When Paul's services were deemed expedient for promoting the spread of the gospel, his heart is changed from a persecutor to a disciple, so that he longs to preach the faith which once he sought to destroy.

II. Another property of the divine administration is, its perfect rectitude and purity: “ The Lord is righteous in all his ways,

and holy in all his works.'

Nothing seems more opposite to this than the general aspect of events, especially the evident abounding of iniquity, and the triumphs of the wicked ; sincere piety often lies neglected in obscure retreats ; often are the godly in Christ Jesus oppressed by persecution, and permitted to struggle with want, and pain, and reproach, and the miseries of adversity; while sinners prosper, and ungodly men are crowned with honours, wealth, influence, and applause.

This excites discouragement and doubt in the mind of the serious, and tempts them to murmur against Providence in their desponding seasons : Hath God forsaken the earth ? cares he not what befalls his children ? how can he be just in all his ways, and yet the righteous suffer such hard things ? Thus

spake

spake even David in his haste, when he saw the ungodly spreading as the green bay-tree; and when he meditated on the many sorrows of the saints, he was envious at the foolish, and his heart was disquieted. Jeremiah, in like manner, fretfully asks of God, Wherefore do the wicked prosper, and take root, and flourish? and Malachi laments that Israel hardened their hearts, by saying one to another, Every one that doth evil is exalted, and where is the God of judgment?

How unbecoming is this language! What though the great Lord of all has given this earth to the sons of men, nay, to ungodly men; what though they have more than heart can wish, and are not plagued as other men, and have no bands in their death! yet all their portion is in this world, and their life is a vapour, and this poor portion soon vanishes away; their prosperity itself often proves a snare, and accelerates their future and everlasting misery.

The sorrows of the saints, on the other hand, shall soon be exchanged for unutterable and everlasting joy. Even in the present life, their tribulations are sweetened by the promises of the well-ordered covenant,

by.

by the prospects of future glory, and by the solacing communications of the divine presence: their God afflicts them for their

profit, to restore their souls, and revive their longings for heaven. Though it may seem a strong assertion, yet it is confirmed by daily facts, that the continuance of sin in the world finally issues in the manifestation of divine glory; the glory of divine power, in setting restraining bounds to iniquity; the glory of divine holiness, in making sin its own punishment; and the glory of divine

grace, in providing an all-sufficient salvation.

Thus justice and holiness, no less than power and sovereignty, are essential properties of the divine administration and government.

III. The dispensations of Providence in this world are all subservient to the enlargement of the glorious Redeemer's kingdom in the world.

This opens a bright scene to the observing Christian; for to him the records of the past give strength to the prospects of the future. Look back to what has passed

away, that thus you may learn what shall be hereafter.

The confusion of tongues at the building of the tower of Babel, produced the peopling of those regions which have since been brought to the fellowship of the gospel. The calling of Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees was the origin of that nation, amongst whom the Saviour was to be manifested. The bringing Israel from Egypt to Canaan; delivering them from many dangers; raising them into a powerful nation; keeping them a distinct people amidst all their dispersions; and at last causing the sceptre of Judah to depart, and erecting the Roman standard in Zion; all this series of events was calculated, with unerring wisdom, to make Messiah the expectation and desire of many nations. The rise, and progress, and decline of Daniel's four mighty monarchies, prepared the way of the Lord, and promoted the reception of his gospel. The blood of martyrs in early ages proved the seed of the church; and the persecutions of heathen tyrants strengthened and extended the kingdom of the Prince of peace.

From these past operations of Providence,

take

of the gos

take encouragement concerning the future, and behold all events working together for good to the church of Christ.

Our Almighty Redeemer has founded a kingdom on earth, a spiritual, enduring, and peaceful kingdom; essentially different from all human governments; not regulated by worldly maxims, but by the righteous laws of God; not supported by worldly power, but by the special care of the Lord God omnipotent; not extending its triumphs by violence and war, but by the resistless energy of the truth, and by the power pel. This spiritual kingdom of Christ shall ere long spread amongst all nations, and shall prevail against the stratagems used to impede its progress. The period is hastening on, when the light of gospel-truth shall break forth with meridian brightness; when the glory of the gospel-church shall shine from the rising sun to where he sets ; when all ends of the earth shall call Jesus the blessed One, and all nations shall see the salvation of our God.

These awful commotions among doms of this world, which now astonish and alarm the profoundest politicians, are hasten

the king