The interesting history we have been reviewing, is calculated not only to impress those general sentiments of Providence, to which we cannot too often recur, but to awaken in the minds of Christians a pleasing conviction of that minute inspection of their affairs, and that unremitted care for their welfare individually, which God exercises towards them. Is it possible to imagine a doctrine more elevating than this, or more calculated to produce sensations of reverence, gratitude, and joy? It is not presumptuous, even in a mortal "worm," to believe that his interests engage the attention of the INFINITE BEING; and that to promote them, the immense machinery of moral and natural means is put in motion--the animate and inanimate creation--mortal agents and spiritual beings--events great and small, past and present. Worm as thou art, still the central point in the vast circle of Providence! Worm as thou art, God has "graven thee upon the palms of his bands, and thou shalt never perish." Worm as thou art, but for thee "the brightness of the Father's glory" had not left his radiant sphere to become incarnate, to endure reproach and execration, and finally to be "brought as a lamb to the slaughter!" To hear thy supplications the King of heaven has erected a throne of grace--to vindicate thy character, to condemn thy foes, to perfect thy felicity, he is preparing, and will soon come to sit upon a throne of judgment!
Review past dispensations, and gather encouragement for present confidence! "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Did he not choose Abraham, and call him his "friend?" Did he not release Joseph from the pit, and raise him to princely glory? Did he not rescue Moses from the destructive waters, and constitute him the leader of his people Israel? Did he not deliver David from the lion and the bear, from the giant of Philistia, and the royal madman of Israel! Did he not feed Elijah--advance Esther--promote Mordecai--support Job--save Jonah--rescue Peter, and honour Paul? Has he not, in all ages, supplied the necessities of his saints--alleviated their sorrows--sweetened their bitter cup--turned death itself into life? Can he not extricate them from all difficulties--preserve them amidst ail temptations--render them invulnerable to all attacks--make them more than conquerors over external misery, internal pollution, and satanic malice?--Can he not eventually elevate them above the reach of all evil, the fear of death, and the possibility of falling? Can he not array them in the robe of light--adorn them with a crown of glory--make them "drink of the rivers of his pleasures"--associate them with holy angels, in a state of immaculate purity--stamp immortality on their blessedness, and "wipe away all tears from their eyes?"--HE CAN--HE WILL--"Our Father which art in heaven ...thine is the POWER and the GLORY, forever. Amen!"
End of Volume I.
Footnotes
2. : Young's Centaur not fabulous, p. 61.
3. : Sir William Temple's Gardens of Epicurus. Horne's Discourses, vol. I.
4. : This subject is more fully illustrated in the Essay prefixed to the second volume of this work.