thor of moral evil, differs only in | pends, all of which are unforeseen words, at least so far as the ac- by men. The race is not always countability of man is concerned, to the swift, nor conquest to the from divine permission; and fur-strong; prudence and wisdom do ther than this we have no concern. not universally command success; If providence is God controlling nor can skill in trade and science the affairs of the universe, that insure prosperity; but a powerful control must, in some way or though invisible Agent guides other, extend to every thing. To human affairs, and causes them suppose that events fall out by to terminate sometimes contrary chance is in effect to deny his to the most sanguine expectations government. This was the doc- of men; which they who regard trine of some ancient philosophers not the work of the Lord, nor the who were without God in the operation of his hands, ascribe to world. If one event were to take chance, or to the caprice of forplace without him, we might pro- tune. God, as the Creator, canceed ad infinitum. There may, not be unmindful of his creatures, on this supposition, be worlds nor, as the moral Governor of the without the range of his dominion, world, can he be an indifferent and that which we inhabit might spectator of his subjects. The come into being by a fortuitous Epicureans denied that God gojumble of atoms. It was said by verned the world, vainly imaginBasil the Great, "That fortune ing that for him to be encumbered and chance are words of heathens, with the care and labour of gowith the signification of which the vernment was inconsistent with minds of the pious ought not to his felicity. There seem also to be occupied for if all success be be men, even among professing the benediction of God, and ad- christians, who suppose that his versity his malediction, there is superintendence extends only to no room left in human affairs for things in general, without interchance or fortune." Creatures of posing in the concerns of indivievery description pay homage to duals; as though he had at the the will of God; by his influence first set the wheels agoing, and one element checks and controls then left them to run on without another. He gathereth the winds his immediate and constant inin his fists, bindeth the waters inspection; whereas the Spirit of a garment, and establisheth the the living creature was observed ends of the earth. Stormy wind to be in the wheels. (Ezekiel i. 20.) fulfils his word. He made a de- What is commonly ascribed to nacree for the rain, and a way for ture, is attributable to the energy the lightning of thunder. He of the divine Being, working in saith to the snow, Be thou on the various forms according to the earth; likewise to the small rain, counsel of his own will. We ought and to the great rain of his strength.not curiously to pry into the seThe hairs of our heads are all num-crets of providence; but, in the bered by him, and not a sparrow faithful discharge of our duty, pafalls to the ground without his tiently to wait for every event. notice. When Solomon says, Secret things belong to God. His "Time and chance happen to ways are often beyond, our comall," he means only, that there prehension; "Clouds and darkare various occurrences on whichness are round about him; righ Success in every enterprise de- teousness and judgment are the

conclude that because darkness endures for a night, joy will not come in the morning; the lines of providence all centre in love, though some of them are drawn through impenetrable shade. The man who had observed Haman

and impatiently seeking the death of Mordecai, and had at the same time observed Mordecai looking to God for deliverance for himself and for his people, and urging Esther and his friends to prayer, could have had no idea by what way God would deliver his servants out of the power of their adversary. But let him wait only a little while, and he shall see the wheels of providence in motion. The apparatus is all prepared, and waits only the appointed moment to begin its operation. The king becomes unable to sleep; his instruments of music incapable of soothing him; till step by step, Mordecai is exalted to the post of honour, and Haman is hanged on his own gallows.

habitation of his throne." We should be satisfied with knowing what is easy to be understood; walking by faith, and not by sight; placing an unshaken confidence in the power and faithfulness of God. What we know not now, we shall know hereafter. It may be a de-swelling with rage and discontent, lightful part of our employment in the better world to contemplate the necessity there now is for affliction and health to succeed by turns; for prosperity and adversity to be set one opposite to the other; with all the varied scenes of light and darkness through which we pass in the journey of life; their connexion with, and their dependence upon one another. "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." They work, "together," not separately. The skilful physician prepares the medicine according to the disease of the patient, the different ingredients of which in their mixed state are intended to produce the necessary effect. It is thus that God deals with his people. Were he always to afflict them, their spirits would fail; nor would an uninterrupted course of prosperity be to their advantage. "All these things," said Jacob, are against me," while at the same time they were working towards an end of which he had no idea. There is a connexion between the present sufferings of christians and their future happiness. Our light afflic-ed the whole design. Had he tion, which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory. If we love God we may safely rely upon his gracious care; he may bring us into great and sore troubles, but he will never forsake us. Our way, though rough and difficult, will lead to a peaceful home. We should not

