XVI. What? Shall we receive good at the hand S ER M. of God, and fhall we not receive evil? In order to unfold all that is contained in this appeal made to every man's conscience, let us confider, IN the first place, that the good things which God has bestowed, afford fufficient evidence for our believing, that the evils which he fends, are not causelessly or wantonly inflicted. Did we live in a world which bore the marks of a malicious or cruel governor, there might be reason for distrusting every step of his conduct. But in the world which we inhabit, we behold, on the contrary, plain marks of predominant goodness. We behold the structure of the universe, the order of nature, the general course of Providence, obviously arranged with a benevolent regard to the welfare of men, All the art and contrivance of which the divine works are full, point to this end; and the more they are explored, create the firmer belief, that the goodness of the Deity gave rife to the fyftem of creation, SER M. creation. What is the conclufion to be thence drawn, but that in fuch parts of the divine administration as appear to us harsh and severe, the fame goodness continues to prefide, though exercised in a hidden and mysterious manner? Let me defire you to confider, whether, if fome powerful friend had placed you in an opulent and comfortable ftation, and, in the general conduct of your affairs, had discovered the most difinterested kindness, you would not ascribe any occafional discouragements you received, to fome unknown reafon or cause, rather than to his unfaithfulness or cruelty? Ought not the experience which we have had, and the discovery which all nature affords, of the divine goodness, lead us to put a like conftruction on the evils which we suffer from a hand that hath fo frequently loaded us with good?-Have we forgotten, in the midft of our complaints, who brought us unto the light of day; who watched over our helpless infancy; who reared our growing childhood; and through ten XVI. ten thousand furrounding dangers, has S ER M. been our protector and guardian until this day? How often has he rescued us from fickness and death, and made our hearts glad with unexpected comforts? Now, that some cloud is thrown over our profperity, or fome bleffing withdrawn, in which for a time we had rejoiced, can we imagine that there is no good cause for this change of his proceeding? Shall we fufpect that his nature is entirely altered? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in Shut up his tender mercies? No, let us fay with the Pfalmift, This is my infirmity; but I will remember the works of the Lord. I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High*.—One fignal work of the most High, at least, let us remember, and rejoice in the remembrance of it; even that final remedy which he has provided for all the evils occafioned by fin, in the redemption of the world accomplished by Jefus Christ. anger He * Pf. lxxvii. 9. 10. SER M. He who spared not his own Son, but deliXVI. vered him up for us all, will he, in any cafe, wantonly afflict the children of men with fuperfluous and unneceffary forrows? Is not this a proof fo fatisfactory, fo exprefs and demonftrative, of the gracious purposes of God, as fhould difpofe us to take in good part, every thing which proceeds from him? Confider, IN the Second place, that the good things we receive from God are undeferved, the evils we fuffer are juftly me-rited. Every reasonable person must feel the weight of this confideration, for producing patience and fubmiffion. For, though to suffer at any rate be grievous, yet to fuffer unjustly, is doubly galling. Whereas, when one receives a mixed portion, whereof the goods are above his deferts, and the evils below his deferts, to complain, in fuch a cafe, is unreasonable; there is more ground for being thankful.-All, it is true, have not deferved evil equally. Yet all of us deferve XVI. deferve it more or lefs; and to merit S ER M, good at the hand of the Lord, is what none of us can pretend. At the best we are but unprofitable fervants. Even this is more than we are entitled to claim. For if God were to enter into judgment with us, who could ftand before him? who could justify himself in his fight? When the most inoffenfive compare their conduct with God's holy law; when they reflect upon the duties they have omitted, and the actual guilt they have contracted, they will find more reafon to accuse themselves, than to complain of the divine chastisement. Whatever innocence any of us may plead, nay, whatever merit we may claim with respect to men and the world, we suffer no more than what we deferve from the Governor of the world; and of his difpleasure, we know that the wrath of man is no other than the instrument. Not only all of us have done evil, bụt what ought to be particularly attended to, God has a just title to punish us for it. |