Jesus was declaring our value

JESUS WAS DECLARINGOUR VALUE
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
LUKE 12:6-7 6 Are not five sparrows soldfor two
pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Don’t be afraid;you are worth more than many
sparrows.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCESON VERSE 6
The PowerTo Hurt And Bless
Luke 12:4, 5
W. Clarkson
We are admonished of -
I. THE POWER WHICH MAN HAS TO HURT US.
1. He can wound our body. He can smite, can wound, can slayus. The sad
story of human persecutioncontains only too many illustrations of this fact.

2. He can wound our spirit. This is a course he can, and still does very often
take;he can mock, can sneer, canindulge in heartless ribaldry, can hold up
our most sacredconvictions to ridicule, and thus he can inflict on us a very
deep wound. For words, though they may be the slightest, are yet the keenest
of weapons, and "a wounded spirit who canbear?"
3. He can tempt us to evil. This is the worstthing he cando; he can make the
evil suggestion, cangive the perilous invitation, can make the guilty overture,
which leads down to sin and to spiritual failure. There is no measure of pain
he can inflict, or loss he can cause us to suffer, which equals in shamefulness
this actof dark temptation. That is the deadly thing to do.
II. THE LIMITATION OF HIS POWER. Beyondthese lines our worst
enemies cannot go.
1. No man can follow us into the unseen realm. Beyondthe veil we are safe
from the questions of the inquisitor, the blows of the tyrant, the suggestions of
the tempter. These may hunt us to very death, but "afterthat have no more
that they cando." Truly, if this life were the sum of our existence, thatwould
be much indeed - it would be everything. But since we know that it is not so,
but only its first short term, only its initial stage, only its brief introduction,
we may console our hearts with the thought that it is no greatharm that the
strongestpotentate, with the sharpestsword, can do us.
2. No man can compel us to sin. A sinful deed includes the consentof the
agent;and all the forces of iniquity and error cannever compela true and
brave soul to assentto an evil act. The only greatharm that can be done us is
that which we do ourselves when we "consentto sin" when men tempt us to
sin, - after that there is no more that they can do; if more is done, it' the line is
crossed, it is of our ownaccord;the tempting is theirs, the sinning is ours.

III. THE ONLY ONE OF WHOM WE HAVE TO BE AFRAID. "Fearhim,"
etc.;i.e. shrink from the disfavour of that Divine Lord of the human spirit
who can punish according to our desert. To shrink from the condemnation of
God is not an unworthy acton our part. It is both right and wise;for his
condemnation is that of the Righteous One, and of the Mighty One also. It is
only the guilty that are lost to all sense ofobligation, and the foolishthat are
dead to all sense ofprudence, who will be indifferent to the angerof God. Fear
God's solemn displeasure, for if he rebukes it is certainthat you are
grievously in the wrong; fear it, for if he inflicts penalty there is none to
deliver out of his hand, and, what is more, even death, that does deliver from
the hand of man, is no shield from his power. Beyond the veil we are as much
within his reachas we are on this side of it. There is every reasonwhy we
should seek andfind his Divine favor, and live in the light of his countenance.
We may go on in our thought, and be reminded by our Lord's words of -
IV. THE ONE WHOSE FRIENDSHIP WE SHOULD SEEN. "Isay unto you,
my friends. We do not simply want to escape the wrath of an offended Judge;
we aspire to his favor and his love. Jesus Christis offering us his friendship
(see John 15:14, 15). If we will cordially accepthim for all that he desires to be
to us, we shall find in him the Friend in whom we shall implicitly confide,
whom we shall gladly and happily love, by whose side and in the shelterof
whose guardian care we shall walk all the way till the gates ofhome are
reached. - C.

Biblical Illustrator
Not one of them is forgottenbefore God.
Luke 12:6, 7
God's universal oversight
Dr. Talmage.
You see the Bible will not be limited in the choice of symbols, and there is
hardly beast, or bird, or insectwhich has not been calledto illustrate some
Divine truth — the ox's patience, the ant's industry, the spider's skill, the
hind's surefootedness,the eagle's speed, the dove's gentleness, andeven the
sparrow's meanness and insignificance. In Oriental countries, none but the
poorestpeople buy the sparrow and eatit, so very little meat is there on the
bones, and so very poor is it what there is of it. The comfortable population
would not think of touching it any more than you would think of eating a bat
or a lamprey eel. Now, says Jesus, if God takes care ofsuch a poor bird that is
not worth a cent, won't He care for you, an immortal? We associateGodwith
revolutions. We can see a Divine purpose in the discoveryof America, in the
invention of the art of printing, in the exposure of the Gunpowder Plot, in the
contrivance of the needle-gun, in the ruin of an Austrian or Napoleonic
despotism; but how hard it is to see Godin the minute personalaffairs of our
lives. We think of God as making a record of the starry host, but cannot
realize the Bible truth that He knows how many hairs there are on your head.
It seems a grand thing that God provided food for hundreds of thousands of
Israelites in the desert, but we cannot appreciate the truth that when a
sparrow is hungry God stoops down and opens its mouth, and puts the seed

in. We are struck with the idea that God fills the universe with His presence;
but cannotunderstand how He encamps in the crystalpalace of a dewdrop, or
finds room to stand, without being crowded, betweenthe alabasterpillars of a
pond lily. We can see Godin the clouds. Can we see God in these flowers on
this platform? We are apt to place God upon some greatplatform, or try to do
it, expecting Him there to act out His stupendous projects;but we forgetthat
the life of a Cromwell, an Alexander, a Washington, or an archangelis no
more under Divine inspiration than your life or mine. Pompey thought there
must have been a mist over the eyes of God because He so much favoured
Caesar;but there is no such mist. He sees everything. We say God's path is in
the greatwaters. True enough; but no more, certainly, than He is in the water
in the glass onthis table. We say God guides the stars in their courses —
magnificent truth! — but no more certain truth than he decides which ferry-
boat you shall take to-morrow morning to New York. Goddoes not sit upon
an indifferent and unsympathetic throne, but He sits down beside you to-day,
and stands beside me to-day, and no affair of our lives is so insignificant but
that it is of importance to God.
1. In the first place, God choosesfor us our occupation. I am amazedto see
how many people there are dissatisfiedwith the work they have to do. I think
three-fourths wish they were in some other occupation;and they spend a
greatdeal of time in regretting that they gotin the wrong trade or profession.
I want to tell you that God put into operationall the influences which led you
to that particular choice. You know a man having a large estate. He gathers
his working hands in the morning, and says to one, "You go and trim that
vine"; to another, "You go and weedthose flowers";and to another, "You
plough that tough globe";and eachone goes to his particular work. The
ownerof the estate points the man to what he knows he can do best; and so it
is with the Lord. He calls us up, and points to that field for which we are best
fitted. So that the first lessoncoming from this subject is: Stay cheerfully
where God puts you.
2. I remark, farther, that God has arrangedthe place of our dwelling. What
particular city, or town, or street, or house you shall live in seems to be a mere

matter of accident. You go out to hunt for a house, and you happen to pass up
a certain street, and happen to see a sign, and you selectthat house. Was it all
happening so? Oh, no. God guided you in every step. He foresaw the future.
He knew all your circumstances, andHe selectedjustthat one house as better
for you than any one of the ten thousand habitations in the city.
3. I remark, further, that God arranges all our friendships. You were driven
to the wall. You found a man just at that crisis who sympathized with you and
helped you. You say: "How lucky I was." There was no luck about it. God
sent that friend just as certain as He sentthe ravens to feed Elijah, or the
angelto strengthen Christ. Your domestic friends, your business friends: your
Christian friends, God sent them to bless you; and if any of them have proved
traitorous, it is only to bring out the value of those who remain. If some die, it
is only that they may stand on the outpost of heaven to greetyou at your
coming. You always will have friends — warm-heartedfriends —
magnanimous friends; and, when sickness comesto your dwelling, there will
be watchers;when trouble comes to your heart, there will be sympathisers;
when death comes, there will be gentle fingers to close the eyes and fold the
hands, and consoling lips to tell of a resurrection. Oh! we are compassedby a
bodyguard of friends. Every man, if he has behaved himself well, is
surrounded by three circles offriends; those on the outer circle wishing him
well; those in the next circle willing to help him; while close up to his heart are
a few who would die for him. Godpity the wretchwho has not any friends; he
has not behaved well.
4. I remark, again, that God puts down the limit to our temporal prosperity.
The world of finance seems to have no God in it. You cannot tell where men
will land. The affluent fall; the poor rise. The ingenious fail; the ignorant
succeed. An enterprise opening grandly shuts in bankruptcy; while out of the
peat dug up from some New England marsh, the millionaire builds his
fortune. The poor man thinks it is chance that keeps him down. The rich man
thinks it is chance which hoists him, and they are both wrong. It is so hard to

realize that God rules the money market, and has a hook in the nose of the
stock gambler;and that all the commercialrevolutions of the world shall
result in the very best for God's dear children. My brother, don't kick against,
the Divine allotments. God knows just how much money it is bestfor you to
have. You never lose unless it is best for you to lose, and you never gain unless
it is best for you to gain. You go up when it is best for you to go up, and go
down when it is best for you to go down. Prove it, you say. I will. "All things
work togetherfor goodto them that love God." You go into a factory, and you
see twenty or thirty wheels, and they are going in different directions. This
band is rolling off this way, and another band another way; one down and the
other up. You say "Whatconfusion in a factory." Oh, no, all these different
bands are only different parts of the machinery. So I go into your life, and see
strange things. Here is one providence pulling one way, and another in
another way; but they are different parts of one machinery by which He will
advance your present and everlasting well-being.
(Dr. Talmage.)
Of the providence of God
T. Boston, D. D.
I. THERE IS A PROVIDENCE.This appears —
1. From plain Scripture testimonies (see Psalm 103:19;Ephesians 1:11).
2. From the nature of God, who being independent, and the first cause of all
things, the creatures must needs depend upon Him in their being and
working. He is the end of all things, wise, knowing how to manage all for the
best; powerful to effectuate whateverHe has purposed, and faithful to
accomplishall He has decreed, promised, or threatened.

