and would we contend that the visible judgments of the Almighty Ruler never stalk abroad upon the earth-that no solemn warning is ever intended in pain, discomfiture, and sorrow? Far, very far otherwise. The sense, as I have already stated, of our general dependence on God, of our unceasing subjection to the notice of His eye and to the government of His hand, cannot be too strongly excited within us: it should be insinuated into all our thoughts; it should influence all our dispositions; it is the most pregnant source of sincere religious feeling, and the most active operating principle in producing virtuous practice.

As far then as it may tend to generate improvement in ourselves, to make us derive instructive and impressive lessons from the passing occurrences of the world, to awaken our gratitude to God, to quicken the sense of our dependence on His high will, we cannot carry to an erroneous extreme our application of the doctrine of a particular Providence. On general grounds we owe to Him the warmest expression of thankful adoration, as we are dependent every moment on the provisions of His bounty, as we have received from Him all that we possess, as we look to Him for all that we expect. And, on every striking occasion of unexpected change in our fortunes, of relief from distress, of escape

from danger, of unforeseen success, nay of unforeseen calamity also, this gratitude ought to be quickened to a more warm and glowing feeling. For the purpose also of increasing and strengthening the general sense of our subjection to an over-ruling Providence, we may well draw striking lessons from the passing events of the world. We must be disciplined by them to a just knowledge of our dependent state; we must be disciplined to humility, to reflection, and to piety; to a religious trust in the goodness of God, and to a patient acquiescence under all His dispensations. And, from the more severe and aweful warnings which the course of worldly events at times displays in the eyes of trembling mortals, that solemn reverence for the name of God, and that fear of His great displeasure ought to be excited, which may produce in us unvarying obedience. These are the effects, which, we may well presume, were intended by the Almighty in the traces of His moral and providential government which He is pleased to afford, and which therefore ought to be produced on the feelings and the conduct of His creatures.

But, as to any thing beyond this, every principle of reverence towards the Deity, every sense of our own utter ignorance and weakness, admonish us that we ought to advance with the most cautious step. We must ever remember

that it is not for the short-sighted creature to fathom the ways of the Supreme Creator: that His purposes are shrouded beneath a veil which no mortal eye can pierce: that His scheme of government has ends, and bearings, and relations, which our limited faculties cannot possibly comprehend. We cannot be too much on our guard against that presumptuous confidence, which would teach us to advance on our own parts arrogant claims to His favour and support, or rashly to denounce His judgments against others. We cannot be too cautious how we pretend to familiar views of His providence and government: how we interpret a declaration of His will on occasions wholly unworthy of His exalted dignity: how we make Hima party, with views and objects distinctly perceivable by us, in the low struggles of human interest and ambition. We cannot be too cautious how we convert into a source of arrogant presumption, of unsocial animosity, of gloomy superstition, or of irreverent familiarity with sacred names, that sense of the Divine superintendence, which, in its just and natural tendency, nourishes a genuine, correct, efficacious piety, generates true Christian humility in ourselves, and comprehensive charity towards our fellow-creatures. a

a See note A at the end.

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Darkly indeed," as through a glass," we see things now; the ways of God are altogether past finding out" by man's feeble sight; and to no earthly being has "the root of His wisdom been revealed." But amidst the thick clouds of ignorance in which we are enveloped, we are blessed with the cheering light of some great and important knowledge. We are favoured with that knowledge of our unceasing subjection to the government of an all-wise, all-powerful, and ever merciful Ruler, which must impress upon us a deep and lowly sense of our dependent state; which must stir in us feelings of warm devotion, and animate us to virtuous exertion; which must touch with the sweetest hope the bosom of affliction; which must instil into us a firm conviction, that, amidst the many varying chances of frail mortality, all things are disposed for the best. Above all, we have received that full assurance, on which it most concerns us here to act, that "the great Judge of all the earth will do right;" that He is the declared friend of virtue, the determined enemy of sin and that this disposition will be most certainly signalized in His final dispensations. For, -amidst very much that is dark, mysterious, and doubtful, passing before our eyes,-one truth is plain, traced through all the works of God, stamped upon all His proceedings, confirmed

to us by every thing which we know concerning His nature and His attributes, and the ways of His providence. This truth is, that, in the final closing of the great account, in the full accomplishment of His sovereign purposes, in the important issue destined to await the grand developement of that inscrutable wisdom which has directed His whole scheme of government, all things will conspire to crown with unspeakable and immortal happiness those who have rightly turned to their Saviour and Redeemer with sincere and humble faith, and have earnestly endeavoured to practise the great duties which He has commanded.