Him as do the words of the text.

Thus in the book of Job it is said of Him, that "His 66 eyes are upon the ways of man, and He "seeth all his goings."* So in the book of Proverbs, "the "the eyes of the Lord are in every place." So the Prophet Jeremiah with yet greater solemnity describes Him as "the great, the mighty God, great in "counsel, and mighty in work: for thine

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eyes are open upon all the ways of the “sons of men, to give to every one accord

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ing to his ways." But the most animated and forcible display of this excellence of the Almighty, we find in the 139th Psalm. “O Lord, Thou hast searched me out and "known me; Thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising; Thou understand"est my thoughts long before. Thou art "about my path, and about my bed, and

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spiest out all my ways: for there is not a "word in my tongue, but Thou, O Lord, "knowest it altogether. Whither shall I go, then, from Thy Spirit; or whither shall "I go from Thy presence?" The Psalmist + Prov. xv. 3.

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* Job. xxxiv. 21.

4 Jerem. xxxii. 18. 19.

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concludes with declaring,-" Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for 66 me; I cannot attain unto it." It is indeed most wonderful; and if we rest not in our admiration of it only, but make this doctrine our reliance also, amid the fears and troubles of this mortal life, we shall find it the certain source of peace and happiness.

We are taught, then, that there is a Mighty Power around us ever watchful for our preservation;-a Power, whose allseeing eye, nothing that might harm us, can escape; and from whose hand nothing can proceed but what is good in itself, and in its effects highly beneficial to us. Nay, our own experience sufficiently proves this truth. For let us only consider with even the slightest recollection what is past.What has been our life hitherto?-Through many years it has been continued to us from day to day in a succession of comforts,—in health, in the constant supply of our natural wants. Hath this proceeded from our own foresight and care? So far from it, that at every period we have been as

ignorant of the events which awaited us, as we now are of what the morrow shall bring forth. We have grown up from infancy to manhood, and through all that interval how many evils must we remember that we have escaped;-how many unknown perils have passed over our heads! Amid all the knowledge and care we can boast, let us look around, and in every thing we may trace the presence and interposition of a Power infinitely superior to us. Is it small wisdom which governs every year the still succeeding seasons, guiding each in its turn to prepare food for all living creatures? Is it our knowledge, our foresight, our care ?-On the contrary, we are often made to fear by the delay of the seasons, by their not returning altogether in their appointed times, or with their customary effects, till we are forced to see and own our dependance on that wise and gracious Power" in "whom we live, and move, and have our "being." Of this His presence with us in all the events of life our Saviour also hath made the strongest display: "Seek ye not," saith He to His disciples, "what

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ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nei"ther be ye of doubtful mind. For all "these things do the nations of the world "seek after and your Father knoweth "that ye have need of these things. The 66 very hairs of your head are all numbered, "and not a sparrow shall fall to the ground " without your heavenly Father.

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If, then, all things are thus manifest to His eyes, and if our belief in this great truth be indeed lively and sincere, it will shew itself in our behaviour, and in our cheerful submission to the varied appointments of Providence; we shall enjoy the numberless substantial blessings in our hands with gratitude, and each returning day may be passed in peace. Or, if some trials of our resignation shall at times arise, why should we think it hard to receive them also with the dutiful obedience and love of the children of an all-wise, all-gracious Father? We are nowhere required not to feel our afflictions, but to feel them like Christians, like men, whose eyes are opened to see from whence they proceed. We believe * Luke xii, 6, 7, 29, 30.

that we are in the hands of Him, into the inmost frame of the hu into all the workings and inclinat heart; and before Him all the present, and the future appear in view. Why, then, should we n our light afflictions (as we cer taught to believe of them), that wisdom and goodness sends the a necessary correction for what or as a wholesome medicine to cure some secret disorder of the certainly is a thought most likel calamity of its sharpest sting. In cise manner the varied incidents be acting for our good, "we see, "a glass, darkly:" if we judg of the Almighty's dealings by th comfort of this life only, we sh lost in dismay, and doubts of Hi goodness. But when we recal to we were not created for this life, b far greater and more glorious; readily perceive that all events are by Divine Wisdom, to prepare us o lead us at last into the rewards

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