Joseph's brethren, in selling him to the Ishmaelites, had nothing in view so much as to get rid of the object of their envy; yet the Lord accomplished his purposes by what in its own nature was so very unpropitious. The vicissitudes through which this helpless youth passed, were united together like links in a chain; any one of which placed sooner or later might have frustrat

gone to any other prison than that in which the king's prisoners were bound, the chief butler and the chief baker would not have followed him: he might have lain neglected and forgotten; in which case he would never have interpreted their dreams, nor have been introduced to Pharaoh. Provision would not have been made

with the malice of hell, could not overcome it. Had only half the same power been employed against any other people, it would have prevailed to their utter extirpation; but the church of God is founded upon a Rock, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. The history of the Waldenses, the lives of the puritans, and the memoirs of the nonconformists, with those of Martin Luther, and of John Knox, do in a peculiar manner show the power and providence of God. Our own history affords abundant proof of his care and protection; he has

for the seven years famine-Jacob and his family, with many more, might have died for want; but it was promised that the posterity of Abraham should be a great nation-that the Messiah should spring from his loins, and that all nations should be blessed in him. Joseph was to bear a conspicuous part in the fulfilment of these promises, and therefore God was with him. The archers sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him; yet his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. " As for you," said he to his bre-interposed for our deliverance when thren, “ ye thought evil against there was but a step between us me, but God meant it unto good, and death. In some instances we to bring to pass as it is this day, have not seen our danger till it to save much people alive." We has been past; when astonished cannot doubt but that all the at the review of our escape, we events included in this mysterious have raised an Ebenezer to his plan were comprehended in the praise; convinced that none but decree of God, yet no one would himself could have interposed for imagine from thence that this our safety. We readily acknoweither took away, or even lessened ledge a providence, extending to the freedom of Joseph's brethren; all things in the time of our prosthey acted as moral agents, and perity; but on account of the were accountable to God for their weakness of our faith, it is difficult conduct. It is acknowledged that to do so in seasons of adversity. to explain how the thoughts and When we are exercised with percounsels of men are over-ruled so sonal or domestic trials, we are as to fall in with the design of apt to lose sight of God's hand, God, and yet to leave them in when we should most attentively the full possession of their free observe it; and to murmur at his agency is beyond our power; but procedure, when we ought quietly we may be sure it is so; and we bear the indignation of the Lord are not at liberty to call its truth because we have sinned against in question, merely because we him. The trials of the Israelites cannot discover how it is brought in the wilderness were the means about. The Roman emperors, of humbling them, and of better who made the world to tremble, preparing them for their rest in employed their power and enmity Canaan just so the afflictions against the church of God; they of the people of God will make shed seas of blood to extirpate it heaven the sweeter to them, and from the earth; but still it was by their means they will be renpreserved. When pagan Rome dered the more meet for the globecame papal, she made herself rious inheritance to which they drunk with the blood of the saints, will be brought, after the perils yet all the force of men, united and dangers of this world are for

his way."

Providence may ap

pear to be opposed to the promise, but it is never opposed to the precept. In the way of duty we may safely trust ourselves and all our concerns, both for time and for eternity, in the hand of God: his wisdom and goodness unite to secure our best interests. To the question, Is there not a particular and special providence, as well as a general one? it may be answer

