The ineffable benignity of His image, as the beneficent Jesus, hath impressed it on our hearts, like the loadstone that draweth iron and steel to itself, and communicates to them the power they obey, doth draw our affections towards the Divine Original, and imparts to us some touch of the same virtue; which, by consequence, renders us happy magnets to them who follow in the same direction. Perfect faith is perfect piety, perfect piety is perfect virtue, and perfect virtue is the perfection of man. This spirit of God, this influence of Divine Love, this reflection from the Most High, is a warm and resplendent luminary which, like the sun, gives light and brightness to innumerable stars, without subtracting one ray from its original glory. Such is the faith that leads to heaven; observance of God and attention to man: and so the apostles teach" Let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light! Let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. And if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." GOD AND PROVIDENCE. 1. He that seeth but only the portraiture of a man, falleth by and by to think of the painter; and the first speech he uttereth is to ask, Who made it? Now, if a dead work do make us to conceive a living worker, much more reason is it, that a living work as man is, should make us to bethink us of a quickening work-master; yea, even of such a one as may be (at least,) as far above man, as man is above the portraiture of his own making:-and the same is God. 12 2. God is goodness itself; and whatsoever is good is of him. 3. If thou call him Destiny, thou shalt not deceive thyself; for all things depend upon him, and from him come the causes of all causes. (Conceive this proposition as it ought to be, and thou shalt comprehend many truths.) If thou call him Providence, thou sayest well; for by his direction, doth the world hold on its course without swerving, and uttereth forth his actions. If thou call him Nature, thou doest not amiss; for he is of whom all things are bred, and by whose spirit we live: in very deed, He is the whole which thou seest; and he is in all the parts thereof, bearing up both the whole world and all that is therein. Remark. A certain philosopher once asked a Christian, "Where is God?" The Christian replied, "Before I answer you, first tell me where he is not?" 4. Chance is only to trouble them that stand upon chance. 5. The universal and only Wisdom, Almighty God, which examineth the depth of hearts, hath not His judgment fixed upon the event of our actions, but the motive. Remark. A hundred parallel declarations to the same effect, may be found in the Scriptures: how lovely are such assurances from Him who sees the heart, and who judges human frailty with pity and with mercy. "What man is he that desireth life, and would fain see good days? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile: depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." : It is not for us to appoint the mighty Majesty of God, what time he will help us. The uttermost instant is scope enough for him to revoke every thing to our desire. 7. The almighty Wisdom, ever more delighting to shew the world, that by unlikeliest means, greatest matters may come to conclusion; causeth human reason, (which often disdaineth to acknowledge its author,) to be the more humbled, and more willingly give place to Divine Providence. 8. The heavens do not send good haps in handfuls; but let us pick out our good by little, and with care, from out much bad, that still our little world may know its king! |