with St. Paul, "O the depth of the riches, "both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! "how unsearchable are His judgments, and His

ways past finding out! For who hath known "the mind of the Lord, or who hath been His "counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, " and it shall be recompenced to Him again? "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him' are all things; to whom be glory for ever. "Amen."

God's providence is "never failing." It cannot fail of accomplishing its purpose, for it is the result of certain prescience and almighty power. He "doth whatsoever pleaseth Him."

Let us endeavour to apply the doctrine maintained in the introduction of our collect to personal advantage and comfort. It is a most consolatory thought, that God's "never failing pro❝vidence ordereth all things both in heaven and "earth," to all those who have obtained redemption through the blood of Christ. Are they poor in their outward circumstances? Let them remember that it was not chance which placed them in their present situation, but that their lot was chosen for them by infinite wisdom, and is undoubtedly the best which infinite love could ap point. Are they rich? And are they ready to say, Why did providence place me in a situation in which it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for me to enter into the kingdom of God? Let them remember that, as the bounty of God has given them what they possess, so His grace can enable them to make such a use of it as shall be profitable both to themselves and others. Let them be thankful for the opportunity afforded them of glorifying God and eagerly embrace it, knowing that it is not the

possession of wealth, but a delight and confidence in it, which is an obstacle to salvation.

The sick and the healthy, the weary voyager on this stormy ocean who wishes to be at rest, but is detained longer from the desired haven than he expected, and the timid saint, who fears a premature death before the work of grace is accomplished within him, these may all derive comfort from the contemplation of our collect.

Having made these remarks on the doctrine of Divine providence as it is stated in the preface of our collect; we proceed to consider the prayer which is founded on it, that God would "put away from us all hurtful things, and give "us those things which be profitable for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Hurt and profit in these petitions relate not so much to our bodies as to our souls-not so much to time as to eternity. For a Christian (and such the church of England worshipper is supposed to be) at all times, and especially when he is on his knees, "looks not at the things "which are seen and are temporal, but at the "things which are not seen and are eternal.". Our prayer consists of two parts,—a depreca-) tion of evil-and an imprecation of good. Ot

Those things are hurtful, and those only, which bring guilt on the conscience and pollute the soul, and which thereby hinder it in its progress heavenwards. Sin, with all its temptations and occasions, is the comprehensive evil which we deprecate. Our petition corresponds with the last that occurs in the Lord's prayer.

We are continually liable to things hurtful. For the world abounds with temptations to sin and opportunities of committing it. Our own hearts are prone to it. And the devil is

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constantly watching for means of leading us into it. Now who, but God that "ordereth all things both in heaven and earth," can " away from us" the innumerable" hurtful things" by which we are encompassed? Let the cases of Achan and Judas, of David and of Peter, (Josh. vii. 21. Matth. xxvi. 14, 15, 16. 2 Sam. xi. 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 16, 17) be well considered, and it will appear how necessary such a petition as this in our collect is-how necessary it is for every day and hour. For who is ignorant how hard it is to keep his own heart free from sinful desires, and to encounter objects calculated to excite them? Every situation, every occurrence, every day, hour, and minute, is attended with its peculiar dangers, from which no human foresight nor strength can secure us.

An imprecation of things profitable is no less necessary than a deprecation of things hurtful; for we want both the wisdom and power to promote our own advantage. If left to choose for ourselves, we should choose what would lead to our own destruction. And could we even choose aright, which it is impossible we should, we could not procure the things we had chosen. We therefore beseech God both to choose and provide for us, making all things to work together for the benefit of our precious souls.

In this petition we have respect both to prosperity and adversity, to sickness and health, to life and death; and, in short, to all things relative to our state in this life, and to our preparation for the next. We contemplate ourselves as clay, and God as the potter; and we beseech Him to mould us after His blessed will, that we may become "vessels meet for the Mas"ter's use. We place ourselves in His hands to

be provided for both in soul and body by His never-failing providence, which ordereth all things both in heaven and earth." Our prayer is an act of faith in His wisdom, power, and grace.

Let us enquire whether our views of Divine providence be consonant to those of the church to which we belong, and whether our belief in it be of a practical nature. She teaches us to believe that God's "never-failing providence "ordereth all things both in heaven and earth.” We profess to adopt her creed; but do we glorify God in all the occurrences we meet with, eyeing His hand in them, as holy, just, and good? Can we

"Praise Him for all that is past,

"And trust Him for all that's to come?"

Are we humble and submissive in adversity, and thankful in prosperity; believing that, in the former, God is promoting our salvation; and that, in the latter, all is of His unmerited grace?

Are our fervent desires in unison with the prayers of our church? Do we indeed implore from God a preservation from all things hurtful, and the donation of all things profitable for us? Would we have Him to deprive us of health and prosperity, to take away our dearest earthly comforts, if He should see that they would prove injurious to us? And, on the other hand, do we sincerely desire that He would send us sickness, poverty, or any other affliction, which He sees to be necessary to promote our spiritual welfare? Let us scrutinize our own petitions, and compare with them the state of our own hearts. Those who can truly join in this collect

of our church, understanding the language of their own lips while they use it, may conclude that they are not only members of the church of England, but genuine members of the church of Christ; and that God's "neverfailing providence, which ordereth all things "both in heaven and earth, will put away from "them all hurtful things, and give them those things which be profitable for them, through "Jesus Christ their Lord.

Amen."