The secret of all true happiness lies in a cordial acquiescence in the
will of God in all things. It is
"Sweet to lie passive in his hand,
And know no will but his."
The great doctrine that God exercises a particular providence over every
event, is most precious to the heart of every Christian. It enables him
to see the hand of God, in directing all his affairs. Hence, the
exceeding sinfulness of a repining, discontented, and unhappy temper.
Indeed, it is difficult to reconcile the habitual indulgence of such a
disposition with the existence of grace in the heart. The very first
emotion of the new-born soul is _submission to the will of God._ Many
people lose sight of the hand of God in those little difficulties and
perplexities, which are of every day occurrence, and look only at second
causes. And so they often do in more important matters. When they are
injured or insulted by others, they murmur and complain, and give vent
to their indignation against the immediate causes of their distress;
forgetting that these are only the instruments which God employs for the
trial of their faith or the punishment of their sins. Thus, God
permitted Satan to try the faith of Job. Thus, he permitted Shimei to
curse David. But the answer of this godly man is worthy of being
imitated by all Christians under similar circumstances. "Let him curse,
because the Lord hath said unto him, curse David." Thus, also, the Lord
employed the envy of Joseph's brethren, to save the lives of all his
father's family. "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God
meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much
people alive." The principal reason why the histories of the Bible are
so much more instructive than other histories is, that the motives of
men and the secret agency of divine Providence are brought to light.
Hence, also, the reason why the events recorded in Scripture appear so
marvellous. If we could see how the hand of God is concerned in all
things that occur within our observation, they would appear no less
wonderful.
In this doctrine, we have the strongest possible motive for a hearty and
cheerful resignation to all the crosses and difficulties, trials and
afflictions, which come upon us in this life, whatever may be their
immediate cause. We know that they are directed by our heavenly Father,
whose "tender mercies are over all his works;" and who "doth not afflict
willingly, nor grieve the children of men." And, whether we are
Christians or not, the duty of submission remains the same. When we
consider the relation which man sustains to God, as a guilty rebel
against his government, we must see that, whatever may be our earthly
afflictions, so long as we are out of hell, we are the living monuments
of his mercy. "Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the
punishment of his sins."
But, if we have evidence that we are the children of God, his promises
furnish the most abundant consolation, in every trial. We are assured
"that _all things_ work together for good to them that love God." And of
this we have many examples in the Holy Scriptures, where the darkest
providences have in the end, to be fraught with the richest blessings.
It was so in the case of Joseph, already mentioned. We are also taught
to look upon the afflictions of this life as the faithful corrections of
a kind and tender Parent. "For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and
scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." How consoling the reflection,
that all our sufferings are designed to mortify and subdue our
corruptions, to wean us from the world, and lead us to a more humble and
constant sense of our dependence upon God. Besides, the people of God
have the most comforting assurances of his presence, in affliction, if
they will but trust in him. "_In all thy ways acknowledge him_, and he
shall direct thy steps." "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall
sustain thee: _he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved._" "God
is our refuge and strength, _a very present help in trouble_: therefore
will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains
be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and
be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."
"_The steps of a good man are ordered_ by the Lord; and he delighteth in
his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord
upholdeth him with his hand." O, how ungrateful for a child of God to
repine at the dealings of such a tender and faithful parent! O, the
ingratitude of unbelief! Who can accuse the Lord of unfaithfulness to
the least of his promises? Why, then, should we refuse to trust him,
when the assurances of his watchful care and love are so full, and so
abundant?
We have not only strong ground of confidence in the Lord, under the
pressure of afflictions in general, but we are particularly directed to
look to him for the supply of all our temporal wants. If we have
evidence that we are living members of the body of Christ, growing in
grace and the knowledge of him, we have the most direct and positive
assurances that all things needful for this life shall be supplied. Our
Saviour, after showing the folly of manifesting an anxious concern
about the supply of our temporal wants, since the Lord is so careful in
feeding the fowls of the air, and clothing the lilies and the grass of
the field, says,--"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." By this,
however, we are not to understand that the Lord will give us every
earthly blessing which we _desire_. We are so short-sighted as often to
wish for things which would prove positively injurious to us. But we are
to understand that he will give us all that he sees best for us. And
surely we ought to be satisfied with this; for he who sees the end from
the beginning must know much better than we what is for our good. The
Scriptures abound with similar promises. "O fear the Lord, ye his
saints; for _there is no want_ to them that fear him. The young lions do
lack and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord _shall not want any_
good thing." "Trust in the Lord, and do good, and _verily thou shall be
fed_. I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the
righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." "_No good thing will he
withhold_ from them that walk uprightly." "But my God shall _supply all
your need_, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
"Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the _life
that now is_, and of that which is to come." It must, then, be a sinful
distrust of the word of God, to indulge in anxious fears about the
supply of our necessities. If we believed these promises, in their full
extent, we should always rest in them, and never indulge an anxious
thought about the things of this life. This, God requires of us. "And
seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, _neither be ye of
doubtful_ mind." "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?
or what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed?" "Be careful
for nothing." And nothing can be more reasonable than this requirement,
when he has given us such full and repeated assurances that he will
supply all our wants. The silver and the gold, and the cattle upon a
thousand hills, belong to our heavenly Father. When, therefore, he sees
that we need any earthly blessing, he can easily order the means by
which it shall be brought to us.
From the precious truths and promises which we have been considering, we
infer the _duty of contentment_ in every situation of life. If God
directs all our ways, and has promised to give us just what he sees we
need, we surely ought to rest satisfied with what we have; for we know
it is just what the Lord, in his infinite wisdom, and unbounded
goodness, sees fit to give us. But the apostle Paul enforces this duty
with direct precepts. "But godliness _with contentment_, is great gain."
"Having food and raiment, let us be therewith _content_." "_Be content
with such things as ye have_; for he hath said, I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee." Here he gives the promise of God, as a reason for
contentment. It is, then, evidently the duty of every Christian to
maintain a contented and cheerful spirit, under all circumstances. This,
however, does not forbid the use of all lawful and proper means to
improve our condition. But the means must be used with entire submission
to the will of God. The child of God should cast all his care and burden
upon him; and when he has made all suitable efforts to accomplish what
he considers a good object, he must commit the whole to the Lord, with a
perfect willingness that his will should be done, even to the utter
disappointment of his own hopes.
Your affectionate Brother.