SERMON XVI.

On SUBMISSION to the DIVINE WILL.

SERMON

XVI.

JOB, ii. 10.

Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

FEW

EW subjects of religious exhortation are more of general concern, than those which respect the distresses incident to human life. For no society, no family, no person, can expect to be long exempted from them ; and when we speak of the prosperous, we can only mean those who are more rarely subject to them than others. Now, under those distresses, religion performs two offices: it teaches us how we ought

JA to

to bear them; and it assists us in thus SERMON Materials for both are XVI.

bearing them.

found in the words of the text, which contain a sentiment so natural and just, as to carry conviction to every reasonable mind. They were the words of Job, at a time when, to his other calamities, this domestick affliction was "added, that one who ought to have assuaged and soothed his sorrows provoked his indignation by an impious speech. Thou speakest, Job replies, as one of the foolish women speaketh: What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? Three instructions naturally arise from the text: First, that this life is a mixed state of good and evil Secondly, That both the goods and the evils in it proceed from God And, thirdly, That there are just reasons for our receiving with patience the evils of life, from the same hand which bestows its goods,

I. THIS life is a mixed state of good and evil. This is a matter of fact, which will be denied by none, and on which it is not necessary to bestow much illustia

SERMON tion. It is evident to the slightest inspec XVI. tion, that nothing here is unallayed and pure. Every man's state is chequered with alternate griefs and joys, disappointment and success. No condition is altogether stable. the same tenour. The vicissitudes, of the world sometimes bring forward the afflicted into more comfortable circumstances; and often trouble the joy of the prosperous. This is the train in which human affairs have ever been found to proceed; and in which we may expect them always to go on.

No life preserves always

But though this be universally admitted in speculation, and often confessed in discourse, the misfortune is, that few think of applying it to their own case. The bulk of mankind discover as much confidence in prosperity, and as much impatience under the least reverse, as if Providence had first given them assurance that their prosperity was never to change, and afterwards had cheated their hopes. Whereas, what reason ought to teach us, is to adjust our mind to the mixed state in which we find ourselves placed; never

to

XVI.

to presume, never to despair; to be thank- SERMON ful for the goods which at present we enjoy, and to expect the evils that may succeed. Thou hast been admitted to partake of the feast of life. Its good things are distributed, in various portions, among the guests. Thou hast had thine allotted share. Complain not, when thy portion is removed. It is not permitted to any one, to remain always at the banquet.

II. We are taught by the text, that both the goods and the evils which compose this mixed state, come from the hand of God. A little reflection may convince us, that, in God's world, neither good nor evil can happen by chance. If there were any one moment, in which God quitted the reins of the universe, and suffered any power to interfere with his administration, it is evident, that, from that moment,

the measures of his government

must

He

who governs all things, must govern continually; and govern the least things as well as the greatest. He never slumbers, nor sleeps. There are no void spaces, no broken

X 4

.

SERMON broken plans, in his administration;

XVI

no

blessings that drop upon us without his intention; nor any crosses that visit us, unsent by him. I am the Lord, and there is none else, I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create evil. I the Lord do all these things *.

How it has come to pass, that this life should contain such a mixture of goods and evils, and that the mixture too should be of God's appointment, gives rise to a difficult inquiry. For how can any thing but what is good, proceed from the Godof love? Can darkness issue from the source of light? or can it be any satis faction to the Father of mercies, to behold the sorrows of creatures whom he has made ?-Here there was room for much perplexity, till revelation informed us, that the mixture of evils in man's estate is owing to man himself. Had he continued: as God originally made him, he would have received nothing but good from his Creator. His apostacy and corruption pened the gates of the tabernacle of

ལ

Ifaiah, xlv. 6, 7.

darkness.