of it more confpicuous, when the Advantage of a Man's Virtues and Services overflows to his Children after him, and contributes to derive a Bleffing upon them. And on the other Hand, it rendereth Sin and Vice more odious, and furnisheth powerful Diffuafives against it, to confider that the bad Effects of wicked Actions are not confined to those who commit them, but frequently extend to their Children too; fo that a Concern for the Welfare of their Children and Families, as well as their own, fhould have a great Influence to engage Perfons to the Practice of Religion and Virtue, and to deter them from vicious and ungodly Courses.

The other Thing I mentioned, and which deferves alfo to be confidered, is, that God often feeth fit to punish Men for their Sins even after they have fincerely repented of them. Though he fo far pardoneth them that they shall not be condemned, or made

miferable