SER M. revolutions of the celeftial bodies,

XX.

Happy for us if the contemplation fhall nourish that temper of habitual devotion, which fo well becomes dependent beings, and is fo intimately connected with all virtue *!

But the chief effect that ought to be produced by meditation on the divine wifdom, is perfect refignation to the Governor of the univerfe, and entire truft in his administration. Our private miffortunes and disappointments are too often the fubject of querulous complaints, and even of unjuft fufpicions of Providence. But when in the whole natural and moral world, we behold an arrangement of things which plainly difcovers the most confummate wisdom, can we believe, that in the arrangement of our petty concerns, this wisdom is dormant and neglectful? How much more reafon is there to think, that our ignorance of the divine plans misleads our judgment, than that the wisdom of the Almighty has erred in directing our private affairs? -Divine

wifdom, as I obferved in the beginning, is an exertion of divine benevolence. It

• See Serm. XIX. Vol. iii.

has,

has, it can have, no other fcope than to SERM. accomplish the beft ends by the most

proper means.

Let the wisdom there

fore, and the goodness, of the Deity, be ever conjoined in our idea. Let every new discovery of divine wisdom, be a new ground of hope, of joy, and of cordial fubmiffion, to every virtuous man. Let him be thankful that he lives in a world, where nothing happens to him by chance, or at random; but where a great, a wife, and beneficent Mind continually fuperintends every event.

Under the faith of this great principle of religion, let us proceed in the course of our duty, with fteadfaft and undifmayed mind. Let us retain faithful allegiance to our Creator and our Redeemer; and then we may always hope the best; and caft our care upon him who careth for us. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall frengthen your heart. Although thou fayeft, thou canst not fee him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. Let us begin every undertaking with humble dependance on his af fiftance for enabling us to prosecute it to Dd4 the

XX.

XX.

SERM. the end. When our undertakings are finished, and the clofe of life approaches, with praife to him let us conclude all our labours.

Unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wife God, be bonour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

SERMON XXI.

The COMPASSION and BENEFICENCE OF the DEITY.

[Preached before the Society for the Benefit of the Song of the Clergy of the Eftablished Church of Scotland, 20th May 1796.]

JEREMIAH, xlix. 11.

Leave thy fatherless children; I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows truft in me.

NO

XXI.

O fubject is more open to general SERM, obfervation, or more confirmed by manifold experience, than the goodness of God. The contemplation of the univerfe, in which we dwell, prefents it perpetually to our view. Amidst the vast extent of creation, we difcover no inftance of mere pomp, or ufelefs grandeur, but behold every thing contributing to the general good, and rendered fubfer

SER M. vient to the welfare of the rational or fen. XXI. fible world. In the adminiftration of Providence, the fame principle of beneficence is confpicuous. The feasons are made regularly to return, and the earth to flourifh; fupply is bountifully provided for the wants of all creatures; and numberlefs comforts are prepared to fweeten human life. Most justly is he who hath established, and who upholds, this admirable order of things, to be efteemed the Father of mercies; and, accordingly, in this view, he is often celebrated in fcripture. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. His tender mercies are over all his works. His mercy is great unto the heavens, and it endureth for ever.

It appears worthy of particular observation that there is one light, in which more frequently than in any other, the goodness of God is prefented to us in the facred writings, namely, the light of compaffion to the diftreffes of mankind. Moft of the fituations are mentioned in which men are confidered as moft forlorn; and in fome paffage of fcripture God is reprefented as interefting himself, in a pe