come safely to land. But why is the preservation of the entire company spoken of as a gift to St. Paul, but because he had prayed for them, and God granted to him the desire of his heart? And so it was. After many an anxious day and night, the morning of their deliverance arrived; when they that "could swim cast themselves into the sea, and got to land: and the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land," wet and weary, and the natives in pity "kindled a fire because of the present rain, and because of the cold." (Acts xxvii. 20-44; xxviii. 2.)

With this array of Scripture facts before us, we see the encouragement that Christian people have, amidst the perplexities and dangers of life, to dismiss from their minds all anxious and unbelieving care, and, "in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving," to make their "requests known unto God;" assured that He is always near, and will, as He ever has done, sustain, protect, guide, and deliver all who honour Him by an entire confidence in His faithfulness and love. "Trust in Him at all times; ye people," of every age and rank, "pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us." (Psalm lxii. 8.) Providential blessings are obtained by prayer, as well as the richer blessings of grace and glory. Prayer may not always be answered in the manner that even wise and good men may desire and expect; but by persons of that character it is never offered in vain.

CHAPTER XII.

THE PERMISSIVE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

GOD has revealed His perfections and character in His word. He has there made Himself known, not only as possessed of almighty power, of boundless knowledge and wisdom, and as being omnipresent and eternal, but as also essentially good, benevolent, holy, and just. "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John i. 5.) "He is the Rock, His work is perfect for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." (Deut. xxxii. 4.) The seraphim before His throne continually do cry, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory." (Isai. vi. 3.)

The holiness and justice of God, as well as His goodness and love, are eminently manifest in His government of mankind, and in the provision which He has made for their salvation from sin and its penalty. He has given them a law, which, like Himself, is "holy, just, and good;" (Rom. vii. 12;) and when they had fallen into sin, so as to be both guilty and morally corrupt, He made provision by the sacrifice of the cross for the removal of their guilt, and for the sanctification of their nature by the gift of the Holy Ghost: and the precepts of the Gospel condemn sin in all its forms, and enjoin the strictest purity. Under grace, therefore, as

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well as under the law, "the wages of sin is death;" so that no man can live in the practice of it, and escape that dreadful penalty. The Lord is "of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity; (Hab. i. 13;) in proof of which His "wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." (Rom. i. 18.)

The question then arises, How are we to understand those numerous passages of Holy Scripture which connect the providence of God with acts which are undeniably sinful, and for which men are actually punished? This is a question of some difficulty, and one concerning which opposite opinions have prevailed among professed Christians. We think, however, that it admits of an easy and intelligible answer upon Scripture principles; and beyond these we would not venture to speculate. It would appear that in the apostolic times there were men who attempted to transfer the blame of their misconduct to their Maker; and to whose impious tenets St. James supplied a decisive antidote in the well-known words: "Let no man say. when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." (James i. 13, 14.) If "no man" can justly say, "I am tempted of God" to commit sin; then much less can he say with truth, I am compelled, or I am necessitated, by Him to commit it. In every instance, sin is the man's own act; and the blame of it rests upon himself, and upon himself only. God gives the law, and requires obedience to it; and when obedience is refused, He is dishonoured and

offended; for then His authority is disregarded and despised, and He inflicts punishment as an expression of His just wrath.

It is true, that, in consequence of the corruption of their nature, mankind are incapable of the required obedience, till they are saved from guilt, and created anew in Christ Jesus; and into this state of reconciliation with God, and of personal holiness, the Gospel invites all the fallen race to enter through faith in the blood of the cross. "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin," (or, "by a sacrifice for sin,") " condemned sin in the flesh : that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom. viii. 3, 4.) Hence we learn that by virtue of the sacrifice of Christ we not only receive the forgiveness of all past sin, but the gift of the Holy Ghost, imparting to us a new and holy nature; so that "the righteousness of the law"-the obedience which the law requires, the obedience of holy love-is "fulfilled" in us, who having believed in Christ surrender ourselves to the guidance and aid of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, giving a right direction to all our desires, purposes, and actions. He writes the law of God upon the hearts of all true believers; so that their prevalent dispositions are in accordance with its holy requirements. To all who are brought into this blessed state of conformity to the law and will of God,-from which none are debarred but by their own obstinate impenitence and unbelief,-it is said, "He is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence

of His glory with exceeding joy;" (Jude 24;) and He will thus "keep" them, while they live in the spirit of humble dependence upon Him, in watchfulness, circumspection, and prayer. David prayed that he might be "kept back from presumptuous sins; " (Psalm xix. 13;) St. Paul expressed his persuasion that the Lord would "deliver" him "from every evil work; " (2 Tim. iv. 18;) and believers are said to be "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." (1 Peter i. 5.)

Examples confirmatory of this truth are placed before us in Holy Scripture, which often speaks of God as interfering to restrain men from sin, when under the pressure of temptation. David, at one eventful period of his life, was kept by the providence of God from a fearful act of vengeance, which he meditated in connexion with his less scrupulous companions. He and the men that were with him, when he was persecuted by Saul, befriended Nabal, by protecting his servants and property; and, in return, being in want of food, they requested a portion from the ample provision which Nabal had made on the festive occasion of sheep-shearing. To this request Nabal returned an insolent and offensive answer; and David and his men, provoked by the insult, rashly determined to take summary vengeance upon the man who denied their request, and returned their kindness with reproaches. For this purpose they took every man his sword, and entered upon their journey to Nabal's house, when they were met by the wife of this rude and surly man ; and she, by her wise address, and a liberal present, completely subdued the angry warriors, and extorted from David the memorable thanksgiving: "Blessed be