to our intention, and our hopes,-though at the fame time, in refpect of God's providence over-ruling in these events; it were profane to call them chance, for they are pure defignation, and though invifible, are ftill the regular difpenfations of the fuperintending power of that Almighty Being, from whom all the laws and powers of nature are derived,-who, as he has appointed,-fo holds them as inftruments in his hands: and without invading the liberty and free will of his creatures, can turn the paffions and defires of their hearts to fulfil his own righteousness, and work fuch effects in human affairs, which to us feem merely casual,but to him, certain and determined, and what his infinite wifdom fees neceffary to be brought about for the government, and prefervation of the world, over which providence perpetually prefides.

When the fons of Jacob had caft their brother Jofeph into the pit for his destruc tion, one would think, if ever any incident which concerned the life of man deferved to be called chance, it was this. That the company of Ifhmaelites

fhould

fhould happen to pass by, in that open country, at that very place, at that time too, when this barbarity was committed. After he was refcued by fo favourable a. contingency, his life and future fortune ftill depended upon a series of contingencies equally improbable; for inftance, had the business of the Ishmaelites who bought him, carried them from Gilead, to any other part of the world befides Egypt, or when they arrived there, had they fold their bond-flave to any other man but Potiphar, throughout the whole empire,or, after that disposal, had the unjust accufations of his master's wife caft the youth into any other dungeon, than that where the king's prisoners were kept,-or had it fallen out at any other crifis, than when Pharoah's chief butler was caft there too; had this or any other of thefe events fallen out otherwife than it did, a series of unmerited misfortunes had overwhelmed him, and in confequence the whole land of Egypt and Canaan, From the first opening, to the conclufion of this long and interefting tranfaction, the providence of God fuffered every thing to take its courfe the malice and cruelty of Jofeph's brethren,

B 4

brethren, wrought their worst mischief against him;-banifhed him from his country and the protection of his parent. -The luft and bafenefs of a disappointed woman funk him ftill deeper :-loaded his character with an unjuft reproach,and to compleat his ruin, doomed him, friendless, to the miferies of a hopeless prifon where he lay neglected. Providence, though it did not cross these events, -yet providence bent them to the most merciful ends. When the whole DRAMA was opened, then the wisdom and contrivance of every part of it was displayed. Then it appeared, it was not they (as the patriarch inferred in confolation of his brethren,) it was not they who fold him, but God, 'twas he fent him thither before them, his fuperintending power a vailed itself of their paffions-directed the operations of them,-held the chain in his hand, and turned and wound it to his own purpose. "Ye verily thought evil against me,--but God meant it for good,-ye had the guilt of a bad intention, his providence the glory of accomplishing a good one,-by preferving you a pofterity upon the earth, and bring to pass as

16

it is this day, to fave much people alive." All history is full of fuch teftimonies, which though they may convince thofe who look no deeper than the surface of things, that time and chance happen to all,

And

yet, to those who look deeper, they manifeft at the fame time, that there is a hand much bufier in human affairs than what we vainly calculate; which though the projectors of this world overlook, or at leaft make no allowance for in the formation of their plans, they generally find it in the execution of them. though the fatalift may urge, that every event in this life, is brought about by the miniftry and chain of natural caufes, yet, in answer,-let him go one step higher—and confider,-whose power it is, that enables these caufes to work,- whofe knowledge it is, that forefees what will be their effects,-whofe goodness it is, that is invisibly conducting them forwards to the best and greatest ends for the happiness of his creatures."

So that as a great reafoner juftly diflinguishes, upon this point,-"It is not only religiously fpeaking, but with the B 5 ftrictoft

ftrictest and most philofophical truth of expreffion, that the fcripture tells us, that GOD commandeth the ravens,-that they are his directions, which the winds and the feas obey. If his fervant hides himself by the brook, fuch an order, caufes and effects fhall be laid,-that the fowls of the air fhall minifter to his fupport.When this resource fails, and his prophet is directed to go to Zerepha,-for that, he has commanded a widow woman there to fuftain him,-the fame hand which leads the prophet to the gate of the city,-shall lead forth the diftreffed widow to the fame place, to take him under her roof,-and tho' upon the impulfe of a different occafion, fhall nevertheless be made to fulfil his promise and intention of their mutual prefervation."

Thus much for the proof and illuftration of this great and fundamental doctrine of a providence; the belief of which is of fuch confequence to us, as to be the great fupport and comfort of our lives.

Juftly therefore might the Pfalmift upon this declaration,that the Lord is King,