What are God’s works of providence?
God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.
Proofs
- God’s works of providence are his most holy, (Psalm 145:17)
- wise, (Isaiah 28:29; Psalm 104:24)
- and powerful preserving (Hebrews 1:3)
- and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. (Psalm 103:19; Matthew 10:29–31)
Additional Exposition
Section 1
Is God’s providence universal?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: His kingdom ruleth over all, (Psalm 103:19)
Does it extend to all worlds?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in heaven and in earth, (Psalm 135:6)
And to all creatures?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He upholdeth all things by the word of his power, (Hebrews 1:3)
Does it extend to inanimate creatures?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He binds the sweet influences of the Pleiades, and looses the bands of Orion, (Job 38:31)
And to the animal creation?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The stork knoweth her appointed times, (Jeremiah 8:7)
Does it order all events relative to particular persons?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Man’s days are determined, the number of his months are with God, (Job 14:5)
And to kingdoms and societies of men?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He changeth the times and the seasons, he removeth kings and setteth up (Daniel 2:21)
Doth God exercise a special providence over some places?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thus Canaan was a land that God cared for, (Deuteronomy 11:12)
And over some persons?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He is the Saviour of all men, but especially of them that believe, (1 Timothy 4:10)
Is it a desirable thing to be interested in God’s special providence?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Remember me, O Lord, with the favour which thou bearest to thy- people, (Psalm 106:4)
Section 2
Doth God’s providence extend to all actions?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: A man’s heart deviseth his way, but God directeth his steps, (Proverbs 16:9)
Doth it extend to all natural actions?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: In him we live and move, (Acts 17:28)
And to all fortuitous actions?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thus a certain man drew a bow at a venture and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness, (1 Kings 22:34)
And to all good actions?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, (Psalm 37:23)
And to evil actions?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: It was not you that sent me hither, but God, (Genesis 45:8)
And can God bring good out of evil?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: You thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, (Genesis 50:20)
Are God’s providences mysterious?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: His judgments are a great deep, (Psalm 36:6)
But are they harmonious?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They work together, (Romans 8:28)
Section 3
Is preservation an act of providence?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Which holdeth our soul in life, (Psalm 66:9)
Did God preserve us in our infant state?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thou art my God from my mother’s belly, (Psalm 22:10)
And will he preserve us in declining years?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: To hoary hairs will I carry you, (Isaiah 46:4)
Doth he give us food?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He filleth our hearts with food and gladness, (Acts 14:17)
And rest?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He giveth his beloved sleep, (Psalm 127:2)
Doth he preserve us from threatening dangers?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He keepeth all our bones, (Psalm 34:20)
And endow us with wisdom for our several trades?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Bezaleel and Oholiab were filled with the spirit of God in all manner of workmanship, (Exodus 35:31)
Does God’s care extend to the meanest creatures?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Not a sparrow shall fall to the ground without your Father, (Matthew 10:29)
Section 4
Is government also an act of providence?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: God ruleth by his power for ever, (Psalm 66:7)
Doth God maintain the laws and ordinances of nature?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thus we read of his covenant of the day, and his covenant of the night, (Jeremiah 33:20)
But doth he sometimes suspend and act contrary to them?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day, (Joshua 10:13)
Doth he uphold all creatures in their operations?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The eagle mounteth up at his command, and maketh her nest on high, (Job 39:27)
But can he also restrain those operations?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He shut the lion’s mouth, (Daniel 6:22)
Doth he exercise a peculiar government over the church?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: God ruleth in Jacob, (Psalm 59:13)
Section 5
Is God’s government supreme?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He is King of kings and Lord of lords, (Revelation 19:16)
Is it just and rightful?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, (1 Chronicles 29:11)
Is it most wise?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: How unsearchable are his judgments, (Romans 11:33)
Is it holy?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works, (Psalm 145:17)
Is it absolute and arbitrary?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters, (Job 33:13)
Is it effectual and uncontrollable?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: What his soul desireth that he doth, (Job 23:13)
Section 6
Is God’s providential government an argument for trust and confidence?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Commit thy way unto the Lord, (Psalm 37:5)
And for silence and submission?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Be still, and know that I am God, (Psalm 46:10)
And for praise and thanksgiving?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Allelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, (Revelation 19:6)