IX. SER M. ruling the earth, and of his providence interpofing in our affairs, virtue would have been altogether deprived of its encouragement and support. Had the evidence, on the other hand, been fo strong as to place the hand of the Almighty conftantly before our eyes, the intention of our prefent existence would have been defeated, and no trial of virtue have remained. Inftead, therefore, of complaining of the obscurity which at prefent covers the conduct of Providence, we fee that, on the whole, we have reason to submit and adore, II. THE text fuggefts that, though what God is doing, or what he intends to do, we know not now, yet there is ground to believe, that at fome future period we fhall receive information. What I do thou knoweft not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. The question here arises, what that hereafter is to which we are to look for the folution of our prefent doubts? IX. In the first place, hereafter may, on SER M. fome occafions, refer to the fubfequent course of events in this world. It often happens that the confequences of things throw light on the defigns of God. The history of Providence, in proportion as it advances, difembroils itself. Though our prefent condition forbids extenfive and complete information, yet as much is fometimes allowed to appear as gives us favourable openings into the righteous and benevolent counfels of heaven.Thus, in the public affairs of the world, it has been frequently feen, that from the most unpromifing causes important and beneficent effects have, in the fequel, arifen. In our own country, at one period, the violent paffions of a prince gave beginning to the Reformation. At another period, arbitrary attempts against religion and liberty occafioned that happy Revolution which has formed the æra of national prosperity. In many inftances, the wrath of man has been made to praise God. Those wars and commotions that shake the mo ral IX. SER M. ral world have answered fimilar purposes with tempefts in the natural world, of purging the air from noxious vapours, and restoring it to a temperature more found and whole fome. From the midft of confufion order has been made to fpring, and from temporary mischiefs, lafting advantages to arife.In all cafes of this nature, with which facred and civil history abounds, fecret defigns of heaven were going on, which were unfolded in the end. The wheel was always in motion. The hand of the clock was advancihg with unperceived progrefs, till the moment came of its ftriking the appointed hour. In like manner, with respect to individuals, there is often a hereafter in the courfe of their lives, which discloses and juftifies the ways of God. Not to mention the good effects which misfortunes are found to produce on the minds of men, by checking their vices, and correcting their errors, innumerable exemplifications can be given, of misfortunes paving their way to future advancement IX. in the world. We are always querulous s E R M. and impatient when designs fucceed not according to our wifh. Ignorant of what futurity is to bring forward, occupied with nothing but the present,, we exclaim, Where is God? Where the fceptre of righteoufnefs? Hath he forgotten to be gracious? or doth he indeed, fee, and is there knowledge in the Moft High? God feeth not as man seeth: He looketh not merely to what you fuffer, but to what the effect of these fufferings is to be. Confider only in how different a light the Patriarch Jofeph would view the events of his life after he had seen in what they had terminated, from the light in which he saw them, when led away by the Ifhmaelites as a flave, or when thrown by Potiphar into the Egyptian prison. We murmur againft Providence, juft as the impetuous youth frets against his inftructors and tutors, who are keeping him under a strict, and as he thinks a needlefs, difcipline. He knows not that, by their inftruction and difcipline, they are IX. SER M. are laying the foundation of his future fortunes; of the wealth which he is to acquire, and of the advancement to which he is to rife in the world. What may justly be said to him by his tutors and inftructors, is equally applicable to us all under our present state of education; What I do, thou knoweft not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.- -Regarding, then, the unknown iffue of all worldly events in this life, let us never despair, let us never think dishonourably of the government of God; but have patience till his providence accomplish its designs in its own way, and at its own time. Although thou fayeft thou shalt not fee him, yet judgment is before him; therefore truft. thou in him*. In the fecond place, the expreffion of hereafter in the text must be understood to refer, in its full extent, not to future events in this life, but to a fubfequent ftate * Job xxxv. 14. |