Chapter 11 begins the third, and final, section of Flavel's book The Mystery of Providence. In this last section Flavel will attempt application of the doctrine of Providence. He begins the section, here in chapter 11, by noting the practical implications. Because God performs all things for you (see Rom. 8:28) then these truths must be inferred:

• God is to be owned by you in all that befalls you in this world, whether it is a way of success and comfort, or of trouble and affliction
• How great is His condescension to and care over His people
• See how obliged you are to perform all duties and services for God
• Do not distrust Him then when new or great difficulties arise
• Seek God for all by prayer, and never undertake any design without Him
• It is our great interest and concern in all things to study to please Him, upon whom we depend for all things

Discussion:

The implications that Flavel makes in this chapter are much needed. They have been considered at arms length in the past, now Flavel draws them in closer and expounds a little deeper on each. Are any of these new thus far? Do any of his implications leap out at you as nothing you had considered previously?

If we know that God is sovereign, and if we know that God "performs all things for us", why is it that we so often do not seek God for all in prayer and occasionally will undertake designs without Him? Oh, how foolish we are at times.

How would one go about "studying to please Him"?

Flavel understands that sanctification is synergestic. "Is Providence every moment at work for you, and will you be idle?" If we remain idle while God is at work, then certainly we will not grow as we ought.

I would be remiss if I did not add this excellent quote: "Fear nothing but sin. Study nothing so much as how to please God". Oh, to think of all that I fear that is not sin. (Wait, should we not fear God?) To think of all that I study that does not necessarily relate to pleasing God.

You may be wondering who is Borromeus? Or who is Silentiarius? Borromeus appears to be the Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, Charles Borromeo (early-mid 1500's). (Borromeus is the Latinized name) He was much opposed for the formation of the Brothers of Humility and other strict orders. Silentiarius (6th century) appears to be a reference to Paul the Silentiary. He was responsible for the silence in the imperial palace, but is best known for his famous hymns of praise. He was an epigrammatist that wrote for the Byzantine emperor Justinian. The line quoted by Flavel is probably from one of Silentiarius' works.

I doubt these would actually work, but Michael Patton gives us 20 Theological Pick Up Lines. My favorite is this one: “I could not help but notice you were exegeting me instead of the text during the sermon.” Check out the rest...

In the latest Pulpit Magazine article, John MacArthur considers election.

Tim Challies interviews one of my favorite authors, Os Guinness. You can read it here.

Jared from Gospel-Driven Church points us to a list of pastoral pitfalls given by Art Azurdia. By the way, an excellent work is Azurdia's Spirit Empowered Preaching. Seriously, if you are a pastor you really need to buy and read this great book. About the best 9 bucks you can spend.

Great article by Stephen Altrogge, Pride and Arrogance 101. Unfortunately I'm not sure I need to take the entry level course, I might qualify for the upper level courses...wait...was that prideful?

Trouble with Frank Page, part four is provided by the Reformed Mafia. The conclusion is well put: "The bottom line is that Dr. Page’s heralded, supposedly reformational, Scriptural soteriology is merely the five articles of the Remonstrance, with the last one replaced by Eternal Security, which both sides at the Synod of Dort would have found strange."

Nathan Busenitz wraps up his discussion on the Law. In case you missed each link, this particular article can link you to all 8 posts on the topic. It is a very helpful discussion. His resolution post can be found here. Part 2 of Appealing to the Law can be found here.

Unfortunately Timmy Brister never blogspotted The Mystery of Providence. But he does provide an open thread.

Phil Johnson continues his excellent series on Depravity. His latest question: Is There an Antidote to Our Depravity?

Timmy Brister has a thoughtful post on the ridiculous things we in the SBC use as Evangelism. Here is his concluding statement: "The truth is, the sinners in Paul’s day were no more sinful than sinners in our day, and if we are going to experience the power of the gospel in our lives and ministries, we must preach Christ and Him crucified. The resurrection of Christ is no mere illusion, and we should not evangelize like it either."

In closing...HOW ABOUT THOSE BROWNIES IN FREE AGENCY!!! We have no draft picks in April but Donte Stallworth, Shaun Rogers, and Corey Williams are huge helps for our team. My only concern is the lack of a shut-down cornerback. Check out the Browns website for the latest.

In this, the longest chapter, Flavel is concerned with showing us the advantages of meditating on Providence. According to our author, we are all quite prone to forget the great workings of God. Therefore, we are urged to frequently meditate upon and jog down for our memory the activities of Providence. These points are fairly self-explanatory and need to a greater exposition; the advantages of meditating on Providence are thus:

• By this means you may maintain sweet and conscious communion with God from day to day
• A great part of the pleasure and delight of the Christian life is made out of the observations of Providence
• Consider what an effectual means the due observation of Providence will be to overpower and suppress the natural atheism that is in your hearts
• The remembering and recording of the performances of Providence will be a singular support to faith in future exigencies
• The remembrance of former providences will minister to your souls continual matter of praise and thanksgiving
• The due observation of Providence will endear Jesus Christ every day more and more to your souls
• The due observations of Providence have a marvelous efficacy to melt the heart, and make it thaw and submit before the Lord
• Due observation of Providence will both beget and secure inward tranquility in your minds, amidst the vicissitudes and revolutions of things in this unstable vain world
• Due observations of the ways of God in His providences towards us have an excellent usefulness and aptitude to advance and improve holiness in our hearts and lives
• The consideration and study of Providence will be of singular use to us in a dying hour

Discussion:

Much of the suggestions in this chapter are not new. Flavel is merely giving further evidences for his argumentation. Throughout this work Flavel has given us much the same suggestions: meditate on the Providence of God because it will make your relationship with Jesus sweeter; meditate on the Providence of God because it will be used to overpower sin; meditate on the Providence of God because it will result in your praise of the Lord; meditate on the Providence of God because it will give you comfort in afflictions. Do you feel, as I do, that this work might have been more effective had it been shortened?

Do believers still have a “natural atheism” in their hearts?

Have you seen in your own experience that remembering the way that God delivered in the past gave more faith for future needs? Do you find it easier to trust God in faith than you did at the first?

How might observing Providence create holiness in our lives?