ordinate to what is invifible, how is it poffible but our judgments must be often erroneous, and our complaints ill-founded? If a peasant or a cottager be incapable of judging of the government of a mighty empire, is it furprifing that we should be at a lofs concerning the conduct of the Almighty towards his creatures?

USES OF THE OBSCURITY OF

COM

PROVIDENCE.

NOMPLETE information respecting the ways of God, not only was not to be expected here; but, moreover, that it would have been hurtful, if granted to us in our present state. It would have proved inconfiftent with that state; with the actions which we have to perform in it, and the duties we have to fulfil. It would indeed have overthrown the whole defign of our being placed in this world. We are placed here under the trial of our virtue. Ignorance of the events that are ordained to befal us, ignorance of the plans and the decrees of Heaven, enter neceffarily into a state of trial. In order to exercise both our intellectual and moral powers, and to carry them forward to improvement, we must be left to find our way in the midst of difficulties

and doubts, of hardships and fufferings. We must be taught to act our part with conftancy, though the reward of our conftancy be diftant. We must learn to bear with patience whatever our Creator judges proper to lay upon us, though we fee not the reafon of the hardships he inflicts. If we were let into the fecret of the whole plan of Providence; if the justice of Heaven were, in every step of its procedure, made manifeft to our view, man would no longer be the creature he now is, nor would his present state answer any purpose of difcipline or trial.

Mystery and darknefs, therefore, muft of neceffity now take place in the course of things. Our prefent ftate can be no other than a state of twilight or dawn, where dubious forms fhall often present themselves to us, and where we fhall find ourselves in a middle condition between complete light and total darknefs. Had we enjoyed no evidence of a juft Judge ruling the earth, and of his providence interpofing in our affairs, virtue would have been altogether deprived of its encouragement and fupport. Had the evidence, on the other hand, been so strong as to place the hand of the Almighty conftantly before our eyes, the intention of our prefent exiftence would have been defeated, and no trial of virtue have remained. Instead, therefore, of complaining of

the

the obfcurity which at prefent covers the conduc of Providence, we fee that, on the whole, we have reason to fubmit and adore.

DARK PROVIDENCES ILLUSTRATED.

IT

T often happens that the consequences of things throw light on the defigns of God. The hiftory of Providence, in proportion as it advances, difembroils itself. Thus, in the pub lic affairs of the world, it has been frequently feen, that from the most unpromifing causes important and beneficent effects have, in the fequel, arifen. In our own country, at one period, the violent paffions of a prince gave beginning to the Reformation. At another period, arbitrary attempts against religion and liberty occafioned that happy Revolution which has formed the æra of national profperity. In many inftances, the wrath of man has been made to praise God. Those wars and commotions that shake the moral world have anfwered fimilar purposes with tempefts in the natural world, of purging the air from noxious vapours, and restoring it to a temperature more found and wholefome. From the midst of confufion, order has been made to fpring; and from temporary mischiefs, lafting

advantages to arife.-In all cafes of this nature, with which facred and civil hiftory abounds, fecret defigns of Heaven were going on, which were unfolded in the end. The wheel was always in motion. The hand of the clock was advancing with unperceived progress, till the moment came of its striking the appointed hour.

In like manner, with respect to individuals, there is often a hereafter in the course of their lives, which discloses and justifies the ways of God. Not to mention the good effects which misfortunes are found to produce on the minds of men, by checking their vices, and correcting their errors, innumerable exemplifications can be given, of misfortunes paving their way to future advancement in the world. Confider only in how different a light the Patriarch Joseph would view the events of his life after he had feen in what they had terminated, from the light in which he faw them, when led away by the Ishmaelites as a flave, or when thrown by Potiphar into the Egyptian prison. We murmur against Providence, juft as the impetuous youth frets against his inftructors and tutors, who are keeping him under a strict, and as he thinks a needless, discipline. He knows not that, by their inftruction. and discipline, they are laying the foundation of his future fortunes. What may justly be faid to

him by his tutors and inftructors, is equally applicable to us all under our prefent ftate of education; What I do, thou knoweft not now, but thou fhalt know bereafter.

VICE

THE SLAVERY OF VICE.

CE is inconfiftent with liberty, as it deprives finners of the power of free choice, by bringing them under the dominion of paffions and habits. Religion and virtue addrefs themfelves to reason. They call us to look round on every fide; to think well of the confequences of our actions; and, before we take any step of importance, to compare the good with the evil that may enfue from it. He, therefore, who follows their dictates, acts the part of a man who freely confults, and chooses, for his own intereft. But vice can make no pretenfions of this kind. It awaits not the test of deliberate comparison and choice; but overpowers us at once by fome ftriking impreffion of prefent advantage or enjoyment. It hurries us with the violence of paffion; captivates us by the allurements of pleafure; or dazzles us by the glare of riches. The finner yields to the impulfe, merely because he cannot refift it. Reafon remonftrates; confcience endeavours