3. From the harmony and order of the most confusedthings in the world.
Everything appears to a discerning eye to be wiselyordered, notwithstanding
the confusions that seemto take place.
4. From the fulfilment of prophecies, which could not possibly be without a
providence to bring them to pass.
II. Let us, in the next place, considerTHE OBJECT OF PROVIDENCE,or
that which it reachethand extendeth to. And this is all the creatures, and all
their actions — "Upholding all things by the word of His power" (Hebrews
1:3). "His kingdom ruleth over all" (Psalm103:19).
III. I proceedto considerTHE ACTS OF PROVIDENCE. Theyare two,
preserving and governing the creatures and their actions.
1. God by His providence preserves all the creatures.
2. God does not only preserve the creatures, but governs and manages them,
which is the secondactof providence; whereby He disposes ofall things,
persons, and actions, according to His will; "The king's heart is in the hand of
the Lord, as the rivers of water:He turneth it whithersoeverHe will"
(Proverbs 21:1). "The lot is castinto the lap: but the whole disposing thereof
is of the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33). "A man's heart deviseth his way; but the
Lord directeth his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). And this act of providence is also
necessary:for as the creature cannot be or exist without God, so neither canit
act without Him (Acts 17:21). God does not make man as the carpenter doth
the ship, which afterwards sails without him; but He rules and guides him,
sitting at the helm, to direct and order all his motions: so that whatevermen
do, they do nothing without Him; not only in their goodactions, where He

gives grace, and excites it, working in them both to will and to do of His good
pleasure;but also in their evil actions, whereinthey are under the hand of
providence, but in a very different manner.(1) God permits sin, when He does
not hinder it, which He is not obligedto do.(2)God leaves the sinner so far as
He sees meetto the swing of his own lusts, and denies him restraining
grace.(3)Godbounds sin, and restrains men in their sins, as He does the
raging sea, allowing it to go so far, but no further.(4) God overrules all to a
goodend. God has one end in wickedactions, and the sinner another. The
sinner minds and intends evil, but Godmeans and designs goodby them all.
IV. Our next business is to considerTHE PROPERTIES OF DIVINE
PROVIDENCE.
1. God's providence is most holy (Psalm 145:17).
2. It is most wise (Isaiah 28:29).
3. Providence is most powerful.I shall conclude with an use of exhortation.
1. Beware ofdrawing an excuse for your sin from the providence of God, for it
is most holy, and has not the leastefficiency in any sin you commit.
2. Beware ofmurmuring and fretting under any dispensations ofprovidence
that ye meet with; remembering that nothing falls out without a wise and holy
providence, which knows bestwhat is fit and proper for you. And in all cases,
even amidst the most afflicting incidents that befall you, learn submission to
the will of God.

3. Beware ofanxious cares and diffidence about your through-bearing in the
world.
(T. Boston, D. D.)
Providence in our occupations
Dr. Talmage.
Hugh Miller says, "I will be a stone-mason";Godsays, "You will be a
geologist." Davidgoes outto tend his father's sheep;God calls him to govern a
nation. Saul goes out to hunt his father's asses,and before he gets back finds
the crownof mighty dominion.
(Dr. Talmage.)
Not forgottenby God
Victor Hugo.
We talk about God's remembering us, as if it were a specialeffort, a laying
hold by His greatmind of something outside of Himself, which He determined
to remember. But if we could only know how truly we belong to God it would
be different. God's remembrance of us is the natural claiming of our life by
Him as a true part of His own. When the spring comes, the oak-tree, withits
thousands upon thousands of leaves, is alive all over. The greatheart of the
oak-tree remembers every remotesttip of every farthest branch, and sends to
eachthe messageandthe powerof new life. It is no harder work for the oak to
feed and sustainand remember a million leaves than to feed and remember
only one. The thrill of the common life is passedon, without effort, to each.
Somewhatin this waywe may think of God's remembrance of His millions of
children. We may be no more than far-off leaves upon the greattree of His
life. Bat we are remembered just as the heart remembers the finger-tips to
which it sends the crimson blood.

(Victor Hugo.)
Minuteness of God's care
Christian Age.
It has been said, "God is greatin greatthings, but He is very greatin little
things." This was illustrated by an incident which occurredin a room during
a Scripture reading. There was a beautiful engraving on the wall of the
Matterhorn mountain. It was remarked that the wondrous works ofGod were
not only shownin those lofty, snow-cladmountains, but also the tiny mosses
found in their crevices. Afriend present said, "Yes, I was with a party at the
Matterhorn, and, while we were admiring the sublimity of the scene, a
gentleman of the company produced a pocketmicroscope and, having caught
a tiny fly, placedit under the glass. He reminded us that the legs of the
household fly in England are naked; then calledour attention to the legs of
this little fly, which were thickly coveredwith hair"; thus showing that the
same God who made these lofty mountains rise, attended to the comfort of the
tiniest of His creatures, evenproviding socksand mittens for the little flies
whose homes these mountains were.
(Christian Age.)
God's care for all creatures
It is interesting to look round the world, and note the various tokens to be
seeneverywhere of God's liberal hand in supplying the wants of His creature
man. Dr. Livingstone, writing of some plants that grew in Kalahari Desert,
mentions a plant called Leroshua, which he says "is a blessing to the
inhabitants of the desert. We see a small plant with linear leaves, and a stalk
not thickerthan a crow's quill; on digging down a footor eighteeninches
beneath, we come to a tuber, often as large as the head of a young child; when
the rind is removed we find it to be a mass of cellular tissue, filled with fluid

much like that in a young turnip. Owing to the depth beneath the soil at which
it is found, it is generally deliciouslycooland refreshing."
Caring for a little bird
We are at a loss to conceive the infinite range of mind, thought, and heart that
embraces alike the inconceivable magnitudes and the microscopic minutiae of
the universe. And yet this same phenomenon is witnessedin ourselves —
minute images of God. While the greatGustavus Adolphus was in the midst of
the dust, smoke, clangour, and excitement of a momentous battle, a little bird,
dizzy and bewildered with the noise and wild atmospheric confusion, sank and
lighted upon his shoulder. The battle, vast in its proportions, momentous in
the interests it involved, still left room in his mind and heart for the distress
and peril of that little bird, and he hid it in safety beneath the folds of his
dress, and plunged againinto the fight. The same trait appears — on a very
small scale, it may be — in our ownexperience, and appearing there, pictures
in miniature the all-embracing range of the Divine thought and providential
care.
God may be safelytrusted
New Cyclolpoedia of Anecdote.
An agedChristian who had long been an invalid, and was dependent on
Christian charity for her support, on sending for a new physician who had
just come into the place, and united with the same Church of which she was a
member, said to him, "Doctor, I wish to put myself under your care, but I
cannot do it unless you will trust my Father." "Well, Ma'am," replied the
physician, "I believe your Father is rich; I may safelytrust Him."
(New Cyclolpoedia of Anecdote.)
An everwatchful previdence
R. South, D. D.

A little error of the eye, a misguidance of the hand, a slip of the foot, a starting
of a horse, a sudden mist, or a greatshower, or a word uncle. signedly cast
forth in an army, has turned the stream of victory from one side to another,
and thereby disposedof empires and whole nations. No prince everreturned
safe out of a battle but may wellremember how many blows and bullets have
gone by him that might easily have gone through him; and by what little odd,
unforeseenchances, deathhas been turned aside which seemedin a full,
ready, direct careerto have been posting to him. All which passages, ifwe do
not acknowledgeto have been guided to their respective ends and effects by
the conduct of a superior and a Divine hand, we do, by the same assertion,
cashierall providence, strip the Almighty of His noblest prerogative, and
make God, not the Governor, but the mere Spectatorof the world.
(R. South, D. D.)
Providence and individuals
J. H. Newman
Men talk in a generalway about the goodnessofGod, His benevolence,
compassion, andlong-suffering; but they think of it as a flood pouring itself
out through all the world — as the light of the sun, not as the continually
repeatedaction of an intelligent and living mind contemplating whom it visits
and intending what it effects. Accordingly when they come into trouble, they
can but say — "It is all for the best — God is good!" and the like, and it all
falls as cold comfort upon them, and does not lessentheir sorrow, because
they have not accustomedtheir minds to feel that He is a merciful God,
regarding them individually, and not a mere Universal Providence, working
generallaws. And then, perhaps, all of a sudden the new notion breaks upon
them, "ThouGod seestme!" Some especialprovidence, amid their infliction,
runs right into their hearts; brings it close home to them, in a way they never
experiencedbefore, that God sees them.
(J. H. Newman)

Man's fear and the Divine dissuasive
A. Raleigh, D. D.
Our Lord, while instructing and preparing His disciples for future work as
heralds of the kingdom, warns them that they will meet with many dangers
and enemies;"but fear not," says the Master, "youare watchedat every step,
and come life, come death, you are safe."
I. MAN'S FEARS. They are of two kinds —
1. Those whichrespectthis world. Some people go through life much more
anxiously than others, though in outward circumstances there seems little
difference in their respective lots. A gooddeal depends upon a man's
temperament as to the wayin which he will take things. Those on the lower
ground have the leastcare. As we rise higher in the socialscale, then it brings
increasing solicitude. Provisionhas to be made not only for the wants of the
day, but for appearances. It is right enough that men should look to
appearances.Godlooks to appearances. He has made this world-house
beautiful, and we are but following the Divine example when we try to make
our life a thing of variety, largeness,and grace. Butin doing so, the gates of
anxiety are opened to us, and we are careful and troubled.
2. Fears respecting the world to come and our spiritual state and relation to
that. The fullest victory over the cares and fears of this life is to be gained only
by living for a higher world. Let us try to see Jesus standing as Lord of both
worlds, and saying, "Fearnot."
II. THE DIVINE DISSUASIVE. "Fearnot." This is supported and
recommended by severalarguments, as the limited powerof man and of
circumstances. Menmay say and do a greatdeal which may be injurious to
you, but you always come to the limit: "After that, there is nothing more they
can do. Again, there is unlimited powerwith God, and if we are true trusting

disciples of Christ this is a greatdissuasive from fear. God will use all that
infinite powerto protect and save His trusting children. "He telleth the
number of the stars," and has regard to every sparrow that flies. Why should
we fear? Then our Lord teaches us that we are of more value to God than the
inferior creatures. He has a higher care about us.
(A. Raleigh, D. D.)
Divine providence
T. Lessey.
I. I SHALL ENDEAVOUR, IN THE FIRST PLACE, TO ILLUSTRATE THE
SUBJECT OF A DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
1. Divine providence implies the preservation of all things.
2. Providence also implies the government of the world by its greatand
almighty Ruler.(1) Divine providence is particular in its government. A
generalprovidence must, in the nature of things, include a particular one.
God cannot superintend the larger parts of the universe without taking care
of the most minute parts. The all-wise and all-gracious Being who createdall
things, sustains all things. He is the Preserveras wellas the Creatorof
everything that exists. As no part of His universe can be neglectedor
overlookedby Him, so no circumstance, howevertrivial, in the history of any
individual is beneath His notice. No createdthing can continue either to exist
or to actindependently of Him. He governs eachindividual with the same care
and attention that He pays to the whole.(2)Divine providence is specialin its
regards. We know that God Almighty is the Father, the kind and gracious
Father of all mankind; His providence is, consequently, exercisedon behalf of
all living things. He careth for the animal creation, everypart of which is
under His government; for "He giveth food unto the cattle, and feedeth the
young ravens that call upon Him. The lions roaring after their prey do seek

