Chapter 9 is one of the longest chapters in The Mystery of Providence. The major theme of this chapter is direction on meditating upon the Providence of God. Flavel will give 5 major headings of advice and then various pointers under each of these. The best way to outline this would be to give the 5 major headings and then expound a little upon each. To avoid a very lengthy post I will give the five headings and link to a page where you can read more on each point.

• Labor to get as full and thorough a recognition as you are able of the providences of God concerning you from first to last. Read more...
• In all your observations of Providence have special respect to that Word of God which is fulfilled and made good to you by them. Read more...
• In all your reviews and observations of Providence, be sure that you eye God as the author and orderer of them all. Read more...
• Work up your hearts to those frames, and exercise those affections which the particular providences of God that concern you call for. Read more...
• If Providence delays the performance of any mercy to you that you have long waited and prayed for, yet see that you do not despond, nor grow weary of waiting upon God for that reason. Read more...
• Do not pry too curiously into the secrets of Providence, nor allow your shallow reason arrogantly to judge and censure its designs. Read more...

Discussion:

Flavel's first point is an encouragement to keep a journal. One of the best ways to remember the workings of Providence is to look back over past journal entries. We are prone to forget prayers, and often those "little" things that are major workings of God in us.

Would it be a good practice to determine all of the promises of God and mark their fulfilment in your life?

There is no doubt that Flavel's statement on page 127 is true: "One of word of God can do more than ten thousand words of men to relieve a distressed soul." Yet, why is it that so often when I am distressed I turn to find comfort in people instead of quietly sitting under the Word? Certainly, the Lord speaks through people--but shouldn't our first instinct be to find comfort in our prayer closets?

Do our affections match that of God? This is Flavel's concern on page 132. Yet, is this such a thing that we could even attain to? Isn't the affection of God so diverse that no human can really even comprehend it? Certaintly, there is, though, something for us to learn from Flavel's exhortation.

Oh, what pity it is to be outside of saving grace! To think that even the difficult times of life are a sign of patient mercy and are far better than what you have awaiting. To the believer, difficult times are but a temporary affliction that will be cast of forever. To the unbeliever, difficult times are but a tempoprary mercy that will not last forever, and serves as more a preview of things to come. Oh, how sad, and how open our hearts should be to preach the gospel to every soul.

This statement greatly spoke to me: "Beware therefore you do not lean too much to your own reasonings and understandings. Nothing is more plausible, nothing is more dangerous."

Ingrown toenails are painful to endure. Apparently so are Ingrown Churches. Joe Thorn gives 7 signs that your church is ingrown. (HT: Steve McCoy)

Ouch! Trevin Wax delivers a convicting post on ear-tickling preaching. Here is a sample: "We crave a message that puffs us up. And ironically, the very message that is supposed to cut us low, the message of the cross can be delivered in such a way that people walk out of the congregation having patted themselves on the back."

Michael Patton gives us some Random Thoughts of Emergence.

The Reformed Mafia continues its series on Trouble with Frank Page. See Part 3, here.

Os Guinness has a wonderful quote, that resonates well with me, concerning the victim mentality of the Religious Right. (HT: JT)

Steve Camp provides an excerpt of Questions Given to Young Ministers by Isaac Watts.

I am praying that our church catchs the vision laid out by John Piper, here. Our entire church family should be worshipping together and not age-segregated.

Even though Nathan Busenitz has presented the case that Christians are not under the Law, he begins his new series on Appealing to the Law. See Part 1 and 2.

Sorry, that I have not posted in the last few days. I have been very sick. Apparently I have caught the bug that is going around our area. It was all I could do to preach at Believers Church on Sunday. The Lord was gracious, and I did get through it, and I am very hopeful that the Word was faithfully proclaimed. It is indeed in our weakness that His grace is displayed as magnificent.

I should be back to posting regularly either today or tomorrow. I have to make certain to finish blogging through Flavel's Mystery of Providence, as Februrary is almost over. The best thing to do to keep updated on this blog is to subscribe to it. On the right hand column you have a choice of adding to Technorati, Google Read, or your typical RSS Feed. Just click on it and subscribe.

Somehow C.J. Mahaney takes contemporary stories, points out faults, and convicts me because my sin is just like theirs. The gospel has certainly taken root in C.J.'s heart. His most recent post on Andy Pettitte's hollow confession is phenomenal. Just when it seems that Mahaney is railing on Pettitte he brings me into God's courtroom and then sits me at the foot of the Cross for humbling and grace. Wow.

Jared Wilson leads a wonderful discussion on downplaying application in preaching. It is certainly something to consider. I think application is one of the areas that I too downplay.

Tom Ascol provides a commentary on the buzz around the Calvinistic Resurgence.

Part 4 of No Longer Under the Law has been written by Nathan Busenitz.

Rick Love again responds to Piper on the issue of the Common Word Among Muslims. Rick has some good points, but I am still not certain that I agree.

Timmy Brister is also live-blogging the True Church Conference. This years theme is Church Discipline. Catch up here.

Despite having to meet in the larger sanctuary, Wednesday night went quite well. Our attendance seemed to be up. But more importantly God was there. The music was phenomenal, I always love it when Brian is able to lead us. And the Word, I believe, came with much unction. Numerous times during the week I prayed that the Lord would overwhelm us with the gospel. What an insane task to preach on the benefits of the Gospel. It is but one cut in the beautiful diamond, that is Jesus. And to think that this too is but a word picture. Oh, how awesome must be the reality.

Here is my feeble attempt to display the All-Sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah Burroughs, in one of the sermons in Gospel Fear (which I will be reviewing today), says this: "Take heed of heart-hardening company, of slight company, of frothy company, of going into the company of those who have slight and vain spirits, and especially those who have been and are professors of religion, and yet have slight and vain spirits".

As I read this I could not help but wonder if, in our day, Burroughs would have at this point went on a tangent about the vices of excessive television watching. I seldom find myself in the company of "frothy" (that is empty) people. Most of my friends are passionate about Jesus. (I'll take my rebuke from my missional friends here). But I do often find myself in the company of frothy, slight, and vain television personalities. Granted, they are not professors of religion. Yet, there is very little serious thought. Does this harden my heart and keep it from being tender towards the gospel?

Secondly, I think Burroughs has a significant warning for those of us that are "professors of religion". "Professor" is another way of saying "Those that profess Christianity". It is not saying professors/teachers. These are ordinary believers. If we, as ordinary believers, are proclaiming to be Christ-followers, and yet live our lives in triviality what are we communicating about God and His gospel? Should we really be frothy? Burroughs is not against joy. Burroughs is against empty joy. May the Lord grant us a blood-earnestness for the sake of the gospel!