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were to be perfectly fitted for reflecting this light in a certain manner, and the animal eye was to be so formed as to have a picture of visible objects painted on the bottom of it. How many particular combinations were necessary for all these results? What shall we say of so many herbs, and flowers, and trees, and animal bodies, as there are scattered over this, our earth? All their kind and species, all the series of their individuals, all their parts and particles were foreseen, intended, and contrived by one act of the divine mind. Again, how wonderful are the heavenly bodies! of what surpassing magnitude, moving in the most beautiful order, at an immense distance from each other! to say nothing of the numberless creatures that are beyond the best telescope, or below that of the microscope. He who reflects over these things, must necessarily see the most evident proofs of an infinite power, wisdom, and pro⚫vidence; and must be filled with admiration and awful respect for the Creator and Ruler of the universe.

In this great plan of creation and providence, we are all deeply interested; none are unconcerned spectators of this grand and imposing scene. God has singled us out from among an infinite number of human beings, in order to call us into existence at a fixed period; and he has made a vast number of his creatures contribute to the formation of these wonderful machines, our bodies; as likewise to our nourishment, to our preservation, to our necessities, conveniences, and gratifications. Every moment that we exist, we are enjoying a great number of benefits expressly designed for us by the Supreme Ruler of the universe. And our existence depends every moment upon his supporting and sustaining energy. His ever-watchful providence guards and defends us from innumerable evils. Thus he counteracts, curbs, and often suspends in their operations, the principles which produce storms, tempests, earthquakes, pestilence and plague; or, while permitted to exert themselves with all their natural violence and malignity, gives them a particular direction, so that their strength may be expended in such a way, and in such places, as they shall be innoxious to man. Thus, the thunder-storm that might slay thousands, has seldom human life for its victim; the tornado and tempest exhaust themselves on the waves of the sea, or the uninhabited forest; and the pestilence that walketh in darkness, is generally consigned to the arid desert. These destructive causes, which exist in millions, are seldom let loose against man. God also restrains moral evil by curbing the passions of ambitious and revengeful men, who, if left to themselves, would fill the earth with confusion and blood.

Thus the Providence of God, when duly considered, is calculated to fill the devout mind with awe and veneration, and inspire us with a spirit of gratitude, love, and obedience. It also lays a just and reasonable foundation for prayer. We pray to God to avert evil, because we believe he exercises a universal Providence in the world. We pray to be preserved in the midst of danger, and from

surrounding harm, because we are persuaded that he has sway everywhere, and that all things serve the purpose of his gracious will. All men, everywhere and in every place, who pray and make supplication to God, expect to be heard, because he is omnipotent, and can and will interpose in the matters which concern them. And should evil be coming against them in a direct course, he can direct it from that course, so that it shall pass by them; or, averting it, turn it entirely back, so that it shall have no operation near them; or, if he permit it to advance, convert it to their spiritual advantage, by counteracting the bad effects which it. would otherwise produce, and by his providence and grace, in answer to prayer, cause all those things which would be otherwise mischievous, to work for their present good and future happiness.

VII. The doctrine of an overruling Providence will yield us consolation under the fflictions we are called to pass through in life. If we believe the universe was a state of confusion, anarchy, and reproach; that the Governor of the world was a cruel and malignant being, who made sport of human misery, and took pleasure in punishing his unhappy creatures, such a thought would overwhelm the mind; it would turn the gloom of adversity into the shadow of death, and mingle poison in the cup of bitterness, which we are doomed to drink. But we are informed by the Scriptures, that the dark dispensations of providence are part of that plan which has the good of mankind for its object; take their rise from the goodness of our Father in heaven; and are intended for the reformation and final happiness of his children. The same Divine Oracles which say, Blessed is the man whom thou chooseth and maketh approach unto thee, say also, Blessed is the man whom thou chasteneth. So far from being marks of the divine displeasure, the afflictions of life are tokens of the divine love. While, thoughtlessly and heedlessly, we go astray, God enters himself in our favor and sends these his messengers to bring us back to himself and te the path of duty. It is but a narrow and imperfect view we take of afflictions, when we consider them only as trials. They are intended not so much for the trial, as for the cultivation of virtue and holiness. They are sent by the Providence of God, to mortify your unruly passions; to wean your affections from the world, and to prepare for a happy immortality. They are sent for the improvement of your nature; for the increase of your graces; and for the promotion of your joy to all eternity. When under the afflicting hand of heaven, you are, therefore, standing a candidate for immortality; you are singled out by Providence to act the part of a Christian; and you are called to show forth to the world a pattern of suffering virtues. He is but a novice in the school of Christ, who has not learned to suffer. Christians are called to a warfare, and they are to endure hardness as the good soldiers of Jesus Christ. The best affections of the human heart, the noblest graces of the soul, the highest virtues of life, and the most acceptable

offering to heaven, arise from the proper improvement of adversity. The blessed above, whom the prophet saw arrayed in white before the throne, came out of great tribulation; they learned the first notes of the song of Moses and the lamb on a bed of sorrow. Such is the intention of afflictions, which Providence sends; and even under these afflictions, God is with his people. You are ever under the hand of a merciful Creator, who does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. He knows your frame; he remembers that you are but dust; he will afflict you no further than you are able to bear; and as your days are, he has promised that your strength shall be. Nay, in all your afflictions he is present with you and the hand that bruised you, binds up the wound. Let not, then, your hearts despond-bear up under the pressure of wo-rejoice because the Lord reigneth-exult in the language of the prophet:-Although the fig-tree should not blossom, nor fruit be found in the vine; though the labor of the olive should fail, and the field should yield no meat; though the flocks should be cut off from the field, and there shall be no herd in the stall; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, and I will joy in the God of my salvation.