their meat from God; He openeth His hand, and filleth all things living with
plenteousness."His providence is exercisedalso on behalf of the unholy and
unthankful: to them He is kind and merciful, and for them He makes rich and
constantprovision. His love is not confined — "The Lord is loving unto every
man, and His mercy is over all His works."We must, however, distinguish
betwixt that generalregardwhich the Almighty exercises towards the whole
race of mankind, and that tender and specialregardwhich He feels towards
those who love Him, and constantly worship Him in spirit and in truth.(3) The
administration of Divine providence, though often mysterious, is uniformly
conducted by infinite wisdom, and with the most benign intentions.
II. LESSONS WHICH FLOW FROM THIS REPRESENTATION OF
DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
1. We are reminded of the supreme worth and importance of the friendship of
God.
2. By this subject we are taught the duty of devout attention to the
dispensations of Divine providence.
3. Reverentialsubmission is another lessonthat we derive from this important
subject.
4. Finally, we derive from this representationof Divine providence a reason
for cheerful and implicit confidence in God. This is the practical and
consolatoryuse to which our blessedLord applies the greattruth now before
us: "Fearnot, therefore." If you truly fear God, you need fearnone beside.

(T. Lessey.)
God's never-failing providence
MorganDix, D. D.
The little creature mentioned is one of the most insignificant that could be
thought of; and the Lord selectedit, just for that utter insignificance, to bring
out thereby a truth which overwhelms the reason. He took out of His immense
universe, an object so poor, so small, that nothing could be less important, to
illustrate the doctrine on which the system of Christian morals is built; and
the truth is this: that God is in intelligent relation with everything that exists;
that there are, practically, no limits to His providence; that in the universe
nothing is so minute as to be overlookedorforgotten. "Notone of them is
forgotten." It is a striking phrase. It implies a knowledge whichlasts, though
the thing knownmay no longerexist; care, consideration, particulars retained
in the faithful memory. And in the ephemeral history of the poor little bird, of
which the greatGod and Saviour deigned to speak, Notone item is forgotten;
eachtiny creature's life, in all its extent, is seen, and known, and borne in
mind by Him to whom it owes that life. Now here is a truth, which may be
calledthe beginning of the moral law, the foundation of Christian ethics, the
Alpha and Omega of Christian practice. The doctrine of the never-failing
providence of Almighty God is the sheet-anchorof man's safety.
1. The doctrine of God's providence is, at first, as terrible to contemplate as it
is hard to realize; no one can bear to think of it, no one willingly admits it,
who is leading an evil life. It means that there is nothing about you, or in you,
or of you, but God knows and sees it all; the thoughts of your heart, the
springs and motives of your acts, the vices of your blood. Then, also, those
eyes sweepthe entire circumference of the sphere in which you move; they see
your friends and your foes, the tempting spirits which allure you, the
guardians setfor your defence;they mark the rise of the storms, as yet no
biggerthan a man's hand, which are coming up againstyou, and see, beyond,
the sunshine which, after many days, may break out once more. You, just as

you are, stand now before God, and simply for what you are, since there is no
deceiving Him.
2. The truth of God's never-failing providence is awful indeed to those who
know Him not, nor have Him in their thoughts; but to those who are near
Him, and love to set Him ever before them as the Father and the Saviour, it is
more precious than words cantell. To such it serves three purposes:it gives
them guidance; it gives them strength; it gives the sense ofsafety. It shows
them what they ought to do; it assures them of success;it blesseswith the
blessing of peace. Thatis the other side of the picture; and it shines in lovely
light. If our sins are before Him, so also are our humble attempts to do right,
our desires to win His approval, and regrets when we fear that we have failed.
He follows us with merciful and tender consideration. Whenwe go forth, the
strong Hand is there to sustain us as we walk, and leadus through peril in
safety. When we come in, the faithful guardian opens to us, and bids us rest in
the quietness of perfect love and trust. We see Him in eachevent of life, and in
the smallestparticulars of eachday, as the Friend who is near us all the time;
we find Him in our rising up and in our lying down, in the home and its pure
joys, in the loving faces them; we bless Him as the Author of every innocent
pleasure;when the heart is glad We know that what filled it so full is the
habitual sense that God is in our happiness, as the Author and Giver: all is of
Him, and to Him do we give thanks. When we take up our daily work, it is
with a song in the heart, because He workethwith us and will show us how
our work should be done; and when we lay it down, it is with quiet
satisfaction, becauseHe has seenall, and remembers, and knows that though
we may not have been perfect, we did what we could. His Holy Spirit, called
the "Paraclete," the "Comforter," and the "Loving Spirit," is ever near us,
and even within, since these mortal bodies are His consecratedtemples;and
the musicalsounds often heard in the soul, like songs without words, are the
voice of that Spirit, telling our spirit of the love of God for us and the reward
of love for Him.

3. Its own reward follows on just and righteous doing; its rewardfollows
surely on faith. It shall come to you along the three lines of warning, help, and
comfort: the assurance ofthe Providence that never faileth, and never
forgetteth, shall bring to you as its fruit, these precious results: A soberand
awful sense of responsibility; a check and salutary restraint on action; a
courage and energyabove natural force; a constantsense ofthe Divine
companionship; a transfiguration of your entire life; and, for the future, a
settled restfulness and peace, the harbingers of eternalsatisfactionin the
likeness ofHim whom now His children see by faith, but whom they shall
know hereafter even as they are known.
(MorganDix, D. D.)
God's wonderful care
H. W. Beecher.
When we think of the labour required to rear the few that are in our
households-the weariness,the anxiety, the burden of life — how wonderful
seems God's work!for He carries heavenand earth, and all realms, in His
bosom. Many think that God takes no thought for anything less than a staror
a mountain, and is unmindful of the little things of life; but when I go abroad,
the first thing which I see is the grass beneathmy feet; and, nestling in that,
flowers smaller yet; and lowerstill, the mosses with their inconspicuous
blooms, which beneath the microscope glow with beauty:. And if God so cares
for "the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is castinto the
oven," shall He not much more care for the minutest things of your life, "O ye
of little faith"?
(H. W. Beecher.)
The worth of sparrows

G. G. Findlay, B. A.
It is significant that Christ marked with so much interest the more lowly and
homely of the creatures around us. He does not say, "Considerthe eagle" —
the monarch of the air, the symbol of empire and of victory; or, "Considerthe
nightingale," the sweetEasternbulbul, that floods the Jordanbanks and the
shores of Gennesaretwith its passionate music;but, "Considerthe raven" —
a fowl of ill-omen and unattractive to the eye, or draws attention to the
sparrow, a very Pariahamong the feathered tribes. It is like His preference
for publicans and sinners overthe lordly Pharisee and learned scribe. Who
but Jesus wouldhave dreamed of getting poetry and theologyout of ravens
and sparrows!Who but He would have compared Himself, as He did in the
most pathetic utterance of His life, to a hen vainly calling her heedless brood
to the shelterof her wings! But this fashion of speechbecame Him who was
"meek and lowly in heart"; and who, moreover, being one with the Author of
Nature, interprets best her deepestand simplest lessons. And what a
revelation Christ's saying respecting the sparrows gives us of the working of
God's providence! What an omniscience and omnipresence it implies! He
declares that God actually notices and cares for every little featheredthing
that flits twittering through the air, or hops from bough to bough in innocent
and happy freedom, or pipes its solitary note "alone upon the housetop." And
when the tiny creature falls, struck by stick or shot or stone, "it does not fall
on the ground," He says, "without your Father." Nay, even as it hangs in the
poulterer's stall, strung up with fifty others, waiting for the purchaser, poor
almost as itself, who can find the farthing neededto buy two of them, still it is
not "forgottenbefore God." The pitiful little tragedy, from beginning to end,
is watchedand recordedby the Supreme Mind! If He observes allthat, what
is there which He overlooks?If He "caters providently for the sparrow," and
interests Himself in its fate, how solicitous His care for all His living creatures
I How minute and delicate and sympathetic, as well as far-reaching and
omnipotent, the oversight of His providence, which is not less specialthan
general, not less particular than it is universal. Even a large-minded and
noble-hearted man is distinguished above others by his freedom from
contempt, by his insight into the meaning of little things, and his sense ofthe
sacrednessand the value of common life. His mind is superior to the mere

bulk and splendour of outward things. And with God this must be so in the
most absolute sense, to the most perfectdegree. "He hath respectunto the
lowly." And this "respect" extends in due measure to all His creatures. It is
only when we believe that His care is thus universal that we can absolutely
rely upon it for ourselves.
(G. G. Findlay, B. A.)
Confidence in God's providence
After the battle of Manassas, CaptainImboden calledupon GeneralStonewall
Jackson, who was severelywounded, and found him bathing his swollenhand
in spring water, and bearing his pain very patiently. In the course oftheir
conversationImboden said: "How is it, General, you can keepso cool, and
appear so utterly insensible to danger, in such a storm of shell and bullets as
rained about you when your hand was hit?" He instantly became grave and
reverential in his manner, and answeredin a low tone of great earnestness:
"Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God
has fixed the time of my death. I do not concernmyself about that, but to be
always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added after a pause:
"Captain, that is the wayall men should live, and then all would be equally
brave."
Remarkable deliverance
The celebratedauthor of the "Pilgrim's Progress"experiencedseveral
remarkable providential deliverances. Once he fell into the river Ouse, and at
another time into the sea, and narrowly escapedbeing drowned. When
seventeenyears of age he became a soldier, and at the siege ofLeicesterin
1645, being drawn out to stand sentinel, another soldier in the same company
desired to take his place. He consented, and his companion was shot in the
head by a musket ball, and killed.
The doctrine of providence practically improved
G. Burder.

