called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD; for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy sou, thine only son; that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; Huz his first born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.

PROVIDENCE SOMETIMES EXALTS.

1 Sam. ii, 8. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.

1 Chron. xvii, 7, 8. Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheep-cote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel; And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

AND SOMETIMES DEPRESSES.

of my glory, and taken the crown Job xix, 9. He hath stripped me from my head.

made his glory to cease, and cast Ps. lxxxix, 44, 45. Thou hast his throne down to the ground. The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

Ps. cvl, 43. Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

Ps. cvii, 39. Again they are minished and brought low through

Job viii, 7. Though thy be- oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

ginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

Isa. xiv, 16, 17. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is Ps. cxiii, 7-9. He raiseth up the this the man that made the earth poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; doms; That made the world as a to tremble, that did shake kingThat he may set him with princes, wilderness, and destroyed the even with the princes of his peo-cities thereof; that opened not the ple. He maketh the barren house of his prisoners? woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

1 Sam. xv, 17. And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king

over Israel?

2 Sam. vii, 8, 9. Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD

of hosts, I took thee from the sheep-cote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

2 Sam. xii, 7, 8... Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul. And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and it that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

Isa. xxii, 15-19. Thus saith the Lord GoD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for

himself in a rock? Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. Не will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house. And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall be pull thee down.

Jer. xlviii, 10-12. Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he bath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity; therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD,

that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to warder, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.

Lam. iii, 17. And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.

delicately are desolate in the Lam. iv, 5. They that did feed streets, they that were brought up in scarlet, embrace dunghilis

Dan. xi, 19. Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble, and fall, and not be found

Rev. xviii, 14. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly shalt find them no more at all. are departed from thee, and the

BUT STILL IT IS JUST. taking root: but suddenly I cursed Job v, 3. I have seen the foolish

his habitation.

Job xxiv, 22, 23. He draweth he riseth up, and no man is sure also the mighty with his power, of life: Though it be given him t be in safety whereon he resteth yet his eyes are upon their ways.

Ps. xxxvii, 34-36. Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and be thou shalt see it. I have seen the land: when the wicked are cut d shall exalt thee to inherit the

spreading himself like a green wicked in great power, and bay-tree: Yet he passed away and, lo, he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found

When 1

Ps. lxxiii, 16-20. thought to know this, it was toe painful for me, Until I went into stood I their end. the sanctuary of God; then underdidst set them in slippery places Surely tho thou castedst them down t brought into desolation, as in s destruction. How are they sumed with terrors. moment! they are utterly con As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shal despise their image.

Ps. xcii, 6, 7. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a foel understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever.

Eccles. viii, 11-13. Because settence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: Bet à shall not be well with the wicked,

neither shall he prolong his days, | forth fruit: thou art near in their which are as a shadow; because mouth, and far from their reins. he feareth not before God.

FOR GOD IS GOVERNOR AND

JUDGE.

1 Chron. xvi, 14, 15. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

Job xxi, 22. Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

Job xxiii, 7. There the righteous might dispute with him: so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Ps. vii, 8. The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

Ps. ix, 8. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

Ps. 1, 4, 6. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

Hab. i, 3, 4, 13, 17. Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife Therefore the and contention. law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare Continually to slay the nations?

Mal ii, 17. Ye have wearied the LORD with your words: yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Mal. iii, 15. And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea; they that tempt God are even de

livered.

MYSTERIES IN PROVIDENCE. PROVIDENCE OFTEN MARK

Job xxi, 6-9. Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

Job xxiv, 12. Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God layeth not folly to them.

Ps. lxxiii, 2-4, 13-15. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death; but their strength is firm. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

ED IN ITS DISCRIMINA

TION.

ence between the Egyptians and Israel.

Num. xiv, 34, 35. After the num ber of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, (each day for a year) shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years; and ye shall know my breach of promise. I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

Job xv, 31. Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity; for vanity shall be his recompence.

Job xviii, 7. The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.

Job xxxiv, 11. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

Ps. vii, 15. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

Ps. xxxvii, 14, 15. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

Ps. xciv, 23. And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.

Prov. v, 22. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Prov. xxvi, 27. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon

him.

Eccles. x, 8, 9. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso an hedge, a serpent breaketh shall bite him. Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

Isa. iii, 11. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given

him.

Jer. iv, 18. Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee: this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

Jer. li, 24. And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil

that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.

Hosea xil, 2. The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according

to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

Obad. 15. For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

Matth. xxiv, 40. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be

taken, and the other left.

Luke iv, 25-27. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian

Luke xvii, 34-36. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in

the field; the one shall be taken,

and the other left.

Judges 1, 6, 7. But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

Judges ix, 55-57. And when the

men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place. Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abi

melech, which he did unto his fa ther, in slaying his seventy brethren; And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

THE REASON.

