ment or natural evil is to be confidered as proceeding from his hand both in time and eternity. That God is the author lof all the punishment in the eternal world is plain. He formed that direful divifion in the future ftate, called hell. He inflicts all the awful torments which devils and damned fpirits fuffer there. The vials of his wrath are continually pouring into their guilty fpirits and the fmoke of his vengeance afcends forever and ever. This is the reward which the finally impenitent and the workers of iniquity receive from the hand of their Maker. The burnings of Tophit, that tremendous furnace; are kindled by the breath of Jehovah. No doubt the devils and wicked in hell are great tormentors one of another. God operates by inftruments and means in all worlds. All this eternal evil is ordained as the punishment of iniquity and the reward of tranfgreffion.

Now if God be the author of the greateft poffible natural evil, furely with the utmost propriety the lefs may be attributed to him. Hence it is apparent whatever may be the means or fecondary caufes employed, God is the real author of all their pains, afflictions and troubles of this mortal life. "Af<fliction arifeth not of the duft of the earth, nor doth forrow "come forth of the ground. There is not evil in the city and "the Lord hath no hand in it." Job declares that natural evils proceed from God. "Shall we receive good at the hand "of God, and shall we not receive evil?" Therefore why fhould a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his fins?

matter.

The fcriptures are full of authorities in confirmation of this All the troubles and calamities of both faints and finners, are always afcribed to the moral Governor of the univerfe. He was the author of all the plagues of Egypt; deftroyed the first born of the land, and drowned Pharoah and his hofts in the red fea. He was the author of all the calamities

of the children of Ifrael in the wilderness; flew them by thou fands, and caufed all thefe emigrants to perifh in the defert, fave Caleb and Joshua. He often afflicted them with wars, . peftilence and famine; fcourged them by the nations round about, and diftreffed them by the Canaanites in the midst of them. He carried them into Babylon, ruined their city and country, and finally dispersed them among all nations as they are at this day. God was the author of the deftruction of Babylon, Edom, Moab, &c. Yea, he has pulled down nations, and fet up kingdoms from the beginning even to the prefent time. Thus all affliction, trouble and diftrefs, whether it refpects nations, communities, or individuals, comes from the hand of God. Nay, an arrow is not fhot from a bow, but he directs it at pleasure, and fends it to the joints of the harnefs. It is as certain that God is the author of all punishment and affliction, both mediately and immediately, as that he is the Supreme Governor of the universe.

It cannot be faid that Nebuchadnezar destroyed Ifrael, and Cyrus, Babylon, any further than that they were inftruments in the hand of God, and fcourges to thefe nations for their iniquities and abominations. It cannot be faid that Satan was the author of all the calamities which befel Job, for he could not do the least thing, however malicious he is, but by divine permiffion and direction. It is remarkable that Job never once blamed the Sabeans, Chaldeans, the devil, or the winds and the ftorms, but as a good and well informed man, who understood divine providence, acknowledged all that came upon him,, was from God.

It will be objected, that when our Lord healed a woman,. who had been bound eighteen years, he charges this affliction. upon the devil as the author of it. 66 Ought not this woman "who Satan bound these eighteen years be loofed from this "bond on the fabbath day?" To which it is replied, that

was ever per

fcripture must be interpreted by fcripture, and ever underflood in confiftency with itfelf. The Jews crucified our Saviour, a foldier run a fpear into his fide, &c. yet it was God that bruifed him, his wrath wounded him, and his fword was drawn against the man that was his fellow. Although the Jews performed the most wicked deed, which petrated under the fun, yet it was the juice and wrath of God which was due to the iniquities of man laid upon him, that was the fole caufe of all the fufferings, which Chrift underwent. He endured no more pain and calamity than God was pleased to lay upon him. So this unhappy woman, whatever affliction she may have endured, fatan was nothing more than the mean or inftrument, under the permiffion and direc.. tion of God, of all her troubles and calamities.

Satan and fin, in the facred oracles are frequently ufed as. fynonymous terms. Sin is the procuring caufe of Gods coming forth in all the infinite variety of afflictions which fall upon the children of men, upon faints and finners. Let it be here obferved, when God deals out painful and afflictive difpenfations, he always, to the whole view of the univerfe, proceeds upon the principles of juftice and equity and never punishes as a Sovereign; "He doth not afflict willingly or grieve the children of "men." This will be confidered in a future lecture. In the deluge, in the deftruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, there was nothing of arbitrarinefs or caprice in bis conduct. Injuftice cannot dwell with the Judge of all the earth. Juftice and judgment are the guardians of his throne, and he never deviates from the perfection of righteoufnefs.

A very brief improvement fhall finish the fut ject.

First, we are here taught, that the confideration of afflictive events, of whatever kind or extent the fame may be, as originating from the infinitely wife agency of God, are the only

foundation on which they can make any proper impreffions upon us, or we can receive any support or confolation under them. This attention to troubles and calamities, and a due confideration of them in their fource and in all their bearings, cannot fail of producing useful and good effects. But alas! the best means of improvement will be of no avail without the influences of the Holy Ghost to give them effect.

Secondly, the confideration of a juft, holy and gracious God fending dittrelles upon us and preffing us under many troubles, is the highest poffible encouragement and confolation to a believing heart. Let all who have experienced any deep afflic tions, and whofe views and exercifes under them have been in any measure of a right kind, acknowledge that it was good for them to have been afflicted. A quiet, refigned and sub. miflive feeling in troubles, blunt much of their force, and difarm them of their fting. Under thefe apprehenfions and fenfations the foul will often rejoice in tribulations. No circumftance to a pious mind in afflictions renders them fo grievous and infupportable, as the want of a realifing fenfe of the particular hand of God in them. This feeling and perception will be the firit care and concern of fuch a person to obtain, and a leading meafure to all proper exercifes of heart in times of

trouble.

Thirdly, we here learn, that it would be a dreadful thing, if this world in all its calamities, changes and revolutions, were not under the immediate government of God. A reflection of this kind would deftroy the whole comfort of existence in it. Existence in this world, if the Governor of the universe had not the adminiftration, would be a curfe, and abfolutely infupportable, amidit all its tiniel fhows. No earthly affluence can compenfate to a good man, the abfence of the fatisfaction of the divine government. On this fuppofition, it were bet ter not be, than hold exiftence.

Laftly, let this fubject exhort us, moft firmly to believe in God, his perfections and conftant fuperintending care over all things; let us be patient under afflictions and troubles; in all feafons of diftrefs acknowledge his holy hand; repent of our fins ; fubmit to the divine will; and glorify him in adversity as well as profperity. Remember, an eminent part of religion confifts in fubmiffion to God. "Jefus, our perfect example, "faid, even fo, Father, for so it seemed good in thy fight. "Thy will be done." All the followers of Christ, whatever may be their fufferings in this life, will furely be happy.