I. To prove that the providence of God extends to all human affairs; and —
II. To point out the practicaluses we should make of this doctrine.
I. Let us establish, by reference to the Scriptures, this greatand important
truth, THAT THE PROVIDENCEOF GOD IS UNIVERSAL; that it extends
to all creatures and things throughout the whole world; but, as that concerns
us most, especiallyto all human affairs. By the providence of God, we mean
His preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.
1. This appears even from the light of nature. It seems necessarilyto follow
from His being the Creatorof the world; for it is reasonable to believe, that
He who made all things, governs all things (Romans 1:18-21;Acts 14:17). The
existence ofGod, a Being of infinite power and wisdomand goodness, obliges
us to believe that He will take care of His creatures.
2. But we have clearerlight and fuller proof of this from the Bible, God's own
revelation of Himself. There we read that God is the greatPreserver. What
shall I do unto Thee," saidholy Job, "O thou Preserverof men!" (Job 7:20).
And the psalmist exclaims, "How excellentis Thy loving kindness, O God I
therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.
O Lord, thou preservestman and beast" (Psalm 36:6, 7). And in the book of
Nehemiah, the goodprovidence of God is celebratedin these exalted strains:
"Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone;Thou hast made heaven, the heavenof
heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas,
and all that is therein, and Thou preservestthem all!" (Nehemiah 9:6). The
predictions of future events, and their fulfilment, of both which the Scriptures
afford very numerous instances, furnish us with another proof of the reality of
a Divine Providence;for if God did not govern the world, He could not foretell
what would come to pass. GodforewarnedNoah of the flood 120 years before
it came. He foretold the bondage of Israel in Egypt; how long it should last,
and how they should be delivered. The captivity of Judah was foretold long

before it happened; how many years it should continue; by whom, and by
what means the people should be restored, and the temple rebuilt. All the
circumstances relating to the birth, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection of
Christ were exactlypredicted. God, who preserves all creatures, governs them
also. He does not commit the managementof the world to deputies, as many of
the heathen supposed. "The Lord reigneth." "He increaseththe nations, and
destroyeth them: He enlargeththe nations, and straiteneththem again. He
looseththe bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. He leadeth
princes awayspoiled, and over-throweth the mighty" (Job 12:18, 19, 23). The
providence of God is to be ownedin the affairs of families (Psalm68:6; Psalm
107:41). Norare individuals beneath His notice, as the text plainly imports;
not even the leastof their concerns, "forthe very hairs of their head are all
numbered".; consequentlyall their more important concerns. Even as to those
events which we call contingent, or accidental, eventhey are under the
direction and control of the Almighty (Proverbs 16:33). This providence of
God, the existence of which we have clearly proved.(1) It is sovereignand
uncontrollable. Who hath resisted, who can resist, His will?(2) It is wise. "His
work is perfect, all His ways are judgment." He cannot err: He cannot be
deceivedor mistaken.(3)It is mysterious. "Clouds and darkness are round
about Him."(4) Always good. "Truly, God is goodto Israel." "His eyes,"
directing all human affairs, "run to and fro throughout the earth";and for
what purpose? "To show Himself strong" in behalf of all that fear and love
His name. Yes, assuredly; for all "things work together for the good" ofHis
people.
II. We now proceedto the secondpart of the subject; namely, TO POINT
OUT THE PRACTICAL USES WE OUGHT TO MAKE OF THE
DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE. This doctrine is, in truth, connectedwith the
whole of practicalreligion. Take awayprovidence, and you destroythe whole
system of godliness, and leave no room for prayer or praise.

1. Let us stand in awe of the greatRuler of the world. Do His eyes behold, His
eyelids try the children of men? Is He in every place, beholding the evil and
the good? In His hand is our breath and all our ways? Who, then, shall not
fear Him? who shall not tremble at His presence?
2. Let us rejoice that the reins of universal government are in the hands of
Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our Lord — of Him who is our Mediator, our
Redeemer, our Brother, and our Friend.
3. The doctrine of providence shows the propriety and utility of prayer; it
affords the strongestmotive, and the best encouragementto that duty.
4. The doctrine of providence shows the propriety of offering to God the
sacrifice ofpraise and thanksgiving.
5. It shows the propriety of submission to the will of God. Does the Lord rule?
Submit to His government.
6. Improve the doctrine of Divine Providence, as a remedy againstanxiety.
7. Finally: let this subjectlead our minds forward towards the future and
eternal world.
(G. Burder.)
The Father's love for persons

W. E. Channing.
He is the God of all, and yet He is my God. This view of God we all have a
deep interest in impressing on our minds. We must strive to combine, in our
conceptionof Him, the thoughts of a particular and a universal providence.
On the one hand, we must not narrow His loving care, as if it were mindful of
ourselves alone, nor think of Him only as doing us good. For this would be to
rob Him of His infinitude, and darken the splendour of His boundless
beneficence. Sucha view would make religion the nurse of selfishness, and
convert our connectionwith the Supreme Being into one of self-interest. Never
let us try to monopolize God. Neverlet us imagine that God exists only as
administering to our individual wants. Never let us for an instant forgetHis
relation to the universe. But on the other hand, beware lest in thus enlarging
your views of the Infinite One, you lose your hold of the correlative truth —
that though all beings of all worlds are His care, though His mind thus
embraces the universe, He is yet as mindful of you, as if that universe were
blotted out, and you alone survived to receive the plenitude of His care. God's
relation to you is not an exclusive one, but it is as close as if it were. Never
conceive that your actions are overlookedand forgotten, because ofthe
multiplicity of agents and beings who are to be guided and governed. Never
fear that your wants are forgotten, because the boundless Creationsends up a
cry to its common Father, and He has an infinite family for whom to provide.
Neverthink that your characters are objects of little interest, because
innumerable orders of beings of higher attainments and virtues attractthe
regards of this munificent King. Were you His only creature alive, He could
not think of you more constantly and tenderly, or be more displeasedwith
your resistance to duty, or feelmore joy in your fidelity to right, than He does
now. The human mind, apt to measure God by itself, has always found a
difficulty in reconciling the two views which have just been stated. Through
this propensity it fell into Polytheism, or the worship of many gods. Wanting a
Deity, who would watch over their particular interests, and fearing that they
would be overlookedby the Fatherof all, men invented inferior divinities —
gods for eachparticular country and nation — and still more household gods,
divinities for eachparticular dwelling, that they might have some superior
powerbeneath which to shelter their weakness.

I. BUT THERE IS NO INCONSISTENCYIN AT ONCE BELIEVING IN
GOD'S PARTICULAR PROVIDENCE AND IN HIS UNIVERSAL
PROVIDENCE.He may watch over all, and yet watchover each, as if each
were all. There is a simple truth, which may help us to understand, that God
does not intermit His attention to individuals in consequenceofHis inspection
of the infinite whole. It is this. The individual is a living part of this living
whole — vitally connectedwith it — acting upon it and reactedupon by it —
receiving good, and communicating goodin return, in proportion to his
growth and power. From this constitution of the universe it follows, that the
whole is preserved and perfectedby the care of its parts. The generalgoodis
bound up m the individual good. So that to superintend the one is to
superintend the other; and the neglect.of either would be the neglectof both.
What reasonhave I for considering myself as overlooked, becauseGodhas
such an immense family to provide for? I belong to this family. I am bound to
it by vital bonds. I am always exerting an influence upon it. I can hardly
perform an act that is confined in its consequences to myself. Every new truth
that I gain makes me a brighter light to humanity. I ought not then to imagine
that God's interest in me is diminished, because His interest is extended to
endless hosts of spirits. On the contrary, God must be more interestedin me
on this very account, because Iinfluence others as wellas myself. I am a living
member of the greatfamily of all souls;and I cannot improve or suffer myself,
without diffusing goodor evil around me through an ever-enlarging sphere.
In these remarks we have seen, that from the intimate and vital connection
betweenthe individual and the community of spirits, God in taking care of
eachperson is taking care of the whole, and that there is a perfectharmony
betweenthe generaland the particular superintendence of God. From the
same vital connectionof beings, I derive another encouraging view, leading to
the same result. I learn from it that God's attention to His whole creation, far
from withdrawing His regard from me, is the very method whereby He is
advancing my especialgood. I am organicallyconnectedwith the greatfamily
of the universal parent. Plainly then it is for my happiness, that this family
should be watchedover and should prosper. Suppose the Creatorto abandon
all around me, that He might bless me alone, should I be a gainer by such a
monopoly of God's care? My happiness is manifestly bound up with and flows
from the happiness of those around; and thus the Divine kindness to others is

essentiallykindness to myself. This is no theory; it is the fact confirmed by all
experience. Every day we receive perpetual blessings from the progress ofour
race. We are enlightened, refined, elevated, through the studies, discoveries,
and arts of countless persons, whomwe have never seenand of whom we have
never even heard. Daily we enjoy conveniences, pleasures, andmeans of
health and culture, through advancements in science andart, made in the
most distant regions. And in so far as we possesselevated, disinterested, and
holy characters, orenlargedintelligence, have not these been cherished and
encouragedby the examples, writings, deeds, and lives of far-spreadfellow-
beings, through all ages andnations? How much would eachof us assuredly
be advanced in happiness, wisdom, virtue, were the community around us —
were all the persons with whom we hold intercourse — more humane and
more heavenly! Is God, then, neglecting us in His care of others? How could
He bless us more effectually than by carrying forward the greatspiritual
system to which we belong, and of which we are living parts?
II. Thus having seenhow consistentis the doctrine of God's care for the whole
with the doctrine that He watches minutely over every individual, let ME
NOW ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THIS DOCTRINE MORECLOSELY, IN
ITS PRACTICALAPPLICATIONS. Considerwhat affecting ideas it
involves! According to this truth, we are, eachone of us, present to the mind
of God. We are penetrated, eachone of us, instant by instant, by His all-seeing
eye; we are known, every single personof us, more interiorly by Him than we
are knownto ourselves. Moment by moment the living God sustains us; and
His own life continually flows into us through His omnipotent good-will. In
fine, and above all, the Holy One never loses sightof our characterand
conduct. He witnesses anddelights in our virtues. And He too witnesses and
condemns every sin. Intimate and tender, beyond our highestconception, is
our Heavenly Father's relationship to us! He is incessantlyour creatorand
renewer, our upholder and benefactor, our witness and judge. The connection
of all other beings with us, when compared with this, is foreignand remote.
The nearestfriend, the most loving parent, is but a strangerto us, when
contrastedwith God. No words can adequately express this living alliance of
the Creatorwith His creatures. And knowing thus the intensity and the extent

