prove, and realize, and appropriate, the cheering and sublime maxim of the apostle-" all things work together for good to them that love God;" and by habituating this truth to our minds, by adjusting the seeming contrarieties of a mysterious, and apparently promiscuous Providence; by reducing, (as far as we have the power) with humility and reverence, the seemingly untoward and contradictory events of this chequered state, into one grand and harmonious whole, into one merciful and benevolent design of wisdom and goodness, projected, carried on, (and hereafter to be consummated,) "according to the good pleasure of his will;" we justify the ways of God to man, and build up ourselves in the knowledge, and love, and practice, of our "most holy faith;" the foundation and keystone of which faith is this, namely, that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them."

But where, my brethren, shall we either begin or end our speculations upon the mysteries of Providence? In a subject so vast and inexhaustible where shall we most profitably fix our attention? God's judgments are not only "a great deep," but they have a reference and extend to all time, past and future. Like the vision of the inspired Ezekiel, the movements of

Providence," as it were a wheel in the midst of a wheel," proceed in one and the same steady course, conducting to their respective ends the interests of the universe at large, and of each and every individual composing it, be his rank and condition high or low, rich or poor. The course of this world, notwithstanding its apparent inequalities, is nevertheless, by the counsel and the hand of Omnipotence, so wisely ordered, and conducted, as best to subserve the higher and ulterior interests of his kingdom of grace. Here is sown the seed of that kingdom; and all the events and circumstances of this lower world, alike co-operate in their respective degrees, to ripen and mature it;—are alike moulded by infinite wisdom, " according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."

Considerations however like these, belong more properly to those master-minds which delight to trace the movements of divine Providence as they relate to a vast and a complicated scheme. These persons see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. But yet is there a task, and a profitable task, reserved for persons of humbler capacities, for every serious and thoughtful christian, to trace the hand of God in all the circumstances and

events, which befall himself, be they prosperous or adverse; lowering or cheerful. We have all and each of us somewhat to say of the wise and gracious dealings of Providence with ourselves. And whoso is wise will ponder these things, and he shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Whilst people of the world either take no notice of Providence, or if they do, call it by a name little better or more intelligible than chance or fate; the humble christian refers even the minutest events that befall him, (provided that they at all affect his happiness and condition as such) to the will and pleasure of his heavenly Father; believing that he does all things well, and that fate and chance, (terms expressive only of ignorance and stupid indifference to the workings of Providence,) have no place whatever in the works and dealings of Him with whom he has to do.

The world may deem this enthusiasm. Holy Scripture, in addition to, and in proof of, the Christian's experience, shows that it is not. The most cursory reader of the sacred volume will be at no loss to find the doctrine of a special, as well as of an universal Providence abundantly, distinctly, and unequivocally recognised and not only recognised, but as fully proved, confirmed and exemplified in the lives of those holy

persons, with whose history we have been conversant from our childhood. Shall I select the eventful and chequered lives of Abraham, of Jacob, of Joseph, for the purpose of convincing the sceptic that though God oftentimes leads his people" in paths which they have not known,” yet that all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth?" Can there be a stronger proof of the doctrine we are considering, than that which the case of the royal psalmist himself supplies? Few persons, I imagine, had so much reason to know and feel by long-tried experience, as David, that “God's judgments are a great deep?” Or shall I speak of the strange reverses of Job? of Daniel?-yea" to which of all the saints wilt thou turn?" All of whose remarkable and eventful histories, whether we view them jointly or separately, seem to have been recorded for the purpose of illustrating "the manifold wisdom of God," and his high and exclusive prerogative of bringing good out of evil; whether he effect his purposes by means and methods the most simple, or the most complicated and circuitous; or by an union and combination of what is simple with what is complicated; as in the case of one to whose history I have just alluded, that of Joseph. Here, if I mistake not, are united a simplicity of incident level to the capacity of a

child, with a plan worthy of the attention and admiration of a philosopher; means, as observed, the most simple, adapted and fitted by as I infinite wisdom, to ends and results the most important and extensive. And the same may be said of those other histories relating to individuals above adduced, yea more or less, of all the eminent and illustrious servants of God recorded in the Old Testament. One such example is an abundant illustration of the doctrine of a special Providence.

With these most edifying narratives in your eye, I would ask you, do not your own lives and circumstances, my brethren, supply, if not a parallel, at least something similar to what these saints of old experienced under the dealings of Providence? Have you nothing to say of the wisdom and goodness of God? No altars to raise, no memorials to erect of his love and guidance of you and your affairs, at the different turns and stages of your lives? Which of you, in looking back for instance, upon some mysterious Providence, has not been ready, on the discovery of the divine mercy towards himself, to exclaim, with pious Jacob, "surely God was in this place," his hand was at work in this transaction, "and I knew it not!" Which of you has not recorded the overflowing feelings of