that we are appointed to serve our generation. It is good will towards a fellow-creature, a desire to render him a substantial service that sweetens labour. We are not called to be indifferent to a just renumeration of useful and faithful service, but that is a question soon settled, and if not settled it breeds discontent, and knaws the mind with a tormenting anxiety. The sooner, therefore, it is adjusted and dismissed the better. Then an honourable and generous desire to promote the comfort and happiness of others by the fruits of our industry, will be source of permanent pleasure to ourselves, yielding its grateful supplies hour by hour, enlarging our stores of delightful recollection, and expanding our benevolence into an all embracing charity.

W. G.

ON A SPECIAL PROVIDENCE.

"He sees with equal eye as God of all,

An hero perish, or a sparrow fall,

Atoms or systems into ruin hurled,

And now a bubble burst and now a world."

AMONGST all the truths and doctrines of Divine revelation there are few of more profundity, or interest, or delight, or consolation, to the human race, than the doctrine of a special providence, ever superintending, guiding, overruling all with a constant unwearied incomprehensive justice, wisdom, and potency: and this is a theme ever worthy our most intense inquiry, and most grateful admiration.

The whole course of human life is beset with difficulties and perils, and foes against which all human foresight, and power of resistance, and conquest is as the powerless arm of an infant, how grand the achievements of the human race under other aspects, in this how instructive and humiliating? In the one case, man is seen only a little lower than the angels, in the other, allied to the worm; in the one case, the tempter whispers, "ye shall be as God," in the other, we feel that we are less than nothing and vanity -an atom sporting in the air, the chaff before the hurricane.

The whole economy of nature is so constituted as to teach mankind a continuous lesson of submission and dependance. We may draw the lightning from the clouds, arrest the thunder in its launch, compel the bosom of the mighty deep with our steam, analyze inorganic matter, most closely dissect and investigate organic. Flinging back our thoughts on

the past, lose ourselves amidst the ruins of former creations, or climbing the empyrean heights of science and thought, measure the boundaries of the universe, or measure the velocity of light, but from all these towering flights we soon descend with tired wing and winking eye, to ask in sober mood with the Psalmist, "Lord, what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visited him?" No words are so befitting to express our lowliness and weakness in the presence of our Maker, as those of inspiration, "Our foundation is in the dust, we are but of yesterday, and know nothing."

The doctrine of a special providence which we are now considering, includes the idea of an infinite intelligence, which is equal to the unconfused knowledge and observance of all things, at all times, in all places, the great and the minute, the revolutions of worlds, of empires, of ages, of all times, and the transitory flight of a single moment: all eye to see, all mind to know, to plan, to operate, unsurprized, undefeated, unchecked by any contingencies without any error or possible mistake, viewing the vast, the complicated machinery of his providence with the calm broad night, perfect vision of the Father of Lights, but at the same time bending a glance on an atom, or a man, individual, as cognizant and distinct as though none other were existent!

Our theme also supposes an Infinite Potency, Omnipotence, Almightiness, for how incongruous to our ideas of the Godhead, is Infinite Wisdom shorn of Infinite Power? "The ever-blessed," the ever happy God is utterly incapable of the misery and disappointment which would attend his want of power in the administration of his government. "Knowledge is power," this axiom is well understood in human operations and affairs, and every day throws fresh light on this practical truth. Is it not then perfectly so with Divine providence? A statesmen, now living, is reported to have once said of a departed despot, that it was his "diabolical intellect" which surrounded them all, entangling, forestalling, circumventing, penetrating all their designs. Something like this is ever going on with inferior powers of minds in all the affairs of this world, and the largest mind has the greatest share of power over other minds and beings. Now an infinite knowledge gives infinite power, "is anything too hard for the Lord," "his understanding is infinite," therefore, he can and does do, whatsoever pleaseth him in heaven and earth. The same attributes of Deity are equally illustrated in the creation of an atom as in the creation of an angel, and the same Providence which numbers the stars, numbers the very hairs of our heads. But infinite intelligence and infinite power are most fearful attributes unaccompanied by equal and unlimited benevolence. The Devil, a malevolent being, is shorn of much of the terror with which the arch enemy of mankind inspires us, when we recollect that his power is limited, that his malice is unrestrained, he is a finite being, and, therefore, his malevolence is finite also. Now Jehovah our Lord and God is infinite, therefore, his benevolence is infinite. "The Lord is good and he doeth good." "The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works." The infinitude of the Divine benevolence might be sufficiently illustrated from the natural world, the universe teems with its display. In the light of the sun and moon, the changing seasons, the falling dews, the gentle showers, the whispering

VOL. II.

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breeze, the green enamelled earth,-"These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Almighty!"

But special providence is special favour, nor is this idea at all inconsistent with the impartial justice of heaven. "I love them that love me," is an emphatic declaration of Holy Writ, and refers to the peculiar affection and care of the Almighty towards his servants and children, and this love secures their safety and ultimate felicity, notwithstanding all the trials, reverses, and perils of this life, there is a friend ever near us on whose wisdom, ability, goodwill, and unchangeableness, we may ever rely without distrust and without disappointment.

We did design, when we commenced this paper, to have illustrated this interesting doctrine by the selection, from Holy Writ, of the lives of two eminent persons, whose examples afford an irrefragable proof of our position. Let any one read the histories of Joseph or of Jesus, and notice with what truth and power, with what beauty, simplicity, fulness, and lucidity, this doctrine is made out, without at all interfering with the freedom of the human mind or action, and demonstrating, that the Lord our God is wise in counsel, mighty in power, working in all, and through all, and by all, the perfect accomplishment of his all-wise and all-good designs, even by the very designs and operations of his enemies and opponents.