of this relationship, how is it possible that I canforget Him? My hearers, I
have thus turned your attention to this sublimely affecting subject of our vital
connectionwith God, not for the purpose of awakening temporary fervour,
but that we may feelthe urgent duty of cherishing these convictions. Were a
person, who had lived in ignorance of all beyond mere sensitive existence,
suddenly to receive a clearimpression of God's all-embracing presence, he
would undergo a greaterchange ofcondition, than if he were to awake some
morning in a wholly new world, peopled by new beings, clothed in new
beauty, and governedby laws such as he had never known by experience. He
would be uplifted with the assurance, thatat length he had found for his soul
an all-sufficing object of veneration, gratitude, trust and love, an unfailing
source of strength for every mortal weakness, anexhaustless refreshmentof
his highesthope, an ever-springing fount of holy emotion, virtuous energy,
and heavenly joy, infinitely transcending all modes of good to which he had
been wont to look. In a word, he would be utterly transformed. On the other
hand, in degree as by faithlessness Ilose sight of my intimate relationship with
God, I am bereft of inward peace, of the desire for progress, ofpower to
escape from myself. The future grows dim, and hope dies. A change comes
over me like that which befals the traveller when clouds overspreadthe sky,
when gathering mists obscure his path, and gloomsettles down upon his
uncertain way, till he is lost. The light of life is a constantconsciousnessof
Divine fellowship.
III. How THEN CAN WE ATTAIN TO AN ABIDING CONSCIOUSNESS
OF LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIVING GOD? How can we
reachthe constantfeeling that He is always with us, offering every aid
consistentwith our freedom, guiding us on to heavenly happiness, welcoming
us into the immediate knowledge ofHis perfection, into a loving fellowship
with Himself? I shall confine myself to what seems to be essential, as the first
step, in this approach to true communion with the ]Fatherof spirits. My belief
is, that one chief means of acquiring a vivid sense ofGod's presence is to
resist, instantly and resolutely, whateverwe feelto be evil in our hearts and
lives, and at once to begin in earnestto obey the Divine will as it speaks in
conscience. Yousay that you desire a new and nearer knowledge ofyour

Creator. Let this thirst for a higher consciousnessofthe Infinite Being lead
you to oppose whateveryou feelto be at war with God's purity, God's truth,
and God's righteousness. Justin proportion as you gain a victory over the evil
of which you have become aware in yourself, will your spiritual eye be purged
for a brighter perceptionof the Holy One.
(W. E. Channing.)
COMMENTARIES
The PowerTo Hurt And Bless
Luke 12:4, 5
W. Clarkson
We are admonished of -
I. THE POWER WHICH MAN HAS TO HURT US.
1. He can wound our body. He can smite, can wound, can slayus. The sad
story of human persecutioncontains only too many illustrations of this fact.
2. He can wound our spirit. This is a course he can, and still does very often
take;he can mock, can sneer, canindulge in heartless ribaldry, can hold up
our most sacredconvictions to ridicule, and thus he can inflict on us a very
deep wound. For words, though they may be the slightest, are yet the keenest
of weapons, and "a wounded spirit who canbear?"

3. He can tempt us to evil. This is the worstthing he cando; he can make the
evil suggestion, cangive the perilous invitation, can make the guilty overture,
which leads down to sin and to spiritual failure. There is no measure of pain
he can inflict, or loss he can cause us to suffer, which equals in shamefulness
this actof dark temptation. That is the deadly thing to do.
II. THE LIMITATION OF HIS POWER. Beyondthese lines our worst
enemies cannot go.
1. No man can follow us into the unseen realm. Beyondthe veil we are safe
from the questions of the inquisitor, the blows of the tyrant, the suggestions of
the tempter. These may hunt us to very death, but "afterthat have no more
that they cando." Truly, if this life were the sum of our existence, thatwould
be much indeed - it would be everything. But since we know that it is not so,
but only its first short term, only its initial stage, only its brief introduction,
we may console our hearts with the thought that it is no greatharm that the
strongestpotentate, with the sharpestsword, can do us.
2. No man can compel us to sin. A sinful deed includes the consentof the
agent;and all the forces of iniquity and error cannever compela true and
brave soul to assentto an evil act. The only greatharm that can be done us is
that which we do ourselves when we "consentto sin" when men tempt us to
sin, - after that there is no more that they can do; if more is done, it' the line is
crossed, it is of our ownaccord;the tempting is theirs, the sinning is ours.
III. THE ONLY ONE OF WHOM WE HAVE TO BE AFRAID. "Fearhim,"
etc.;i.e. shrink from the disfavour of that Divine Lord of the human spirit
who can punish according to our desert. To shrink from the condemnation of
God is not an unworthy acton our part. It is both right and wise;for his
condemnation is that of the Righteous One, and of the Mighty One also. It is

only the guilty that are lost to all sense ofobligation, and the foolishthat are
dead to all sense ofprudence, who will be indifferent to the angerof God. Fear
God's solemn displeasure, for if he rebukes it is certainthat you are
grievously in the wrong; fear it, for if he inflicts penalty there is none to
deliver out of his hand, and, what is more, even death, that does deliver from
the hand of man, is no shield from his power. Beyond the veil we are as much
within his reachas we are on this side of it. There is every reasonwhy we
should seek andfind his Divine favor, and live in the light of his countenance.
We may go on in our thought, and be reminded by our Lord's words of -
IV. THE ONE WHOSE FRIENDSHIP WE SHOULD SEEN. "Isay unto you,
my friends. We do not simply want to escape the wrath of an offended Judge;
we aspire to his favor and his love. Jesus Christis offering us his friendship
(see John 15:14, 15). If we will cordially accepthim for all that he desires to be
to us, we shall find in him the Friend in whom we shall implicitly confide,
whom we shall gladly and happily love, by whose side and in the shelterof
whose guardian care we shall walk all the way till the gates ofhome are
reached. - C.

Biblical Illustrator
Not one of them is forgottenbefore God.
Luke 12:6, 7
God's universal oversight
Dr. Talmage.
You see the Bible will not be limited in the choice of symbols, and there is
hardly beast, or bird, or insectwhich has not been calledto illustrate some
Divine truth — the ox's patience, the ant's industry, the spider's skill, the
hind's surefootedness,the eagle's speed, the dove's gentleness, andeven the
sparrow's meanness and insignificance. In Oriental countries, none but the
poorestpeople buy the sparrow and eatit, so very little meat is there on the
bones, and so very poor is it what there is of it. The comfortable population
would not think of touching it any more than you would think of eating a bat
or a lamprey eel. Now, says Jesus, if God takes care ofsuch a poor bird that is
not worth a cent, won't He care for you, an immortal? We associateGodwith
revolutions. We can see a Divine purpose in the discoveryof America, in the
invention of the art of printing, in the exposure of the Gunpowder Plot, in the
contrivance of the needle-gun, in the ruin of an Austrian or Napoleonic
despotism; but how hard it is to see Godin the minute personalaffairs of our
lives. We think of God as making a recordof the starry host, but cannot
realize the Bible truth that He knows how many hairs there are on your head.
It seems a grand thing that God provided food for hundreds of thousands of
Israelites in the desert, but we cannot appreciate the truth that when a
sparrow is hungry God stoops down and opens its mouth, and puts the seed
in. We are struck with the idea that God fills the universe with His presence;
but cannotunderstand how He encamps in the crystalpalace of a dewdrop, or
finds room to stand, without being crowded, betweenthe alabasterpillars of a
pond lily. We can see Godin the clouds. Can we see God in these flowers on
this platform? We are apt to place God upon some greatplatform, or try to do
it, expecting Him there to act out His stupendous projects;but we forgetthat

the life of a Cromwell, an Alexander, a Washington, or an archangelis no
more under Divine inspiration than your life or mine. Pompey thought there
must have been a mist over the eyes of God because He so much favoured
Caesar;but there is no such mist. He sees everything. We say God's path is in
the greatwaters. True enough; but no more, certainly, than He is in the water
in the glass onthis table. We say God guides the stars in their courses —
magnificent truth! — but no more certain truth than he decides which ferry-
boat you shall take to-morrow morning to New York. Goddoes not sit upon
an indifferent and unsympathetic throne, but He sits down beside you to-day,
and stands beside me to-day, and no affair of our lives is so insignificant but
that it is of importance to God.
1. In the first place, God choosesfor us our occupation. I am amazedto see
how many people there are dissatisfiedwith the work they have to do. I think
three-fourths wish they were in some other occupation;and they spend a
greatdeal of time in regretting that they gotin the wrong trade or profession.
I want to tell you that God put into operationall the influences which led you
to that particular choice. You know a man having a large estate. He gathers
his working hands in the morning, and says to one, "You go and trim that
vine"; to another, "You go and weedthose flowers";and to another, "You
plough that tough globe";and eachone goes to his particular work. The
ownerof the estate points the man to what he knows he can do best; and so it
is with the Lord. He calls us up, and points to that field for which we are best
fitted. So that the first lessoncoming from this subject is: Stay cheerfully
where God puts you.
2. I remark, farther, that God has arrangedthe place of our dwelling. What
particular city, or town, or street, or house you shall live in seems to be a mere
matter of accident. You go out to hunt for a house, and you happen to pass up
a certain street, and happen to see a sign, and you selectthat house. Was it all
happening so? Oh, no. God guided you in every step. He foresaw the future.
He knew all your circumstances, andHe selectedjustthat one house as better
for you than any one of the ten thousand habitations in the city.