Num. xiv, 24, 30, 36-39. But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereunto he went; and his seed shall possess it. Doubtless ye shall not come into the land

concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. And the men which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the con

gregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land. Even those men, that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still. And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.

his uprightness feareth the Loop but he that is perverse in Lis ways despiseth him.

Prov. xxi, 8. The way of man & froward and strange; but ar the pure, his work is right.

Prov. xxviii, 1. The wicked flee

when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Prov. xxix, 6. In the tranSETES sion of an evil man there is a dar but the righteous doth sing at rejoice.

Isa. lxv,13,14. Therefore thus th the Lord GoD, Behold, my servilə shall eat, but ye shall be hig behold, my servants shall drak but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shad be ashamed: Behold, my servan shall sing for joy of heart, bề N shall cry for sorrow of hear, and shall howl for vexation of spirit

Num. xxvi, 63-65. These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them Ezek. ix, 4-6. And the Logp sail whom Moses and Aaron the priest unto him, Go through the list of numbered, when they numbered the city, through the midst of the children of Israel in the wil-rusalem, and set a mark upon te derness of Sinai. For the LORD foreheads of the men that sigh ! had said of them, They shall surely that cry for all the abominatio die in the wilderness. And there that be done in the midst there was not left a man of them, save And to the others he said in m Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and hearing, Go ye after him thread the city, and smite; let not ye eye spare, neither have ye Slay utterly old and young, maids, and little children, an women; but come not near man upon whom is the mark begin at my sanctuary. T they began at the ancient m which were before the house.

Joshua the son of Nun.

Deut. iv, 3, 4. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baal-peor: for all the inen that followed Baal-peor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.

2 Sam. xxii, 26-28. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself mercitul; and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavoury. And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring

them down.

Ps. xviii, 25-27. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

2 John 9. Whosoever tras gresseth, and abideth not in t doctrine of Christ, hath not Gor he that abideth in the doctrine Christ, he hath both the Fat? and the Son.

CONTRAST OFTEN PRE-
SENTED.

IN THE PRESENT LIFE.

2 Chr. XV, 2. And he went to meet Asa, and said urte bi Hear ye me, Asa, and all Je and Benjamin; The LosD IS W you, while ye be with him; add ye seek him, he will be found f forsake you. yon; but if ye forsake him, he wil

Ps. xxxvii, 17. For the arms of Job viii, 20-22. Behold, God the wicked shall be broken: but not cast away a perfect st the LORD upholdeth the righteous. neither will he help the e Ps. xci, 7-9. A thousand shall doers; Till he fill thy month wi fall at thy side, and ten thousanding. They that hate thee sh laughing, and thy lips with rech at thy right hand; but it shall not clothed with shame; and the de come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the ing place of the wicked shall cust to nought. reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation.

Prov. xiv, 2. He that walketh in

Ps. i, 6. For the Loep knovell the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perat

Ps. xxxii, 10, 11. Many sorress

family of the Zarbites: and he brought the family of the Zarbites man by min; and Zabdi was taken: And he brought his householi min by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the Son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judab, was taken.

1 Sam. x, 19-21. And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, bat set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. And when Samael had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

1 Sam. xiv, 39-42. For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee. Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken; but the people escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

1 Chron. xxiv, 5, 31. Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with

another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governor of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Itha

mar. These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Abimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.

1 Chron. xxv, 8. And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

1 Chron. xxvi, 13. And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.

Esth. iii, 7. In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month,

that is, the month Adar.

Jonah 1, 7. And they said every

ASPECTS OF PROVIDENCE TOWARDS THE RIGHTEOUS.

IN TEMPORAL BLESSINGS.

Deut. xxviii. 11, 13. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.

Deut. xxx. 9. 10. And the LORD

thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the of thy land, for good: for the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers; If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments, and his statutes, which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

2 Sam. v, 10. And David went on, and grew great; and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

2 Sam. vi, 8. And David was displeased, because the LORD had he called the name of the place made a breach upon Uzzah: and Perez-uzzah to this day.

1 Kings ii, 3. And keep the charge of the LonD thy God, to statutes, and his commandments, walk in his ways, to keep his and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law

And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat be cause he walked in the first wan of his father David, and song not unto Balaam; But sought the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Istsel Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and al Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.

2 Chron. xxvii, 6. So Jothan became mighty, because he pre his God. pared his ways before the La

Job iv, 5, 6. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest, a toucheth thee, and troubled. Is not this thy fear ti confidence, thy hope, and the p rightuess of thy ways?

Job xxxvi, 11. If they obey mi serve him, they shall spend that days in prosperity, and ther years in pleasures.

Prov. ii, 21. For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

Prov. xxiv, 10. If thou faint b

the day of adversity, thy strengh is small.

Isa. i, 19. If ye be willing obedient, ye shall eat the good d the land.

Isa. iii, 10. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be wei with him, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

Lam. iii, 39. Whereunto doth & living man complain, a man fr the punishment of his sins.