What is it that Almighty agency, intelligence, and goodness, cannot perform, where is the impossible in this case, who shall say, it "cannot be; it will not be ?" "He is able to save to the uttermost?" All are his servants. He holdeth the winds in his fist, the sea in the hollow of his hand. The angels are "ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them that are the heirs of salvation." All agencies, all elements, move at his command, who spake and it was done, who commanded and it stood fast, who in the beginning, said, "Let there be light, and there was light, and who is evermore able and willing to do for us exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to the working of his mighty power, whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself."

If we have cited proofs from revelation of the truth of this doctrine, and they are considered as evidence of the past, be it remembered Holy Scripture makes us acquainted with an economy which is perfect and immutable.

He, from whom descends every good and perfect gift, is the Father of mercies, with whom there is neither variableness nor the shadow of a turning, the infinite, imcomprehensible, eternal, immutable Creator and Maker of all, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. It is written, "his children shall have a place of refuge." "Not a sparrow falls without your heavenly Father." A beautiful infant is reposed on the margin of the river, heaven guides a royal protectress to the spot. Elimelec meets Rebekah at the well. Jacob meets Rachel at the time of the drawing of water. David stumbles on Saul, his enemy, asleep in the cave. A pebble from a sling smites the champion of Philistia. A man draws a bow at a venture and the doomed monarch dies. Belshazzar, in all the pride and presumption of Eastern grandeur, securely feasts in his proud place, that night the sluices of mighty Baby

on are cut off by a vigilant foe, and the writing on the wall is verified.

To the king, immortal, eternal, invisible, the only wise God, then let us ascribe all honour and glory, and exercise full reliance on his providence, because to him alone appertain the kingdom, the power, and the glory

for ever.

YUSEF.

THE LOVE OF GOD, AS MANIFESTED IN THE GIFT OF HIS SON.

THE love of God is a subject of the sweetest and most delightful meditation, and never is the soul of man filled with such holy and heavenly contemplation, or with such wonder and amazement, or lost in such a field of thought, as when he directs his attention to the vast and unfathomable subject-the love of God in the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. The love of God is a subject which angels and archangels, cherubs and seraphs-though personally uninteresred in the actual benefits resulting from the love of God to man-yet, they have long desired to dive into the mysterious and wondrous scheme of man's redemption, but have have failed in comprehending it: even their mighty and unpolluted minds, -unstained by sin-can never fully reach the meaning of the inspired penman-" God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, heaven's highest gift and richest boon,] that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."-(John iii. 16.) Nor will they ever arrive at any just, satisfactory conclusion as to the height, or length, or depth, or breadth of the love of God, although through all eternity-to the endless space of time-they may employ their noble powers in investigating its meaning-never will they comprehend it, for

"It is love immense, unsearchable."

No less has the true Christian of all ages desired to dive into the mysteries of this subject. It is a theme which occupies much of his thoughts, and his personal interest therein leads his mind to its frequent contemplation, as the source of all his joy and consolation. He loves to dwell upon that wondrous and mysterious gift of God-the gift of his "only begot

ten Son," Jesus Christ; and that, that Son should die to redeem the very enemies of his Father-mysterious, wondrous love

"The offended dies To set the offender free."

The love of God is a subject which not only has engrossed the attention of the glorified in heaven and the saint on earth, but it is a subject which has called from the pen of the most learned, pious, and eminent men of all ages-men whose names stand high in the literary world-men whose fame and writings have been handed down from generation to generation, the most powerful and enchanting strains of eloquence-language the grandest, the most sublime, the most pathetic, of any. Yea, this subject has filled the mind of man with a vastness and incomprehensiveness of thought, that has brought from his pen language unsurpassed by any other subject: none, however, more eloquent and sublime, than those of the beloved disciple of Christ,-St. John,-who intimately knew and studied the character of his Lord and Master. When his noble and lov ing mind had surveyed the wonders of Calvary, and commented upon the mysteries of that love, in the death of the God-man, Christ Jesus, gives vent to his feelings-feelings overflowing with gratitude and praise to the Author of all good-and exclaims, in language, that at once pours into the soul of the believer a stream of joy and gladness, a ray of light, and opens to the mind's eye a vast and unlimited field of thought and meditation-language which expresses volumes-language that at once shews his constant theme, and tells of the all-absorbing subject of his life"GOD IS LOVE."

Here he is lost, as if gazing, from some elevated spot, upon an enchanting scenery, surrounded by the noblest works of his Creator, his ever expanding mind surveys the landscape in amazement-whilst hill and dale, covered with the green verdure, the fields adorned with nature's gayest colours, the refreshing stream gushing forth from the small spring, spreading itself along till it becomes the majestic river, and onward it flows till it empties itself into the mighty ocean-pass before his enraptured view. Language fails to express the deep emotions of his mind, and he only finds relief, in acknowledging "GOD IS LOVE."

Or, as if taking a survey of the all-wise, though mysterious, dealings of God in his providence-he sees the glare flash of lightning, he hears the thunders of his mysterious providence roll and echo over his headhe hears and feels the winterly blast and sweeping hurricane of God's allwise dealings with him; but, amidst this disastrous scene, he smiles to see a frowning world, and calinly views the raging storm, whilst he sweetly sings:

"With peaceful mind, thy race of duty run,

God nothing does, or suffer to be done,

But thou would'si do thyself, could'st thou but see,

The end of all events as well as He."

The storm being somewhat abated, is followed by the peaceful calm— the smile of God, the approval of heaven,-now he partly sees the de