hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my first-born, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him." Has God manifested his truth and his faithfulness by fulfilling this engagement to his Son? The design of God, as expressed in his word, is to honour Christ by widely extending his kingdom, and by conveying through him spiritual blessings to every people: and looking to the conduct of providence in the history of the world, have we ground for saying that this design is fulfilling? Even on a slight survey of the procedure of God in the government of mankind, we cannot but answer this question in the affirmative. Extending our view to the earliest ages, and investigating downwards the page of history, with the endeavour to ascertain how far the primary and avowed design of revelation has been attended to and promoted by providence, we observe, that with the gradual developement of the one there has been a gradual preparation made for the other; we see that kingdoms have been called into being, or swept away in subserviency to it; that mercies and judgments, that bad men as well good men, that divisions and persecutions have been overruled for its furtherance; that, for the purpose of adding to its final triumphs, the people of Israel, while scattered among all nations, have, during eighteen centuries, been kept in a state of entire separation from them; and that the Gospel, whenever it is preached, is adding to the Saviour's glory by in

creasing the number of his subjects. We see not yet all things put under him, and there is therefore room for the exercise of our faith and patience; but if we have reason from the past to believe that the design of Providence regarding the Saviour's glory is the same as the avowed design of revelation, ought we not to rest assured that in the progress of ages this purpose shall receive its fullest completion? And surely the rendering of the events of the natural and moral world-the most trivial, as well as the most unlikely, subserve the advancement of one great end;-when we see God in his works carry on the same design which forms the theme of his word, we have evidence, the highest and the most unquestionable, of the perfect truth and faithfulness of God. Thus, nature and grace, providence and revelation, harmonize in bearing testimony to the unity of God's purposes, and to the implicit confidence which is due to his veracity and sincerity in every declaration which he makes concerning them.

I. We learn from this subject a reason for the stress which is laid on faith as essential to acceptable worship. Without faith it is impossible to please God; for he that cometh unto God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. He that believes not God, and who believes not the testimony which he has given in the Gospel of his Son, is said to make God a liar. In discrediting the truth of his word, he offers an affront to every attribute of the Divinity, and is guilty of conduct towards the God who cannot deceive, that would be held most insulting by a fellow-creature. Hence the condemna

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tion to which unbelief exposes,-a condemnation far more fearful than if a Saviour had never been given, nor a salvation provided. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

II. The perfect truth of God furnishes matter for serious alarm to every deceitful and ungodly man. It announces to the hypocrite that his hope, being founded on falsehood, shall perish. It tells the votary of a religion that is not derived from the truth of God's word, that his sincerity in its profession, and his laborious efforts to perform its ceremonies, will profit him nothing. It forms a pledge that the judgments of God, however slow, will surely be accomplished on every impenitent and ungodly person. It is an ample assurance for the fulfilment of the threatening as well as of the promise, and that all his sayings shall be verified, who has told us that "the wicked shall be driven away in their wickedness-that they shall go away into everlasting punishment from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."

III. The truth of God is a continual source of encouragement, and hope, and joy to his people. This assures you that the promises of his word, which respect either your temporal or your spiritual state, shall be accomplished. It is a pledge to you that he

who has begun the good work will carry it on,-that he will never leave you, and never forsake you, that he will be with you in trouble to support and deliver you, and that he will make all the circumstances of your lot work together for your good. How comfortable in the hour of affliction, and in the hour of death, to have the truth and the faithfulness of the God of all grace to rely upon; and to hear from this God the animating promise, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

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CHAPTER VIII.

ON THE GOODNESS OF GOD

No question can be so interesting as that which concerns the benevolence of Him who made all things, who possesses the awful attributes of omnipotence, eternity, and immutability. The question is not the less deeply interesting that there are many appearances in his works, and many things which fall within our own experience, that seem to be irreconcileable with the infinite goodness of God. What is the life of man but a series of sorrows and afflictions, of cares and disappointments? And though he may occasionally have some hours of sunshine, when enjoyment makes him forget the many ills to which he is born, yet, on the whole, may it not with truth be said, that his days are few and evil? "If we behold any thing irregular in the works of man, if any machine answer not the purpose it was made for, if we find something in it repugnant to itself or others; we attribute that to the impotence, ignorance, or malice of the workmen; but, since these qualities have no place in God, how come they to have place in his works*?”

To this question, perhaps, no answer entirely satisfactory can be given. The subject is attended with difficulties-difficulties which may not be altogether removed in the present life. In every attempt to illustrate the goodness of God in regard to our world, we must remember throughout that man is guilty, and that he is deserving of punishment in consequence of

* King's Origin of Evil, p. 72.