3. I remark, further, that God arranges all our friendships. You were driven
to the wall. You found a man just at that crisis who sympathized with you and
helped you. You say: "How lucky I was." There was no luck about it. God
sent that friend just as certain as He sentthe ravens to feed Elijah, or the
angelto strengthen Christ. Your domestic friends, your business friends: your
Christian friends, God sent them to bless you; and if any of them have proved
traitorous, it is only to bring out the value of those who remain. If some die, it
is only that they may stand on the outpost of heaven to greetyou at your
coming. You always will have friends — warm-heartedfriends —
magnanimous friends; and, when sickness comesto your dwelling, there will
be watchers;when trouble comes to your heart, there will be sympathisers;
when death comes, there will be gentle fingers to close the eyes and fold the
hands, and consoling lips to tell of a resurrection. Oh! we are compassedby a
bodyguard of friends. Every man, if he has behaved himself well, is
surrounded by three circles offriends; those on the outer circle wishing him
well; those in the next circle willing to help him; while close up to his heart are
a few who would die for him. Godpity the wretchwho has not any friends; he
has not behaved well.
4. I remark, again, that God puts down the limit to our temporal prosperity.
The world of finance seems to have no God in it. You cannot tell where men
will land. The affluent fall; the poor rise. The ingenious fail; the ignorant
succeed. An enterprise opening grandly shuts in bankruptcy; while out of the
peat dug up from some New England marsh, the millionaire builds his
fortune. The poor man thinks it is chance that keeps him down. The rich man
thinks it is chance which hoists him, and they are both wrong. It is so hard to
realize that God rules the money market, and has a hook in the nose of the
stock gambler;and that all the commercialrevolutions of the world shall
result in the very best for God's dear children. My brother, don't kick against,
the Divine allotments. God knows just how much money it is bestfor you to
have. You never lose unless it is best for you to lose, and you never gain unless
it is best for you to gain. You go up when it is best for you to go up, and go

down when it is best for you to go down. Prove it, you say. I will. "All things
work togetherfor goodto them that love God." You go into a factory, and you
see twenty or thirty wheels, and they are going in different directions. This
band is rolling off this way, and another band another way; one down and the
other up. You say "Whatconfusion in a factory." Oh, no, all these different
bands are only different parts of the machinery. So I go into your life, and see
strange things. Here is one providence pulling one way, and another in
another way; but they are different parts of one machinery by which He will
advance your present and everlasting well-being.
(Dr. Talmage.)
Of the providence of God
T. Boston, D. D.
I. THERE IS A PROVIDENCE.This appears —
1. From plain Scripture testimonies (see Psalm 103:19;Ephesians 1:11).
2. From the nature of God, who being independent, and the first cause of all
things, the creatures must needs depend upon Him in their being and
working. He is the end of all things, wise, knowing how to manage all for the
best; powerful to effectuate whateverHe has purposed, and faithful to
accomplishall He has decreed, promised, or threatened.
3. From the harmony and order of the most confusedthings in the world.
Everything appears to a discerning eye to be wiselyordered, notwithstanding
the confusions that seemto take place.

4. From the fulfilment of prophecies, which could not possibly be without a
providence to bring them to pass.
II. Let us, in the next place, considerTHE OBJECT OF PROVIDENCE,or
that which it reachethand extendeth to. And this is all the creatures, and all
their actions — "Upholding all things by the word of His power" (Hebrews
1:3). "His kingdom ruleth over all" (Psalm103:19).
III. I proceedto considerTHE ACTS OF PROVIDENCE. Theyare two,
preserving and governing the creatures and their actions.
1. God by His providence preserves all the creatures.
2. God does not only preserve the creatures, but governs and manages them,
which is the secondactof providence; whereby He disposes ofall things,
persons, and actions, according to His will; "The king's heart is in the hand of
the Lord, as the rivers of water:He turneth it whithersoeverHe will"
(Proverbs 21:1). "The lot is castinto the lap: but the whole disposing thereof
is of the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33). "A man's heart deviseth his way; but the
Lord directeth his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). And this act of providence is also
necessary:for as the creature cannot be or exist without God, so neither canit
act without Him (Acts 17:21). God does not make man as the carpenter doth
the ship, which afterwards sails without him; but He rules and guides him,
sitting at the helm, to direct and order all his motions: so that whatevermen
do, they do nothing without Him; not only in their goodactions, where He
gives grace, and excites it, working in them both to will and to do of His good
pleasure;but also in their evil actions, whereinthey are under the hand of
providence, but in a very different manner.(1) God permits sin, when He does
not hinder it, which He is not obligedto do.(2)God leaves the sinner so far as
He sees meetto the swing of his own lusts, and denies him restraining

grace.(3)Godbounds sin, and restrains men in their sins, as He does the
raging sea, allowing it to go so far, but no further.(4) God overrules all to a
goodend. God has one end in wickedactions, and the sinner another. The
sinner minds and intends evil, but Godmeans and designs goodby them all.
IV. Our next business is to considerTHE PROPERTIES OF DIVINE
PROVIDENCE.
1. God's providence is most holy (Psalm 145:17).
2. It is most wise (Isaiah 28:29).
3. Providence is most powerful.I shall conclude with an use of exhortation.
1. Beware ofdrawing an excuse for your sin from the providence of God, for it
is most holy, and has not the leastefficiency in any sin you commit.
2. Beware ofmurmuring and fretting under any dispensations ofprovidence
that ye meet with; remembering that nothing falls out without a wise and holy
providence, which knows bestwhat is fit and proper for you. And in all cases,
even amidst the most afflicting incidents that befall you, learn submission to
the will of God.
3. Beware ofanxious cares and diffidence about your through-bearing in the
world.

(T. Boston, D. D.)
Providence in our occupations
Dr. Talmage.
Hugh Miller says, "I will be a stone-mason";Godsays, "You will be a
geologist." Davidgoes outto tend his father's sheep;God calls him to govern a
nation. Saul goes out to hunt his father's asses,and before he gets back finds
the crownof mighty dominion.
(Dr. Talmage.)
Not forgottenby God
Victor Hugo.
We talk about God's remembering us, as if it were a specialeffort, a laying
hold by His greatmind of something outside of Himself, which He determined
to remember. But if we could only know how truly we belong to God it would
be different. God's remembrance of us is the natural claiming of our life by
Him as a true part of His own. When the spring comes, the oak-tree, withits
thousands upon thousands of leaves, is alive all over. The greatheart of the
oak-tree remembers every remotesttip of every farthest branch, and sends to
eachthe messageandthe powerof new life. It is no harder work for the oak to
feed and sustainand remember a million leaves than to feed and remember
only one. The thrill of the common life is passedon, without effort, to each.
Somewhatin this waywe may think of God's remembrance of His millions of
children. We may be no more than far-off leaves upon the greattree of His
life. Bat we are remembered just as the heart remembers the finger-tips to
which it sends the crimson blood.
(Victor Hugo.)

Minuteness of God's care
Christian Age.
It has been said, "God is greatin greatthings, but He is very greatin little
things." This was illustrated by an incident which occurredin a room during
a Scripture reading. There was a beautiful engraving on the wall of the
Matterhorn mountain. It was remarked that the wondrous works ofGod were
not only shownin those lofty, snow-cladmountains, but also the tiny mosses
found in their crevices. Afriend present said, "Yes, I was with a party at the
Matterhorn, and, while we were admiring the sublimity of the scene, a
gentleman of the company produced a pocketmicroscope and, having caught
a tiny fly, placedit under the glass. He reminded us that the legs of the
household fly in England are naked; then calledour attention to the legs of
this little fly, which were thickly coveredwith hair"; thus showing that the
same God who made these lofty mountains rise, attended to the comfort of the
tiniest of His creatures, evenproviding socksand mittens for the little flies
whose homes these mountains were.
(Christian Age.)
God's care for all creatures
It is interesting to look round the world, and note the various tokens to be
seeneverywhere of God's liberal hand in supplying the wants of His creature
man. Dr. Livingstone, writing of some plants that grew in Kalahari Desert,
mentions a plant called Leroshua, which he says "is a blessing to the
inhabitants of the desert. We see a small plant with linear leaves, and a stalk
not thickerthan a crow's quill; on digging down a footor eighteeninches
beneath, we come to a tuber, often as large as the head of a young child; when
the rind is removed we find it to be a mass of cellular tissue, filled with fluid
much like that in a young turnip. Owing to the depth beneath the soil at which
it is found, it is generally deliciouslycooland refreshing."
Caring for a little bird

We are at a loss to conceive the infinite range of mind, thought, and heart that
embraces alike the inconceivable magnitudes and the microscopic minutiae of
the universe. And yet this same phenomenon is witnessedin ourselves —
minute images of God. While the greatGustavus Adolphus was in the midst of
the dust, smoke, clangour, and excitement of a momentous battle, a little bird,
dizzy and bewildered with the noise and wild atmospheric confusion, sank and
lighted upon his shoulder. The battle, vast in its proportions, momentous in
the interests it involved, still left room in his mind and heart for the distress
and peril of that little bird, and he hid it in safety beneath the folds of his
dress, and plunged againinto the fight. The same trait appears — on a very
small scale, it may be — in our ownexperience, and appearing there, pictures
in miniature the all-embracing range of the Divine thought and providential
care.
God may be safelytrusted
New Cyclolpoedia of Anecdote.
An agedChristian who had long been an invalid, and was dependent on
Christian charity for her support, on sending for a new physician who had
just come into the place, and united with the same Church of which she was a
member, said to him, "Doctor, I wish to put myself under your care, but I
cannot do it unless you will trust my Father." "Well, Ma'am," replied the
physician, "I believe your Father is rich; I may safelytrust Him."
(New Cyclolpoedia of Anecdote.)
An everwatchful previdence
R. South, D. D.
A little error of the eye, a misguidance of the hand, a slip of the foot, a starting
of a horse, a sudden mist, or a greatshower, or a word uncle. signedly cast
forth in an army, has turned the stream of victory from one side to another,
and thereby disposedof empires and whole nations. No prince everreturned
safe out of a battle but may wellremember how many blows and bullets have

gone by him that might easily have gone through him; and by what little odd,
unforeseenchances, deathhas been turned aside which seemedin a full,
ready, direct careerto have been posting to him. All which passages, ifwe do
not acknowledgeto have been guided to their respective ends and effects by
the conduct of a superior and a Divine hand, we do, by the same assertion,
cashierall providence, strip the Almighty of His noblest prerogative, and
make God, not the Governor, but the mere Spectatorof the world.
(R. South, D. D.)
Providence and individuals
J. H. Newman
Men talk in a generalway about the goodnessofGod, His benevolence,
compassion, andlong-suffering; but they think of it as a flood pouring itself
out through all the world — as the light of the sun, not as the continually
repeatedaction of an intelligent and living mind contemplating whom it visits
and intending what it effects. Accordingly when they come into trouble, they
can but say — "It is all for the best — God is good!" and the like, and it all
falls as cold comfort upon them, and does not lessen their sorrow, because
they have not accustomedtheir minds to feel that He is a merciful God,
regarding them individually, and not a mere Universal Providence, working
generallaws. And then, perhaps, all of a sudden the new notion breaks upon
them, "ThouGod seestme!" Some especialprovidence, amid their infliction,
runs right into their hearts; brings it close home to them, in a way they never
experiencedbefore, that God sees them.
(J. H. Newman)
Man's fear and the Divine dissuasive
A. Raleigh, D. D.

