is observed even by unrenewed men, or by fuch as are ftrangers to divine revelation. Laban made this acknowledgment to Jacob; "I have learned "by experience, that the LORD hath bleffed me "for thy fake m." Potiphar, Jofeph's' mafter, "faw that the LORD was with him, and that the "LORD made all that he did to profper in his "hand." Because the event depends on divine Providence, means are not therefore to be neglected. For in this, as in his other operations, God is pleafed to put honour on these. But while diligent in the use of lawful means, we must wholly depend on God for the fuccefs. For his bleffing alone can make them effectual. 3. We alfo difcover the caufe of adverfity. We find that affliction rifeth not out of the ground; that trouble fpringeth not from the duft; that this evil never exifts, "and the LORD hath 66 not done it." By the Sacred Hiftory, we are taught to acknowledge the hand of God in every fpecies of adverfity. Even in thofe things which are viewed as the common accidents of life, we are directed to the fupreme caufe. While every thing profpers with one, another is thwarted in all his undertakings, and eventually oppreffed with poverty. Hannah, in her fong of praise, unravels this mystery." The LORD maketh poor, and maketh "rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth 66 up the poor out of the duft, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to fet them among "princes, and to make the inh rit he throne of m Gen. xx. 2 n Gen. xxxix. 3. 23. 66 glory: 66 glory for the pillars of the earth are the "LORD's, and he hath fet the world upon them." God hath never meant that the difpenfations of his Providence fhould be viewed as a certain teft of his love or hatred. In this refpect it is said, that "one event happeneth to all." We accordingly find, that profperity is often fhowered on the wicked, whom the LORD hateth; while the objects of his eternal and unalterable love are vifited with fevere affliction. At the fame time it appears from particular inftances, that even temporal profperity is fometimes meant as a token of God's approbation of the conduct of perfons or nations, while adverfity hath a contrary language. Concerning Uzziah king of Judah it is faid, that" as long as he fought the LORD, God "made him to profper "." We have many proofs that righteousnefs alone" exalteth a nation.” The children of Ifrael ftill profpered, while they adhered to their God: and when they returned to him, after their apoftacies, he ftill delivered them. In many inftances, we cannot certainly know the defign of affliction with refpect to individuals. For in this refpect, as has been formerly obferved, the LORD often difplays his fovereignty; or he feverely chaftifes, becaufe he hath a fecret purpose of love, and hath determined to make the greateft afflictions "work together for good." But the design is often exprefsly declared in Scripture, or, as may be seen after 66 o 1 Sam. ii. 7, 8. R4. p 2 Chron. xxvi. 5. wards, wards, most clearly expreffed in the peculiar nature of the difpenfation. As to national calamities, we are left in no hesitation. Sin is ftill pointed out as the procuring caufe. We learn that "fire and hail, fnow and va"pour, ftormy wind, fulfil his word 9." But the general doctrine is illuftrated by many particular inftances. The cities of the plain were deftroyed by fire from the LORD. "Fire and hail" were among the plagues of Egypt. Hailftones were the inftruments of divine vengeance against the Amorites, when their five kings gathered their forces against Gibeon. When God" caufeth "his vapours to afcend," he "proclaims liberty "to the peftilence." When he blows with his wind, "his enemies fink as lead in the mighty 66 11 waters When the earth opens her mouth, and like a cruel mother devours her own brood; whatever be the influence of fecondary causes, we are taught to view this awful calamity as a vifitation for fin. When God" calls for fa"mine," or "turneth the fruitful land into bar"rennefs, it is for the' wickedness of them that "dwell therein." Men may philofophically defcant on the rife and fall of empires. They may afcribe thefe to accident, or to caufes merely of a political nature. But although there is a fubordinate operation of fecondary caufes, we are aflured from the word of God, that thefe events must be ultimately afcribed to his operation as “ the q Pfal. cxlviii 8. Exod. zv. 10. r Exod. ix. 3. s Joh. x 11. t Jer. xxxiv. 17. w Pial. cv. 34. "the Governor among the nations." We muft not, indeed, lofe fight of divine fovereignty. But we do not recollect an inftance in which the overthrow of rulers, or the defolation of kingdoms, is not represented as immediately the effectf vengeance for fin. As it is God who "putteth down "one, and fetteth up another," the reafon is thus affigned; For in the hand of the LORD there "is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the fame: but the 66 dregs thereof all the wicked of the earth fhall "wring them out, and drink them." When God gave a commiffion to Ifrael to exterminate the nations of Canaan, it was, as has been feen, because of their atrocious iniquity. Therefore did" the land itfelf vomit out her inhabitants ." It was not fo much the power of the Perfians, as the guilt of the Babylonians, that overthrew their extenfive empire. The holy and juft God had faid; "I will punifh the world for their evil, "and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will "cause the arrogancy of the proud to ceafe, and "will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible." Nor do we merely learn from the facred records, that wickednefs in general procures punifhment from God. We have a particular account of many fins, which bring grievous calamities, or complete deftruction on a people : and the fatal effects of these are illuftrated by facts. Befides x Pfal. lxxv. 7, 8. y Lev, xviii. 25. z Ifa. xii. 11. Besides unnatural luft, pride, luxury and idlenefs are mentioned in the bill of indictment found againft Sodom, and referred to by the Supreme Judge for alarming Jerufalem: "Behold, this "was the iniquity of thy fifter Sodom. Pride, "fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was "in her and her daughters ;-therefore I took "them away as I faw good.” Similar is the charge exhibited against Tyrus and her prince. "Take up a lamentation for Tyrus, and fay unto Tyrus, O thou that art fituate at the entry of "the fea, which art a merchant of the people for many ifles, Thus faith the LORD God, O Tyrus, thou haft faid, I am of perfect beauty. 66 66 66 -Say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus faith the "LORD God, Because thine heart is lifted up, "and thou haft faid, I am a god, I fit in the feat "of God, in the midst of the feas.-Behold, "therefore, I will bring ftrangers upon thee, the "terrible of the nations: and they fhall draw "their fwords against the beauty of thy wisdom, "and they fhall defile thy brightnefs. They fhall bring thee down to the pit, and thou fhalt die "the death of them that are flain in the midst of "the feas b." Carnal confidence is a fin nearly connected with thofe already mentioned: and is pointed out in Scripture as haftening the deftruction of a people. Moab trufted in her works, and in her treasures; therefore fhe was taken, and the fpoilers a Ezek. xvi. 49, 50. b Ezek. xxvii. 2. 3. ; xxviii. 2. 7, 8. |