revolve a little more, they become discernible, and excite at the same time our gratitude and admiration. How often have we anticipated evil which has never befallen us, and received blessings which we never calculated upon? Again, how often when waiting with an anxious mind for a trial of one description, have we been forced to grapple with another, as severe as it was unexpected ? All these things unite in shewing, that the work of the Lord as it refers to whatever befals us, is a subject exceedingly profitable in itself, and deserves the attention of persons in every

rank of life.

This leads me secondly, to shew the impossibility of altering or defeating the purposes of God. To prove this, might I not refer to the experience and observation of all people? When disease attacks the human frame, although it may be gentle in its first approach, and gradual in its future progress; yet, if it be commissioned by the great Arbiter of life and death to separate body and soul; how soon does the frail fabric crumble into dust, notwithstanding all the exertions of kindness and skill. On the other hand, the most acute pain and the most virulent contagion are alike harmless in their final results, if the Lord determine, as in the case of Heze

kiah, to lengthen life. Our fields may be cultivated with all imaginable care-we may sow the best corn that can be procured--but if the will of the Lord be so, we can reap nothing but disappointment. If he designs to chastise a guilty people by sending a famine upon them, he can make a worm, or a dew, hail, storm, or lightning, to blast man's hope in a moment, and to teach him that except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it, and that except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm cxxvii. 1. If it be his will, to fill a sinner with remorse of conscience, he can make him cry out with Cain my punishment is greater than I can bear-or with Joseph's brethren, when they imagined that vengeance was about to overtake them, we are verily guilty concerning our brother-or with Judas, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. All hearts are in his hand; his power rules over all; none can stay that hand or resist successfully that power. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Whether it be done against a nation or a man only-Job. xxxiv. 29. Who could have imagined that the cruelty exercised towards Joseph by his brethren, which was manifested by his captivity, sale, and banishment, would

E

have led to the fulfilment of the promise made to Abraham, I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the Heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore. Gen. xxii. 17. This one

If this book be

instance is sufficient to prove to us, that there is an overruling Providence; that the very events which seem to happen fortuitously, or are brought about by the craft, the wrath, or the unbelief of man, are made to praise the Lord, by becoming instrumental to the accomplishment of his most gracious purposes of love and mercy. If the book of Providence were studied, faith would be more strengthened, and the mind would have a livelier apprehension of the mysterious ways in which God often moves, and be taught the impropriety of judging him by feeble sense. read with diligence by him who is acquainted with the word of life, and instructed by the Holy Spirit, he cannot fail to join with all the cordiality, and affection of a believing mind, in that majestic ascription of praise which is contained in 1 Chron. xxix. 11-12.-Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come out of thee, and thou reignest over

all; and thine is the power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now, therefore, O God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But the brightest display of infinite wisdom, love, power, and providential arrangement, is made. in the wondrous plan devised for the salvation of sinners through Jesus Christ-of this I shall speak, now that I come to state, Thirdly-The duty incumbent

to be satisfied with his lot.

on man

A sinner by

nature and practice, man deserves no blessing from his Maker-he can lay no claim to a continuance of present mercies, nor has he in himself any ground to hope for fresh ones-of course every thing he enjoys is unmerited; it is the free gift of God, and whatever his hand bestows, it can in a moment take away. Is it for such a being as this to be dissatisfied with what he possesses, because others possess more? Is it for him to compare his mercies with his supposed merits, and to maintain that the former are outnumbered by the latter? Is it for him to envy the health, or riches, or honours, or ease, which others enjoy? Is it for him to think that he is hardly dealt with, while oppressed by pain, sickness, hunger, or thirst-when a moment's reflection ought to convince him that any thing short of hell is a

revolve a little more, they become discernible, and excite at the same time our gratitude and admiration. How often have we anticipated evil which has never befallen us, and received blessings which we never calculated upon? Again, how often when waiting with anxious mind for a trial of one description, have we been forced to grapple with another, as severe as it was unexpected? All these things unite in shewing, that the work of the Lord as it refers to whatever befals us, is a subject exceedingly profitable in itself, and deserves the attention of persons in every rank of life.

This leads me secondly, to shew the impossibility of altering or defeating the purposes of God. To prove this, might I not refer to the experience and observation of all people? When disease attacks the human frame, although it may be gentle in its first approach, and gradual in its future progress; yet, if it be commissioned by the great Arbiter of life and death to separate body and soul; how soon does the frail fabric crumble into dust, notwithstanding all the exertions of kindness and skill. On the other hand, the most acute pain and the most virulent contagion are alike harmless in their final results, if the Lord determine, as in the case of Heze