Hence therefore it may be seen, that although the scrip

in this world, and of all their | portable as the flames of a fiery flattering prospects, and sensibly furnace? feel that they are all utterly gone for ever-if hatred, malice and wrath, envy and revenge,tures teach, that the time when and all the tormenting passions God will render to the wicked and insatiable desires of wicked indignation and wrath, tribulahearts, prevail, and rage and tion and anguish, is the day of reign in them without restraint judgment-that then is the -if they sensibly feel that their time when they will be cast into hearts are fixed in opposition the lake of fire; yet they have and enmity against God, and no grounds from the word of that he is and will continue op- God, to flatter themselves with posed to them, and have, at the the hope of a short respite same time, such a view and from pain and torment, after overwhelming sense of his al- death, before that dreadful day mighty power, and great and arrives; but quite the reverse. terrible majesty, and insupport- Of consequence, the things able wrath, as cannot well be which have been illustrated conceived of by men in the from the scriptures of truth, present state-if they are con- whilst they are adapted to comscious that they deserve the fort and rejoice the hearts of hatred and everlasting contempt the faithful, are also well suited of God, and of all intelligent to warn the wicked of their creatures-if they feel that they danger, and to admonish them are in his hands, and cannot to flee without delay for refuge, possibly hide from his sight, or to lay hold on the hope which is get out of his reach, and have yet before them, but, if longer not a single friend in the uni- neglected, may soon be hidden verse to have compassion on from their eyes. them, or to afford them the least relief-if they have a view of the saints in happiness and

glory, and a thorough conviction Thoughts on the Divine Govern

ment.

No. II.

(Continued from p. 405.)

TARROW and contracted

NA

that the day of judgment will come, and that they shall then be arraigned before the supreme judge arrayed in flames of vengeance, and sentenced to everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels that the views are not suited for wrath of the Almighty will then the contemplation of great and be poured forth upon them in sublime subjects. Of course, the most sensible manner, and how very imperfeet and inade are in total despair of escaping or quate must be all our concepfinding any manner of relief to tions of an infinite Being, and of all eternity; will not these and that government which is the such-like things naturally and fruit of his perfections? It is necessarily fill them with pain impossible for us to judge aright and torment unutterable-with of the conduct of Him who is distress and anguish as insup-wonderful in counsel, and excel

things in the natural world; and have we any reason to conclude that his agency is less concerned or these beauties less displayed in the moral world? Shall we suppose that He acts in every particular, with the most perfect design in the one, and without any in the other? Certainly not. The instruction of the sacred passage we have taken for our guide, forbids us to indulge an idea, so irrational, so unworthy the glorious supremacy of the most high God. "Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." This is

lent in working, unless we extend our views to the great and stupendous plan of his Providence, which every act of his government is, in some way or other, accomplishing; and considering each part, that comes under observation, as being in some way connected with, and subservient to the great whole. It is true, we are utterly inadequate to a comprehensive view; but we are able, according to our capacities, to judge upon the universal scale. For this purpose, God hath given us many smaller representations, proportioned to our limited powers-highly figurative, yet strikingly resemblances in miniature of the infinite original, to assist us in extending our views. And where sight fails, and nature faints, faith may flourish and devotion say, "Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God-howling place. Here then the great unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne."

expressive. It most strongly denotes, not only the moral excellency, but the permanency and immutability of the divinė government. An habitation expresses the idea of a stated and permanent residence, or an abi

inhabiter of eternity, hath fixed his everlasting abode. Righteousness and judgment are his habitation which he will never forsake. These are the pillars which support his throne. These are the principles, which invariably direct every measure of his government. His kingdom is glorious, and ruleth over all. The sceptre of his kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness, and his throne is for ever and ever.

We have, it is true, but a very imperfect view of the mysteries of Divine Providence, in the production of the great eternal plan of God, in which every creature has his part to act; and to which every part does in some way conduce. "Clouds and darkness are round about him." It is, as it were, a wheel within a wheel-infinite regularity, order, and design, in the midst of the utmost apparent confusion. We see but a very small part of the great whole-tendency and design. Many, but we see sufficient to believe the rest. We see wisdom, order and design in the works of creation, and the connection of

All this implies that every event is designed and ordered in Providence, by infinite wisdom and goodness, and is calculated to promote a great and glorious end, whether we are capable or not, of discerning their actual

doubtless, have observed, or might have observed some particular providence, or chain of providences, appearing in a

short issue of things, most look at the shades in the picwisely and graciously designed, ture, and call them blemishes. which at the first seemed mys-They think that God did neiteriously confused, and inexplicably dark. And why may not this lead us to believe the same of those parts of the moral system, which are not yet unfolded and explained to us? Why have we not equally just ground to believe that all is the operation of one uniform plan, and that the same divine wisdom is exer-sentially injure and ruin the cised throughout the whole and every part?

ther make nor design them because they are black. But remove the shades and both the beauty and the picture itself is destroyed. There is no more evil in the system than what is absolutely necessary to the greatest general good. Vary any part of the Divine government, you es

whole; and the great end of infinite wisdom and goodness would be for ever defeated.— Without doubt it is the design of God to glorify himself, by producing the highest happiness in his system; and the plan He

or conceivable plans, the wisest and best; and the only one cal

end. We may, therefore, rest assured, that almighty power will effect the end, which infinite goodness designs, by the means which infinite wisdom hath devised.