ever past. Our times are in God's hand; he draws the lines of our lot, and fixes the bounds of our habitation. He mixes our cup, and apportions the joy and the sorrow that are contained in it. He permits our plans to be laid, and our expectations to be raised; and then, by his invisible, yet certain agency, brings forward the unexpected event, which, at its first appearance, seems of no moment, and yet in the end pre-ed, that there do not appear to be vails to give a new direction to the whole course of our affairs, convincing us that the greatest occurrences have an inseparable connection with the smallest, and, that the whole series of external causes are arranged according to the good pleasure of God, and produce their several effects agreeably to his purposes. The chaos of human affairs, where we can see nothing but disorder and confusion, is perfectly clear to him; every circumstance will be brought forward in its time and place. To follow the leadings of providence is to take a survey of our situation, to compare it with the rules of God's word, and to act with a regard to his glory and our own good. If at any time we are in a strait, let us remember that the tokens of God's will are not to be gathered from our own inclinations, nor from the particular frame of our minds; not from sudden impulses, nor from dreams, nor even from detached passages of scripture; but from comparing spiritual things with spiritual, ear-"My way is hid from the Lord, nestly supplicating the divine will, and in faith waiting his gracious intimations. We should suffer no feeling whatever to prevent a prompt compliance with our duty. If we acknowledge God in all our ways, he will direct our path. "The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach

two kinds of providence; one is sufficient. The question seems to arise from having observed the peculiar interpositions of God in favour of his church and people, which do not appear to be extended to things in general; and also from some speciality in his promises towards them; but all that is peculiar in these is included in one grand economy which embraces all events. The signs of the times indicate that great things are doing in the earth, and that still greater things may be expected. The great wheel is in motion, and moves with rapidity; the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. That gracious superintendence which regards the whole church regards every individual of it: not the weakest or the meanest member of the mystical body of Christ is overlooked. Let no christian say,

and my judgment is passed over from my God." Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

B.

GREEN.

ADDRESS

ΤΟ

BAPTIST CHURCHES.

of his transgressions? Is it nothing to us that the soul of a Hindoo, of a Chinese, or of a Hottentot, is of the same value with our own; created by the same power, endowed with like

Ir is presumed that the Baptist Mission has strong and indisput-capacities, and having destinies able claims upon the denomina- of the same momentous nature tion whose name it bears, and of awaiting it? Is it nothing that which it is one of the greatest millions should be under the blessings. Its Translations and curse of God, exposed to his fiits Schools open the road to ex-nal displeasure, and hastening to tended liberality, and have invit-endless woe? Is it nothing that ed and received the patronage and the largest part of the moral world, support of a generous public, and the fairest part of the Divine while its more immediate Mission- workmanship, lie in desolation ary exertions have called into aid, and ruin? Is it nothing that Sin and still ask the co-operation of, and Satan carry on their usurped its own denomination. The par- dominion from age to age, and ticular object of this paper is to reckon the victims which crowd state and enforce the claims which around their standard by thouthe Baptist Mission has upon our sands, and by millions? Is it Churches. nothing to us that, in the country where our beloved Mission

First, we would call upon you to cherish a MISSIONARY SPI-aries reside, deluded widows burn RIT. This spirit is clearly that on the funeral pile, infatuated of the Bible, and is emphatically pilgrims die on their journey, and the spirit of Him who, though he infancy and age perish in the was rich, yet for our sake became Ganges? Is it nothing that the poor, that we through his poverty female character, which is capamight be made rich. It supposes ble of the softest impressions, a defect of system, and a cold- and the most endeared friendship, ness of heart, which few if any should be sunk into the brutal; are prepared to defend, to say, and that women, banished from that a concern for the salvation society, should be treated as if of others, or for that of the hea- only designed to minister to base then, should be confined to Mi-indulgence, and sordid sensualinisters and Missionaries. With- ty? Do these facts meet our out this pity and tenderness, they eye in the intelligence received indeed would be ill-prepared to from India, and do they lodge no endure the privations, and under-appeal deep and permanent in the go the difficulties, attendant on bosom? Has the recital been a life devoted to the work of addressed to us in the affecting and Christ. But are they the only impressive statements made by our persons to be affected with the dear brother Ward, and have they weight of human guilt, and with awakened no feeling of regret, the crime and misery which fill touched no spring of benevolence, and desolate the world? Are hitherto dormant in the heart? they the only persons who are to Have they excited no struggling be desirous of plucking the sinner desire, no panting wish, for the as a brand from the burning, and deliverance of the captive, for of saving him from the wreck the pardon of the guilty, for the