Our Lord, while instructing and preparing His disciples for future work as
heralds of the kingdom, warns them that they will meet with many dangers
and enemies;"but fear not," says the Master, "youare watchedat every step,
and come life, come death, you are safe."
I. MAN'S FEARS. They are of two kinds —
1. Those whichrespectthis world. Some people go through life much more
anxiously than others, though in outward circumstances there seems little
difference in their respective lots. A gooddeal depends upon a man's
temperament as to the wayin which he will take things. Those on the lower
ground have the leastcare. As we rise higher in the socialscale, then it brings
increasing solicitude. Provisionhas to be made not only for the wants of the
day, but for appearances. It is right enough that men should look to
appearances.Godlooks to appearances. He has made this world-house
beautiful, and we are but following the Divine example when we try to make
our life a thing of variety, largeness,and grace. Butin doing so, the gates of
anxiety are opened to us, and we are careful and troubled.
2. Fears respecting the world to come and our spiritual state and relation to
that. The fullest victory over the cares and fears of this life is to be gained only
by living for a higher world. Let us try to see Jesus standing as Lord of both
worlds, and saying, "Fearnot."
II. THE DIVINE DISSUASIVE. "Fearnot." This is supported and
recommended by severalarguments, as the limited powerof man and of
circumstances. Menmay say and do a greatdeal which may be injurious to
you, but you always come to the limit: "After that, there is nothing more they
can do. Again, there is unlimited powerwith God, and if we are true trusting
disciples of Christ this is a greatdissuasive from fear. God will use all that
infinite powerto protect and save His trusting children. "He telleth the
number of the stars," and has regard to every sparrow that flies. Why should

we fear? Then our Lord teaches us that we are of more value to God than the
inferior creatures. He has a higher care about us.
(A. Raleigh, D. D.)
Divine providence
T. Lessey.
I. I SHALL ENDEAVOUR, IN THE FIRST PLACE, TO ILLUSTRATE THE
SUBJECT OF A DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
1. Divine providence implies the preservation of all things.
2. Providence also implies the government of the world by its greatand
almighty Ruler.(1) Divine providence is particular in its government. A
generalprovidence must, in the nature of things, include a particular one.
God cannot superintend the larger parts of the universe without taking care
of the most minute parts. The all-wise and all-gracious Being who createdall
things, sustains all things. He is the Preserveras wellas the Creatorof
everything that exists. As no part of His universe can be neglectedor
overlookedby Him, so no circumstance, howevertrivial, in the history of any
individual is beneath His notice. No createdthing can continue either to exist
or to actindependently of Him. He governs eachindividual with the same care
and attention that He pays to the whole.(2)Divine providence is specialin its
regards. We know that God Almighty is the Father, the kind and gracious
Father of all mankind; His providence is, consequently, exercisedon behalf of
all living things. He careth for the animal creation, everypart of which is
under His government; for "He giveth food unto the cattle, and feedeth the
young ravens that call upon Him. The lions roaring after their prey do seek
their meat from God; He openeth His hand, and filleth all things living with
plenteousness."His providence is exercisedalso on behalf of the unholy and
unthankful: to them He is kind and merciful, and for them He makes rich and

constantprovision. His love is not confined — "The Lord is loving unto every
man, and His mercy is over all His works."We must, however, distinguish
betwixt that generalregardwhich the Almighty exercises towards the whole
race of mankind, and that tender and specialregardwhich He feels towards
those who love Him, and constantly worship Him in spirit and in truth.(3) The
administration of Divine providence, though often mysterious, is uniformly
conducted by infinite wisdom, and with the most benign intentions.
II. LESSONS WHICH FLOW FROM THIS REPRESENTATION OF
DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
1. We are reminded of the supreme worth and importance of the friendship of
God.
2. By this subject we are taught the duty of devout attention to the
dispensations of Divine providence.
3. Reverentialsubmission is another lessonthat we derive from this important
subject.
4. Finally, we derive from this representationof Divine providence a reason
for cheerful and implicit confidence in God. This is the practical and
consolatoryuse to which our blessedLord applies the greattruth now before
us: "Fearnot, therefore." If you truly fear God, you need fearnone beside.
(T. Lessey.)

God's never-failing providence
MorganDix, D. D.
The little creature mentioned is one of the most insignificant that could be
thought of; and the Lord selectedit, just for that utter insignificance, to bring
out thereby a truth which overwhelms the reason. He took out of His immense
universe, an object so poor, so small, that nothing could be less important, to
illustrate the doctrine on which the system of Christian morals is built; and
the truth is this: that God is in intelligent relation with everything that exists;
that there are, practically, no limits to His providence; that in the universe
nothing is so minute as to be overlookedorforgotten. "Notone of them is
forgotten." It is a striking phrase. It implies a knowledge whichlasts, though
the thing knownmay no longerexist; care, consideration, particulars retained
in the faithful memory. And in the ephemeral history of the poor little bird, of
which the greatGod and Saviour deigned to speak, Notone item is forgotten;
eachtiny creature's life, in all its extent, is seen, and known, and borne in
mind by Him to whom it owes that life. Now here is a truth, which may be
calledthe beginning of the moral law, the foundation of Christian ethics, the
Alpha and Omega of Christian practice. The doctrine of the never-failing
providence of Almighty God is the sheet-anchorof man's safety.
1. The doctrine of God's providence is, at first, as terrible to contemplate as it
is hard to realize; no one can bear to think of it, no one willingly admits it,
who is leading an evil life. It means that there is nothing about you, or in you,
or of you, but God knows and sees it all; the thoughts of your heart, the
springs and motives of your acts, the vices of your blood. Then, also, those
eyes sweepthe entire circumference of the sphere in which you move; they see
your friends and your foes, the tempting spirits which allure you, the
guardians setfor your defence;they mark the rise of the storms, as yet no
biggerthan a man's hand, which are coming up againstyou, and see, beyond,
the sunshine which, after many days, may break out once more. You, just as
you are, stand now before God, and simply for what you are, since there is no
deceiving Him.

2. The truth of God's never-failing providence is awful indeed to those who
know Him not, nor have Him in their thoughts; but to those who are near
Him, and love to set Him ever before them as the Father and the Saviour, it is
more precious than words cantell. To such it serves three purposes:it gives
them guidance; it gives them strength; it gives the sense ofsafety. It shows
them what they ought to do; it assures them of success;it blesseswith the
blessing of peace. Thatis the other side of the picture; and it shines in lovely
light. If our sins are before Him, so also are our humble attempts to do right,
our desires to win His approval, and regrets when we fear that we have failed.
He follows us with merciful and tender consideration. When we go forth, the
strong Hand is there to sustain us as we walk, and leadus through peril in
safety. When we come in, the faithful guardian opens to us, and bids us rest in
the quietness of perfect love and trust. We see Him in eachevent of life, and in
the smallestparticulars of eachday, as the Friend who is near us all the time;
we find Him in our rising up and in our lying down, in the home and its pure
joys, in the loving faces them; we bless Him as the Author of every innocent
pleasure;when the heart is glad We know that what filled it so full is the
habitual sense that God is in our happiness, as the Author and Giver: all is of
Him, and to Him do we give thanks. When we take up our daily work, it is
with a song in the heart, because He workethwith us and will show us how
our work should be done; and when we lay it down, it is with quiet
satisfaction, becauseHe has seenall, and remembers, and knows that though
we may not have been perfect, we did what we could. His Holy Spirit, called
the "Paraclete," the "Comforter," and the "Loving Spirit," is ever near us,
and even within, since these mortal bodies are His consecratedtemples;and
the musicalsounds often heard in the soul, like songs without words, are the
voice of that Spirit, telling our spirit of the love of God for us and the reward
of love for Him.
3. Its own reward follows on just and righteous doing; its rewardfollows
surely on faith. It shall come to you along the three lines of warning, help, and
comfort: the assurance ofthe Providence that never faileth, and never
forgetteth, shall bring to you as its fruit, these precious results: A soberand
awful sense of responsibility; a check and salutary restraint on action; a

courage and energyabove natural force; a constantsense ofthe Divine
companionship; a transfiguration of your entire life; and, for the future, a
settled restfulness and peace, the harbingers of eternalsatisfactionin the
likeness ofHim whom now His children see by faith, but whom they shall
know hereafter even as they are known.
(MorganDix, D. D.)
God's wonderful care
H. W. Beecher.
When we think of the labour required to rear the few that are in our
households-the weariness,the anxiety, the burden of life — how wonderful
seems God's work!for He carries heavenand earth, and all realms, in His
bosom. Many think that God takes no thought for anything less than a staror
a mountain, and is unmindful of the little things of life; but when I go abroad,
the first thing which I see is the grass beneathmy feet; and, nestling in that,
flowers smaller yet; and lowerstill, the mosses with their inconspicuous
blooms, which beneath the microscope glow with beauty:. And if God so cares
for "the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is castinto the
oven," shall He not much more care for the minutest things of your life, "O ye
of little faith"?
(H. W. Beecher.)
The worth of sparrows
G. G. Findlay, B. A.
It is significant that Christ marked with so much interest the more lowly and
homely of the creatures around us. He does not say, "Considerthe eagle" —
the monarch of the air, the symbol of empire and of victory; or, "Considerthe
nightingale," the sweet Easternbulbul, that floods the Jordanbanks and the

shores of Gennesaretwith its passionate music;but, "Considerthe raven" —
a fowl of ill-omen and unattractive to the eye, or draws attention to the
sparrow, a very Pariahamong the feathered tribes. It is like His preference
for publicans and sinners overthe lordly Pharisee and learned scribe. Who
but Jesus wouldhave dreamed of getting poetry and theologyout of ravens
and sparrows!Who but He would have compared Himself, as He did in the
most pathetic utterance of His life, to a hen vainly calling her heedless brood
to the shelterof her wings! But this fashion of speechbecame Him who was
"meek and lowly in heart"; and who, moreover, being one with the Author of
Nature, interprets best her deepestand simplest lessons. And what a
revelation Christ's saying respecting the sparrows gives us of the working of
God's providence! What an omniscience and omnipresence it implies! He
declares that God actually notices and cares for every little featheredthing
that flits twittering through the air, or hops from bough to bough in innocent
and happy freedom, or pipes its solitary note "alone upon the housetop." And
when the tiny creature falls, struck by stick or shot or stone, "it does not fall
on the ground," He says, "without your Father." Nay, even as it hangs in the
poulterer's stall, strung up with fifty others, waiting for the purchaser, poor
almost as itself, who can find the farthing neededto buy two of them, still it is
not "forgottenbefore God." The pitiful little tragedy, from beginning to end,
is watchedand recordedby the Supreme Mind! If He observes allthat, what
is there which He overlooks?If He "caters providently for the sparrow," and
interests Himself in its fate, how solicitous His care for all His living creatures
I How minute and delicate and sympathetic, as well as far-reaching and
omnipotent, the oversight of His providence, which is not less specialthan
general, not less particular than it is universal. Even a large-minded and
noble-hearted man is distinguished above others by his freedom from
contempt, by his insight into the meaning of little things, and his sense ofthe
sacrednessand the value of common life. His mind is superior to the mere
bulk and splendour of outward things. And with God this must be so in the
most absolute sense, to the most perfectdegree. "He hath respectunto the
lowly." And this "respect" extends in due measure to all His creatures. It is
only when we believe that His care is thus universal that we can absolutely
rely upon it for ourselves.

