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CHAPTER IV.

PROVIDENCE.

1. The nature of Providence.-2. General Providence.-3. Particular Providence.-4. Providence in our temporal circumstances.-5. Providence affecting the soul.-6. The triumphing of the wicked short. 7. Good brought out of evil.-8. The signs of the times.-9. Due regard to the Providence of God.

1. THE NATURE OF PROVIDENCE.

Of all the endearing names which the great God bears, and by which he manifests his character to us, that of Father is one of the most instructive and delightful: Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. It is a name full of encouragement, full of comfort, and full of hope; shewing us his care and love, and teaching his children their high and happy prospects, as heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.

This name, too, peculiarly points out to us the providence of God, as it shews us that he guides and governs all things for the good of his family, and assures us of the provision which he has made for all their wants.

By providence we mean the care of God over the

beings which he has created: he watches over, directs, governs and provides for them, and all concerning them; maintaining and ordering all things to his own glory, and according to his own good pleasure.

Men use the words chance and accident, good or bad luck, and good or bad fortune, respecting events unforeseen and unexpected. These words tend to obscure God's providence, or are used without meaning; for it is clear, from God's word, that nothing comes to pass carelessly, or as a matter of indiffer

ence.

Not that God in any way is the author of sin; his word is express on this point: God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man, but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. The root and blame of sin is all in man. God forbids, hates and punishes all sin, but he has permitted it for greater good in the end-to display more of his own glory, ultimately to add to the blessedness of his recovered and redeemed creatures, and, now, in Jesus, by whom all things consist, that sinners may have a day of grace.

He also sitteth on the flood; his kingdom rules over all. He punishes even now the wicked: Shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it? The most cruel tyrants are merely the rod of his anger. How striking God's language respect Sennacherib, king of Assyria, when he was boasting of what he had done. 2 Kings xix.

Two leading parts of the providence of God are preservation and government.

1. PRESERVATION.-He preserves living beings, and maintains a succession of them; he also pre

serves a succession of the productions of the earth for the use of man.

2. GOVERNMENT consists in directing the actions of his creatures; permitting, but effectually controuling and overruling all their evil actions; and inspiring, aiding, and concurring with all their good actions. It also consists in distributing, with perfect equity, punishments to the wicked; and, with sovereign grace, mercy and loving-kindness, as well as equity, rewards to the righteous, according to their obedience or disobedience to him. Though there may be wheels within wheels, and one wheel may seem, as in a watch, to run contrary to another, yet all shall display the wisdom of God, and fully answer his good and holy ends.

Meditation.

This is indeed a blessed truth, that I am not left as an orphan, destitute and unprovided for, but have an Almighty friend and Father who cares for me. I see on every side the selfishness of fallen man; I feel the power of this corruption in my own heart. But, O! how delightful the thought, that there is one full of wisdom, riches, power, and love, always at hand, and ordering all for me! I need be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let my requests be made known unto him. Lord help me thus to call upon the most high God, who performeth all things for me, and to enjoy all the peace and blessedness of full confidence in thy love!

2. GENERAL PROVIDENCE.

By the general providence of God is intended that constant and universal care which he manifests over all his creatures, and which is an ever present witness of his wisdom, power, and loving-kindness : God left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. The whole human race is thus constantly partaking of his bounty and goodness, reminded of his existence and his concern for us, and taught to seek after him. Acts xvii. 25-28.

This providence of God is so extensive that it reaches to the very smallest and most minute circumstances. It is a great mistake that God is too great to concern himself about little things. You judge from the feeble powers of your fellow-creatures. You see man here can only be present in one place, and do one thing at a time, and has only a certain measure of strength and ability; but forget that God has all perfections of every kind that we can know or imagine, centered in himself. He is everywhere present, has almighty power, and has infinite wisdom, forethought and love; and can and does direct, uphold, and govern all at once. His greatness is specially to be discovered in his care of the minutest things: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. What a wonderful knowledge and providence do these thing teach us!

Our Lord shews us that the same providence of

God is concerned in providing for the fowls of the air and the grass of the fields. Matt. vi.

How delightful is it to see in every thing the lovingkindness of God! Truly every blade of grass, every leaf that grows on the tree, every bird that flies in the air, says in the Christian's ear, "The God who made me what I am, will do much more for you. O trust in him, O love him, and shew forth his praise."

Immediately after the deluge, the course of general providence was revealed: I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; while the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. We ourselves are living witnesses of the faithfulness of this covenant: and every time that we see the beautiful rainbow in the clouds, we have God's token of this covenant, and his pledge of his gracious providence.

To enter into the full history of general providence would be endless. The whole of the movements of the sun and moon, the earth and the planets, and of the starry sky beyond them, the varied seasons of the year, the animals that people the earth, the air, the sea and the rivers, the innumerable productions of every kind in those different parts of creation, and their effects and uses, the regularity with which seasons move on, and animals migrate and return again; -these, and thousands of other things, are to the Christian continually displaying the kind care and love of God our Father. To him, every breeze that blows on earth, every ray of light, every drop that falls from the sky, every breath of air that he inhales, every particle of food which he eats, is from a Father's hand and a Father's love. He can say, I know

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