Mystery of Providence - Flavel - II - Chapter 1

Required reading
Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 1.

My notes and thoughts
This chapter is basically a chapter full of examples of God's remarkable providential care for his people and divine retribution for those who are not his people.  The examples come from Scripture and church history. I particularly liked this one from church history: 'The Protestants besieged in Beziers in France are delivered by a drunken drummer who going to his quarters at midnight, rang the alarm-bell of the town, not knowing what he did; and just then their enemies were making their assault.'

I should also mention that I enjoyed at the beginning of the chapter Flavel's brief examination of the heathen's distaste for providence.  Excellent quote from Cicero on why they hate providence (I'm very glad Flavel translated it for us as my Latin is rusty to say the least): 'If this is so you have yoked us to an eternal master, such as we would fear day and night.  For who not be frightened of a prying busybody of a God who provides, plans and observes everything and who considers that everything is his concern?'  Fear leads them to deny God is there.

(A new poll is up at the site for the book after Bunyan, make sure your vote counts!)

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.