(G. G. Findlay, B. A.)
Confidence in God's providence
After the battle of Manassas, CaptainImboden calledupon GeneralStonewall
Jackson, who was severelywounded, and found him bathing his swollenhand
in spring water, and bearing his pain very patiently. In the course oftheir
conversationImboden said: "How is it, General, you can keepso cool, and
appear so utterly insensible to danger, in such a storm of shell and bullets as
rained about you when your hand was hit?" He instantly became grave and
reverential in his manner, and answeredin a low tone of great earnestness:
"Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God
has fixed the time of my death. I do not concernmyself about that, but to be
always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added after a pause:
"Captain, that is the wayall men should live, and then all would be equally
brave."
Remarkable deliverance
The celebratedauthor of the "Pilgrim's Progress"experiencedseveral
remarkable providential deliverances. Once he fell into the river Ouse, and at
another time into the sea, and narrowly escapedbeing drowned. When
seventeenyears of age he became a soldier, and at the siege ofLeicesterin
1645, being drawn out to stand sentinel, another soldier in the same company
desired to take his place. He consented, and his companion was shot in the
head by a musket ball, and killed.
The doctrine of providence practically improved
G. Burder.
I. To prove that the providence of God extends to all human affairs; and —
II. To point out the practicaluses we should make of this doctrine.

I. Let us establish, by reference to the Scriptures, this greatand important
truth, THAT THE PROVIDENCEOF GOD IS UNIVERSAL; that it extends
to all creatures and things throughout the whole world; but, as that concerns
us most, especiallyto all human affairs. By the providence of God, we mean
His preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.
1. This appears even from the light of nature. It seems necessarilyto follow
from His being the Creatorof the world; for it is reasonable to believe, that
He who made all things, governs all things (Romans 1:18-21;Acts 14:17). The
existence ofGod, a Being of infinite power and wisdomand goodness, obliges
us to believe that He will take care of His creatures.
2. But we have clearerlight and fuller proof of this from the Bible, God's own
revelation of Himself. There we read that God is the greatPreserver. What
shall I do unto Thee," saidholy Job, "O thou Preserverof men!" (Job 7:20).
And the psalmist exclaims, "How excellentis Thy loving kindness, O God I
therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.
O Lord, thou preservestman and beast" (Psalm 36:6, 7). And in the book of
Nehemiah, the goodprovidence of God is celebratedin these exalted strains:
"Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone;Thou hast made heaven, the heavenof
heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas,
and all that is therein, and Thou preservestthem all!" (Nehemiah 9:6). The
predictions of future events, and their fulfilment, of both which the Scriptures
afford very numerous instances, furnish us with another proof of the reality of
a Divine Providence; for if God did not govern the world, He could not foretell
what would come to pass. GodforewarnedNoah of the flood 120 years before
it came. He foretold the bondage of Israel in Egypt; how long it should last,
and how they should be delivered. The captivity of Judah was foretold long
before it happened; how many years it should continue; by whom, and by
what means the people should be restored, and the temple rebuilt. All the
circumstances relating to the birth, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection of
Christ were exactlypredicted. God, who preserves allcreatures, governs them

also. He does not commit the managementof the world to deputies, as many of
the heathen supposed. "The Lord reigneth." "He increaseththe nations, and
destroyeth them: He enlargeththe nations, and straiteneththem again. He
looseththe bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. He leadeth
princes awayspoiled, and over-throweth the mighty" (Job 12:18, 19, 23). The
providence of God is to be ownedin the affairs of families (Psalm68:6; Psalm
107:41). Norare individuals beneath His notice, as the text plainly imports;
not even the leastof their concerns, "forthe very hairs of their head are all
numbered".; consequentlyall their more important concerns. Even as to those
events which we call contingent, or accidental, eventhey are under the
direction and control of the Almighty (Proverbs 16:33). This providence of
God, the existence of which we have clearly proved.(1) It is sovereignand
uncontrollable. Who hath resisted, who can resist, His will?(2) It is wise. "His
work is perfect, all His ways are judgment." He cannot err: He cannot be
deceivedor mistaken.(3)It is mysterious. "Clouds and darkness are round
about Him."(4) Always good. "Truly, God is goodto Israel." "His eyes,"
directing all human affairs, "run to and fro throughout the earth";and for
what purpose? "To show Himself strong" in behalf of all that fear and love
His name. Yes, assuredly; for all "things work together for the good" ofHis
people.
II. We now proceedto the secondpart of the subject; namely, TO POINT
OUT THE PRACTICAL USES WE OUGHT TO MAKE OF THE
DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE. This doctrine is, in truth, connectedwith the
whole of practicalreligion. Take awayprovidence, and you destroythe whole
system of godliness, and leave no room for prayer or praise.
1. Let us stand in awe of the greatRuler of the world. Do His eyes behold, His
eyelids try the children of men? Is He in every place, beholding the evil and
the good? In His hand is our breath and all our ways? Who, then, shall not
fear Him? who shall not tremble at His presence?

2. Let us rejoice that the reins of universal government are in the hands of
Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our Lord — of Him who is our Mediator, our
Redeemer, our Brother, and our Friend.
3. The doctrine of providence shows the propriety and utility of prayer; it
affords the strongestmotive, and the best encouragementto that duty.
4. The doctrine of providence shows the propriety of offering to God the
sacrifice ofpraise and thanksgiving.
5. It shows the propriety of submission to the will of God. Does the Lord rule?
Submit to His government.
6. Improve the doctrine of Divine Providence, as a remedy againstanxiety.
7. Finally: let this subjectlead our minds forward towards the future and
eternal world.
(G. Burder.)
The Father's love for persons
W. E. Channing.
He is the God of all, and yet He is my God. This view of God we all have a
deep interest in impressing on our minds. We must strive to combine, in our
conceptionof Him, the thoughts of a particular and a universal providence.
On the one hand, we must not narrow His loving care, as if it were mindful of

ourselves alone, nor think of Him only as doing us good. For this would be to
rob Him of His infinitude, and darken the splendour of His boundless
beneficence. Sucha view would make religion the nurse of selfishness, and
convert our connectionwith the Supreme Being into one of self-interest. Never
let us try to monopolize God. Neverlet us imagine that God exists only as
administering to our individual wants. Never let us for an instant forgetHis
relation to the universe. But on the other hand, beware lest in thus enlarging
your views of the Infinite One, you lose your hold of the correlative truth —
that though all beings of all worlds are His care, though His mind thus
embraces the universe, He is yet as mindful of you, as if that universe were
blotted out, and you alone survived to receive the plenitude of His care. God's
relation to you is not an exclusive one, but it is as close as if it were. Never
conceive that your actions are overlookedand forgotten, because ofthe
multiplicity of agents and beings who are to be guided and governed. Never
fear that your wants are forgotten, because the boundless Creationsends up a
cry to its common Father, and He has an infinite family for whom to provide.
Neverthink that your characters are objects of little interest, because
innumerable orders of beings of higher attainments and virtues attractthe
regards of this munificent King. Were you His only creature alive, He could
not think of you more constantly and tenderly, or be more displeasedwith
your resistance to duty, or feelmore joy in your fidelity to right, than He does
now. The human mind, apt to measure God by itself, has always found a
difficulty in reconciling the two views which have just been stated. Through
this propensity it fell into Polytheism, or the worship of many gods. Wanting a
Deity, who would watch over their particular interests, and fearing that they
would be overlookedby the Fatherof all, men invented inferior divinities —
gods for eachparticular country and nation — and still more household gods,
divinities for eachparticular dwelling, that they might have some superior
powerbeneath which to shelter their weakness.
I. BUT THERE IS NO INCONSISTENCYIN AT ONCE BELIEVING IN
GOD'S PARTICULAR PROVIDENCE AND IN HIS UNIVERSAL
PROVIDENCE.He may watch over all, and yet watchover each, as if each
were all. There is a simple truth, which may help us to understand, that God
does not intermit His attention to individuals in consequenceofHis inspection

of the infinite whole. It is this. The individual is a living part of this living
whole — vitally connectedwith it — acting upon it and reactedupon by it —
receiving good, and communicating goodin return, in proportion to his
growth and power. From this constitution of the universe it follows, that the
whole is preserved and perfectedby the care of its parts. The generalgoodis
bound up m the individual good. So that to superintend the one is to
superintend the other; and the neglect.of either would be the neglectof both.
What reasonhave I for considering myself as overlooked, becauseGodhas
such an immense family to provide for? I belong to this family. I am bound to
it by vital bonds. I am always exerting an influence upon it. I can hardly
perform an act that is confined in its consequences to myself. Every new truth
that I gain makes me a brighter light to humanity. I ought not then to imagine
that God's interest in me is diminished, because His interest is extended to
endless hosts of spirits. On the contrary, God must be more interestedin me
on this very account, because Iinfluence others as wellas myself. I am a living
member of the greatfamily of all souls;and I cannot improve or suffer myself,
without diffusing goodor evil around me through an ever-enlarging sphere.
In these remarks we have seen, that from the intimate and vital connection
betweenthe individual and the community of spirits, God in taking care of
eachperson is taking care of the whole, and that there is a perfectharmony
betweenthe generaland the particular superintendence of God. From the
same vital connectionof beings, I derive another encouraging view, leading to
the same result. I learn from it that God's attention to His whole creation, far
from withdrawing His regard from me, is the very method whereby He is
advancing my especialgood. I am organicallyconnectedwith the greatfamily
of the universal parent. Plainly then it is for my happiness, that this family
should be watchedover and should prosper. Suppose the Creatorto abandon
all around me, that He might bless me alone, should I be a gainer by such a
monopoly of God's care? My happiness is manifestly bound up with and flows
from the happiness of those around; and thus the Divine kindness to others is
essentiallykindness to myself. This is no theory; it is the fact confirmed by all
experience. Every day we receive perpetual blessings from the progress ofour
race. We are enlightened, refined, elevated, through the studies, discoveries,
and arts of countless persons, whomwe have never seenand of whom we have
never even heard. Daily we enjoy conveniences, pleasures, andmeans of

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