Let an ignorant man view the disjointed materials of a large building, when under the framing hand of the carpenter, and it will all appear to him, like labor to no purpose. He recog-hath adopted, is of all possible, nizes neither form nor beauty in it. He sees not perhaps the design or use of one piece of tim-culated to effect this important ber. All to him, is one confused, jumbled mass. But the artificer knows his plan, and steadily goes forward with his work. Every part is wisely framed and fitted; and when they are joined and the building erected Should we attempt a further and completed, the design will illustration of the subject, by appear through the whole; and adducing scripture examples; perhaps, the greatest wisdom a memorable one readily occurs and beauty of architecture be in the history of Joseph. This displayed. Thus it is with man- is, at once, the most entertaining kind in judging of the moral and instructive. What consumbeauty of the government of mate wisdom is discovered in God. Clouds and darkness are bringing good out of evil, and round about him-of conse-light out of darkness! All the quence what they do not see, they are unwilling to believe.They consider not, that "righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." They see not the connection and design of its several parts, and thence censure its wisdom, by distrusting the divine goodness, or murmuring under the corrections of Providence. They

scenes appear to be predetermined by God, and the operation of his eternal plan. For effecting this, it was necessary, that Joseph's brethren should hate and persecute him, and send him into Egypt-that he should be sold to Potiphar-and cast into prison. These incidents, together with those relating to the Butler and Baker

his introduction to Pharaoh despondency, upon the applicathe interpretation of his dreams, tion of his sons to take Benjamin and his consequent advance- with them into Egypt. "Me ment to the government of E- have ye bereaved of my chilgypt, are but so many links in dren-Joseph is not, and Simethe chain, so many successive on is not, and ye will take Bensteps, in the conduct of Divine jamin away-all these things Providence, towards the accom- are against me." Afflicted man! plishment of the end in view. distrusting the wisdom and They were all planned and di- goodness of his God, and thro❞ rected by infinite wisdom, and the weakness of the flesh, formissued exactly according to ing the most desperate concluGod's eternal design. Here we sion, All these things are against may see, as in a glass, the wis- me. The providences of God dom of God's moral govern- appeared mysterious to him.ment-the order and connection Clouds and darkness were round of the several parts, and how about him. He needed for his they all conspire in various ways, support, only a stronger faith, to one great end. Joseph's bre- and a more realizing sense, that thren acted a part, as to their" righteousness and judgment views and intentions, in direct are the habitation of his throne." opposition to the government of The event soon convinced him God; but wherein they dealt of his mistake, and gave him aproudly, God was infinitely a-bundant occasion, with David, bove them. They little thought to bless God that he had been how the matter would termi- afflicted. The mystery was nate; but it was all under the cleared up to him, and all his direction of an invisible hand, grief and anxiety dispelled, as and brought into effect by the in a moment, when he saw the powerful agency of God. waggons Joseph had sent to carJacob, an old man, was pas-ry him into Egypt. " Israel said, sionately fond of his son Joseph. it is enough-Joseph my son is It therefore, perhaps, became yet alive-I will go and see him necessary for Jacob's good, that before I die." Joseph should be taken away from him. But how severe was his trial! The heart of the good old man seemed ready to burst with grief, under the smart of the bereaving stroke. "And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days; and his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted; and he said, for I will go down into the grave for my son, mourning." He afterwards expressed himself in still stronger terms of settled dejection, and gloomy

From this small specimen of the divine conduct, we have the highest reason to conclude that the divine agency is universalthat all events are planned by infinite wisdom-that all creatures are in the most absolute sense dependent on God, and that He hath a great and glorious end in view, to which he makes every event of his Providence in some way conducive.

How is the greatness-the sovereignty, and glorious supremacy of God exalted in this point of view! How absolutely independent! What wisdom

short issue of things, most look at the shades in the picwisely and graciously designed, ture, and call them blemishes. which at the first seemed mys-They think that God did neiteriously confused, and inexpli- ther make nor design them becably dark. And why may not cause they are black. But rethis lead us to believe the same move the shades and both the

evil in the system than what is absolutely necessary to the greatest general good. Vary any part of the Divine government, you es

of those parts of the moral sys-beauty and the picture itself is tem, which are not yet unfolded destroyed. There is no more and explained to us? Why have we not equally just ground to believe that all is the operation of one uniform plan, and that the same divine wisdom is exer-sentially injure and ruin the cised throughout the whole and every part?

whole; and the great end of infinite wisdom and goodness would be for ever defeated.-— Without doubt it is the design of God to glorify himself, by producing the highest happiness in his system; and the plan He hath adopted, is of all possible, or conceivable plans, the wisest and best; and the only one cal

Should we attempt a further illustration of the subject, by adducing scripture examples; a memorable one readily occurs in the history of Joseph. This

Let an ignorant man view the disjointed materials of a large building, when under the framing hand of the carpenter, and it will all appear to him, like labor to no purpose. He recognizes neither form nor beauty in it. He sees not perhaps the design or use of one piece of tim-culated to effect this important ber. All to him, is one confu- end. We may, therefore, rest sed, jumbled mass. But the ar- assured, that almighty power tificer knows his plan, and stea- will effect the end, which infinite dily goes forward with his work. goodness designs, by the means Every part is wisely framed which infinite wisdom hath deand fitted; and when they are vised. joined and the building erected and completed, the design will appear through the whole; and perhaps, the greatest wisdom and beauty of architecture be displayed. Thus it is with man-is, at once, the most entertaining kind, in judging of the moral and instructive. What consumbeauty of the government of mate wisdom is discovered in God. Clouds and darkness are bringing good out of evil, and round about him-of conse- light out of darkness! All the quence what they do not see, scenes appear to be predeterthey are unwilling to believe.-mined by God, and the operaThey consider not, that "right-tion of his eternal plan. For eousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." They see not the connection and design of its several parts, and thence censure its wisdom, by distrusting the divine goodness, or murmuring under the corrections of Providence. They

effecting this, it was necessary, that Joseph's brethren should hate and persecute him, and send him into Egypt-that he should be sold to Potiphar-and cast into prison. These inci dents, together with those relating to the Butler and Baker