saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou, then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments: and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

SERMON IX.

SPECIAL PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

In the 145th Psalm, at the 18th verse, it is thus written:

"The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth !"

The ways of Jehovah, in this world, often appear intricate and mysterious, because we do not

observe, with the eye of faith, his over-ruling hand, nor acknowledge, with a grateful heart, that all things work together for good, to him who trusts in God, and believes in Jesus. Too often is unenlightened man heard to enquire, "If God superintend the affairs of life, wherefore does he permit his people to suffer, whilst the children of the world often participate in every earthly comfort, and in their hours of enjoyment, drive away the very thought of sorrow and of care?" Unbelievers exclaim: "Why do we see men, whose lives appear so like the Christian's, suffering pain of body, and anxiety of mind, more intensely, than those, who do not acknowledge God in their heart, and who in their works altogether deny him? 66 Why," they exclaim, " is the Christian, who gave so large a portion of his wealth to feed the poor, and who successfully exerted his influence in society, for the honour of God, and the benefit of mankind,—why is he doomed to suffer misfortune so severely? Was it not he, who in one quarter reared a temple for God's worship, and in another raised an asylum for the indigent? Behold, all his estate hath passed from him unto strangers, and he, whom the poor and afflicted often lifted up their hands to bless, now rather requires their sympathy and commiseration. Are such" asks the scoffer, "the rewards of God's service?are these the favours he bestows upon his chosen people?"

It may be replied, to all such questions, that God's ways are not as our ways; that the Judge of the earth always doeth aright; that the Lord who reigneth over all, is gracious unto all, and is not to be accused of misgovernment by us, since he is infinite in wisdom: were we to comprehend fully his acts, then the infinitude of his wisdom would cease, which is impossible. Let us consult our own experience on this subject. The more closely we examine the events of our own life, we shall perceive, how incompetent we are to judge of what is most proper for ourselves: how then can we judge what is best for others? Is there a rational being, who upon reflection, fails to remember, how fatal would have been the result of many of his schemes, had he been permitted to adopt them? Can he deny, that the deprivation of wealth, or outward estate, to those who think at all, does not teach them to rely more sincerely upon God? That the death of friends informs them how short and uncertain is their own existence, and that sorrow, and sickness, and suffering, are most impressive, although silent monitors, of the presence of Him, in whose hands life is, and whose wisdom none may dispute. Thus the Christian is chastened, that he may be a partaker of God's holiness. Severe trials are sent to him, that remaining sin may be uprooted, weak grace invigorated, the path of duty more distinctly seen, its track more willingly followed.

Trials

bring the Christian nearer to God, and open a way to closer communion with him. Trials are blessings in disguise, and the Christian sufferer is enabled to say, "It was good for me that I was afflicted." "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou, in faithfulness, hast afflicted me." Assured, that when God's purposes are effected, deliverance will follow, the Christian faints not, but in the darkest gloom he traces a gleam of mercy. While a sojourner in this world, the believer rejoices in the thought, that there is a present God, and a special Providence,

66

in every event of life. Father, thy will be done,"

is each moment the language of his heart. While the untried Christian, is a rare and uninteresting character, how truly ought we to venerate the old and faithful believer, who through every trial and vicissitude, hath adhered to his Master, and to his Master's cause; who in all circumstances still declares, “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, shall be able to separate me from the love of God."

The believer always receives, willingly, the message of God, whether joyous or grievous, that he may meditate on it, and obey it; that he may learn God's will concerning him; that in all things he may experience God's enriching grace. Cheerfully he follows the divine command, diligently considering the words of the Psalmist, "The Lord is

G

nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth!"

The word of God is a solid foundation for Christian confidence.

The Bible anticipates the believer's state to be sometimes a state of worldly suffering, but it also graciously announces the power that is to deliver. God is nigh unto him in his chamber, when with earnest prayer he addresses his “Father in heaven." God is nigh unto him in the reading of his holy word, in answer to prayer for spiritual illumination. What in it was once dark, is now understood. What was formerly mysterious, is explained: light shines from every page: it becomes a lamp to his path. God is nigh to the Christian in the day of suffering, and its severities are soothed by the heavenly presence. God is nigh in the darkening hour and agony of death. As the world, and its scenes are becoming more dim in his remembrance, angels are unfolding the gates of heaven for his reception, while God and the heavenly hosts are gradually unveiled to his view. If, then, we be God's, and he be ours, in the Saviour, worldly blessings may fail for a season, but God shall deliver us from all our distresses. O, how rich his spiritual gifts! God our Father! Jesus our Friend! The Holy Spirit reigning in our hearts! These blessings our Saviour hath purchased with his precious blood, for all who draw nigh

And