"He is Faithful that Promised."
"All things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to His purpose."--ROM. viii. 28.
Providential Overruling.
My soul! be still! thou art in the hands of thy Covenant God. Were
these strange vicissitudes in thy history the result of accident, or
chance, thou mightest well be overwhelmed; but "_all things_," and
_this_ thing (be what it may) which may be now disquieting thee, is
_one_ of these "_all things_" that are _so_ working mysteriously for thy
good. Trust thy God! He will not deceive thee,--thy interests are with
Him in safe custody. When sight says, "All these things are against me,"
let faith rebuke the hasty conclusion, and say, "Shall not the Judge of
all the earth do right?" How often does God hedge up our way with
thorns, to elicit simple trust! How seldom can we _see_ all things so
working for our good! But it is better discipline to _believe_ it. Oh!
for faith amid frowning providences, to say, "I _know_ that thy
judgments are good;" and, relying in the dark, to exclaim, "Though He
slay me, yet will I trust Him!" Blessed Jesus! to thee are committed the
reins of this universal empire. The same hand that was once nailed to
the cross, is now wielding the sceptre on the throne,--"all power given
unto thee in heaven and in earth." How can I doubt the wisdom, and
faithfulness, and love, of the most mysterious earthly dealing, when I
know that the Roll of Providence is thus in the hands of Him who has
given the mightiest pledge Omnipotence _could_ give of His tender
interest in my soul's well-being, by giving _Himself_ for me?
"REMEMBER _THIS_ WORD UNTO THY SERVANT, UPON
WHICH THOU HAST CAUSED ME TO HOPE!"