1, that we may not
for folly and vice;
Constrain ourselves
displeasure or grief

W

1;

rom this begin

P into habits of and from this the

higher into habits of ity through a far noinciple of setting our nner before our eyes, ne more because He is cerity in the performman who has acquired support; he can leave O valuable to his chil

ting deep in their tenCouraging persuasion, ›n them serenity and Imost certain assurance hereafter.

mong the principal be

receive from the great ained in the text. Yet the thought he canet feels it too painful to

that we are in the hands of Him, who seeth into the inmost frame of the human soul, into all the workings and inclinations of the heart; and before Him all the past, the present, and the future appear in one clear view. Why, then, should we not think of our light afflictions (as we certainly are taught to believe of them), that Almighty wisdom and goodness sends them either as a necessary correction for what has passed, or as a wholesome medicine to prevent or cure some secret disorder of the soul. This certainly is a thought most likely to disarm calamity of its sharpest sting. In what precise manner the varied incidents of life may be acting for our good, "we see, as through "a glass, darkly:" if we judge of many of the Almighty's dealings by the ease and comfort of this life only, we shall soon be lost in dismay, and doubts of Him and His goodness. But when we recal to mind that we were not created for this life, but for one far greater and more glorious; then we readily perceive that all events are ordained by Divine Wisdom, to prepare us for, and to lead us at last into the rewards and hap

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piness of that state. In this view of our Maker's goodness extending over our least concerns, and directing all on one great plan for our real and lasting welfare,—how easy may it be, and how natural is it for a Christian always to encourage the comfortable persuasion, that the Almighty is ever with us, our Protector, and " exceeding great Reward;" viewing well-pleased the least of our good deeds, permitting some few troubles chiefly to give us a higher sense of His watchful love and care over us, and preparing us gradually for that more glorious life, in which the good shall behold Him in unclouded Wisdom and Goodness, and shall be enabled to look down with boundless admiration and gratitude upon the varied scenes of this lowly state, and see the Divine hand safely conducting others of His servants through all.

As this principle of the Divine presence at all times tends to increase greatly the comforts of life, and to soften many of its sorrows, so, in the second place, it will prove of the most powerful efficacy to excite in us more lively piety and virtue.

The Almighty God condescends to be about our paths always for our good, and He humbleth Himself to behold the actions and thoughts of us His lowly creatures. The pious man, therefore, will look up to that gracious Being with increasing gratitude; and to please Him, he will labour to perform with steady and active good-will, all His commands. Full of the thought that He, who is to be the Judge and the Rewarder of all that he does, cannot be forgetful of him, he will aspire to the purest virtue in secret as well as openly, when the world knows not, neither regards; and though difficulties, or calumny, or ingratitude meet him in his labours for his fellowforward creatures' good, still he will " press "for the prize of the high calling of God in "Jesus Christ."

Here on earth many of our virtues doubtless spring from the consciousness that we are acting in the sight and in the presence of one another. Much of what we do well we are too apt to do in order to obtain the praise and love of many by whom we are known and esteemed;-much of what we

guard against is avoided, that we may not be reproached by them for folly and vice; and in many things we constrain ourselves that we may not cause displeasure or grief to those whom we love. From this beginning it is, that we grow up into habits of caution and self-control; and from this the true believer rises yet higher into habits of virtue and inward purity through a far nobler principle-the principle of setting our Maker in the same manner before our eyes, and loving our duty the more because He is the witness of our sincerity in the performance. Happy is the man who has acquired for himself this great support; he can leave also no inheritance so valuable to his children for by implanting deep in their tender minds this most encouraging persuasion, he will bestow upon them serenity and peace here, and the almost certain assurance of eternal happiness hereafter.

These, then, are among the principal benefits which we may receive from the great and awful truth contained in the text. Yet man too often shuns the thought: he cannot deny the truth, yet feels it too painful to