VIII. Finally, from all that has been said on this subject, we clearly see how much it concerns us to perform those duties which a proper regard to Providence requires, and to obtain protection from that power which directs and disposes all. There cannot be a sounder maxim than this, that if a man only devises his way, while God overrules his devices and directs his steps, an interest in the favor of God is far more important than all the wisdom and ability of man. Without his favor, the schemes and devices of the wisest will be disconcerted and baffled; under his protection and guidance, the simple are led in a plain and sure path. In vain do the giddy and profane throw Providence out of their thoughts, and affect to think and act as if all depended upon themselves. This boldness of conceit and self-sufficiency is affectation, and nothing more. For there are seasons when the man of the most wicked and daring heart feels the strong subjection under which he is held, and would gladly grasp at heaven. As long as human affairs move on in a smooth train, without any alarming presages of change or danger, the man of the world may remain pleased with himself, and be fully confident in his own powers. Under such circumstances, resting in self-complacency, he may not distrust his own abilities. But whose life continues long in a tranquil and prosperous state, undisturbed by the cares of life and by the uncertainty of human events? Let any uncommon violence shake the elements around him, and threaten him with destruction; let the aspect of public affairs be so lowering as to forbode some great calamity; or let some sudden change arise in his private concerns to shatter his fortune; or let sickness, or the harbingers of approaching dissolution, show him his frailty; and how ready will he then be to send prayers from the heart, that Providence would in

terfere and relieve him? Religion, my brethren, is not a matter of speculation; its foundations are laid deep in the nature and constitution of man. It lays hold of every man's feelings. In every man's heart and conscience, it has many witnesses to its importance and reality. If we fail to make religion our sanctuary and God our friend, we are in the most exposed and defenceless state; and shall find, sooner or later, every other shield to be wholly ineffectual in defending us against the adversaries of life, and utterly useless in the solemn and trying hour of death.

Let us, then, use every means which may be effectual in procuring the grace and favor of that Divine Providence on which so much depends. Let no duties be overlooked or neglected, which belong to us as the servants of God. Let us humbly and devoutly engage in his worship, pour forth the song of grateful praise for all his blessings. Let us trust in his goodness, and yield implicit submission to his will. Let us render a constant and cheerful obedience to his laws. Let us be thankful that God has clearly made known to us what he requires, in order that we may be accepted in his sight; and that he has not only revealed the rule of duty, but that he has also pointed out to us in the gospel, the direct method of reconciliation with him, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice that Divine Providence has condescended to become our great instructor in this article; has taught us in what way our sins may be forgiven, our imperfect services accepted, and an interest in the grace of God attained by means of our Redeemer. Let us remember how inexcusable we shall be if we wantonly cast all this offered grace and mercy under our feet. In a world so full of vicissitudes and uncertainty, let us secure to ourselves one resting place--one habitation that cannot be moved. By faith and penitence, by purity and a virtuous life, by prayer and supplication, let us seek the friendship of the Most High; so shall he who directeth the steps of man, and doth all his pleasure, conduct our path in such a course as shall, in the end, bring us to immortality and eternal life.

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DISCOURSE XI.

The Rich Youth Forsaking Christ.

“Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."-Mark x., 21, 22.

me.

It is very difficult to ascertain the true character of a man till he has been tried. Those who are the most confident of their own powers, when they are called into action, frequently discover the greatest timidity; and those who most dread a conflict, when once they actually engage in it, sometimes approve themselves the most steadfast and heroic. The vehement protestations of the fidelity of Peter to his Master, and his eagerness to walk upon the waves, might have gained him a reputation of undaunted courage and of invincible firmness, had he not been left to prove, by actual experiment, the weakness and inefficacy of his resolutions. The man who engaged to follow Jesus whithersoever he might go, began to waver in his determination, as soon as he was informed of the destitute condition of the Son of God. Penetrated with the persuasion that he could derive little benefit from one who had not where to lay his head, he determined to abandon him, even without an exexperiment. So the young man in our text might have passed for the most excellent of characters, had he not been brought to the touchstone, and suffered to manifest the true dispositions of his soul. Jesus Christ, doubtless, fully understood his true character; he, therefore, gave him a command by which his character was fully elicited and publicly disclosed.

I. In the elucidation of his conduct, we proceed to consider, in the first place, the injunction given him: Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor: and come, take up the cross and follow me. It must be confessed, that the command was very difficult to obey. He was a youth of opulence and rank; the sentiments he had imbibed, the hopes he had entertained, the habits he had formed, must all have rendered the command under consideration extremely hard and difficult to obey. The change proposed to him was, doubtless, irksome and arduous in the extreme. To exchange wealth for poverty, prosperity for adversity, ease for trouble, honor for disgrace, homage for contempt; this was hard, extremely hard, for human nature to endure. It is a trial which few could stand-an ordeal which few could pass. Indeed, nothing but Almighty grace could qualify the heart of any man for such a work as this.

But this command, however difficult, was not unreasonable. God had given to him his existence and his powers; his riches and his

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