327 CHAPTER XΧΙ. ! ON THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. THE providence of God consists in his preserving all things and governing all things. It is equally comprehensive as the things which exist, and embraces under its direction and care whatever has a being. Though it is distinguished into universal and particular, there seems to be in reality no foundation for the distinction, since all things are alike under the preserving power and government of God. "He upholdeth all things by the word of his power." "Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them: are ye not much better than they? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and if God clothe the grass of the field, shall he not much more clothe you. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone, thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are therein, the seas and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all." If we believe that God possesses infinite wisdom, power, immutability, and eternity, -that he is glorious in holiness, inflexible in justice, and unbounded in goodness, we must believe that He only is qualified, and that He only is entitled to govern the world. Who can dispute his right who has created all things, to dispose of them according to the counsel of his own will; or, who can question his power to preserve in existence, to direct and to control, all to which he has already given being? In providence, as well as in creation, he speaks and it is done, he commands and it stands fast. The embarrassment which we feel in attending to a multiplicity of concerns is occasioned by the limited nature of our faculties: but the Creator of all the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary, there is no searching of his understanding. It is not for us fully to comprehend how God makes every creature that exists the object of his watchful care, and overrules all their actions and all the consequences that can arise out of them, for his own glory. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." While we believe that God worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, it becomes us to adore him in his providence, as holy, and wise, and just, and good. The providence of God extends to all the creatures which he has made, and to all their actions. No event can possibly take place in the universe without his knowledge, without his permissive or efficient power. The movements of an archangel, and the fall of a sparrow, are alike under his control and direction. The inanimate creation is just that which he has commanded it to be, acted upon by his spirit, and exhibiting the character of wisdom and goodness. The elements of nature move by his appointment, he makes a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder. He scattereth his bright cloud, and it is turned round about by his counsel, that they may do whatsoever he commands them upon the face of the world in the earth. The angels of light are his ministering spirits, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. The angels of darkness are preserved by his power, and their envy and malice are restrained and overruled for his glory. The hearts of all men, whether they be good, or whether they be bad, are perfectly under his sway; and those very actions which they most freely accomplish, are made by him the means of furthering his own most wise and gracious purposes. He liberally provides for the meanest of the inferior animals: he gives to the beast his food; and to the young ravens which cry. He employs them either as instruments of good, or executioners of his judgment. In obedience to his command a raven supplied the wants of Elijah in the time of famine; and a whale attended Jonah to convey him to dry land. He worketh all things, and by all creatures, after the counsel of his own will; he doth among the armies of heaven, and the inhabitants of this world, that which seemeth good in his sight. As the providence of God extends to all creatures, and to all their actions, so does it employ all creatures and all their actions as the means of accomplishing its own purposes. These purposes he could accomplish by the word of his power without the intervention of means. He who called the world into being without means, can preserve and govern it by his own agency without the instrumentality of second causes. But he makes his angels, as well as all his other creatures, will; or, who can question his power to preserve in existence, to direct and to control, all to which he has already given being? In providence, as well as in creation, he speaks and it is done, he commands and it stands fast. The embarrassment which we feel in attending to a multiplicity of concerns is occa sioned by the limited nature of our faculties: but the Creator of all the ends of the earth fainteth not, neithe is weary, there is no searching of his understanding It is not for us fully to comprehend how God make every creature that exists the object of his watchf care, and overrules all their actions and all the co sequences that can arise out of them, for his own glor "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heave are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher the your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts While we believe that God worketh all things aft the counsel of his own will, it becomes us to ado him in his providence, as holy, and wise, and jus and good. The providence of God extends to all the creatur which he has made, and to all their actions. 2 event can possibly take place in the universe with his knowledge, without his permissive or effici power. The movements of an archangel, and the of a sparrow, are alike under his control and direct The inanimate creation is just that which he has c manded it to be, acted upon by his spirit, and hibiting the character of wisdom and goodness. elents of nature move by his appointment, he ma for the rain, and a way for the lightnin |