Page:On the providence of God in the government of the world.pdf/23

 This watching of Providence over the  and care for them, and assisting them in every condition with convenient grace, is the sum of those promises which are absolutely made to godliness in the scripture, and especially in the New Testament.

3. Many of the places of scripture most insisted on this argument, are not promises, but general rules, wherein the ordinary method of Providence, and the  effects of many virtues and vices are declared. tells us of that wisdom, which consists especially the fear of God; 'Length of days are in her right hand, and in her left hand, riches and honour,' Prov. iii. 16. 'By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour and life,' Prov. xxii. 4. There are  such general rules as these, the reason and truth  which are evident in most cases, and it is as evident,  they will not hold always. In the ordinary course things, the most strength, and best courage, and the  conduct shall get the victory: Diligence in a  calling, shall make a man rich; if he be humble,  shall be beloved; if he be faithful, he shall be trusted:  that is prudent and just in his actions shall be  and have a good reputation: but for all that,  which no man can foresee or prevent, may  betwixt the most likely means and the ends. chances of war, thieves, robbers, unfaithful servants, friends, the constructions of jealousy and  nature, secret whispering, or open defaming and  accusing; the pestilence that walketh in darkness,  a man's good name, and the arrows which  at noon-day, may hinder all those virtues of that  which is also the natural effect and consequence of them. And in such cases, 'The race will not be to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill,' Eccles. ix. 11. Those are general rules, but time and chance make many exceptions; from all which it appears consistent