and evil, but the infinite, eternal, self-existent Jehovah, the only source of all intellectual, and physical, and moral existence, of all the relations that subsist between them, and all the truths and duties which result from them? We cannot ascertain these truths but as he has revealed them-we must receive these relations as he has determined them. His truths and his will must indeed harmonize with the reason and nature of things, for he has constituted them all. In his truths then we must seek for wisdom-in his will for happiness and good. The great source of opposition to the will of God arises from an impatience of restraint on the bold flights of reason, from an aversion to acknowledge the revelations of the Eternal as supreme over the deductions and operations of the human mind. An habitual sense of the supreme and righteous authority of God over us, will produce that spirit of deep and unfeigned humility which becomes us as creatures, and will preserve us from that unlicensed impatience of restraint which would lead us to oppose the divine authority and government, which are infinitely perfect, wise and good, and therefore the only guide of our faith, and rule of our conduct. Our sense of the supreme power of the Being who made and sustains us cannot be too strong our humility cannot be too profound; for we are in his hands as clay in the hands of the potter, fashioned, controlled, and devoted as he pleases. 2. The consideration of the sovereign power and authority of God should also excite the sentiments of dependence. This dependence should be as universal and profound as the power of God is unlimited and entire; extending to all our counsels, to all our thoughts, to all our ways, to all our actions. It is his invisible but ever-present power which preserves our physical and moral. faculties, enabling the intellect to search for and discover truth. It is the illuminating and all-powerful grace of his Holy Spirit which leads us to the discernment of spiritual things, and "directs us in the ways of his laws, and in the works of his commandments,"* not only "inspires us with good desires, but enables us to bring the same to good effect." And it is his providence which overrules all our ways and actions to his sovereign purposes. "In God we live, and move, and have our being." "He ruleth over all,"§ "He is the Author of every good and perfect gift."|| "Without him we can do nothing."I This supreme and unbounded agency of God we know does not destroy our free agency, nor irresistibly control our minds. We may not indeed be able to reconcile the free agency of the creature with the supreme power of the Creator; and for what one of the many facts of nature, or of the truths of reason, are we able to account? The most common fact, which is the basis of all our reasonings and all our conduct, that external objects act upon the mind so as to raise accurate ideas of them, and excite our desires and affections, is utterly beyond our comprehension. He, therefore, who rejects, because he cannot account for them, the truths of Scripture, must cop *See Collect in Communion Service. See Collect for Easter Sunday. § Psalm ciii. 19. Acts xvii. 28. || James i. 17. ¶ See Collect for the first Sunday after Trinity. sistently reject the truths of nature; and then, tossed on the troubled ocean of scepticism, where will he find a rest for his wandering mind? My brethren, it is sufficient for us to know that this supreme and universal providence of God is declared in that sacred word which we receive on the most luminous and satisfactory evidence; and that, transcending as it may, in some respects, our comprehension, reason acknowledges it as a necessary attribute of a supreme and almighty Creator. It is our duty, therefore, in all our ways to acknowledge the sovereign authority and providence of Almighty God, to implore him by his power to preserve and invigorate the faculties of our minds. in all their researches and operations, by his grace to enlighten our understandings, to sanctify our hearts, to strengthen us in the discharge of duty, and by his providence to guide and govern us in all our ways. It is our duty to ascribe to his grace and power, strengthening and aiding us in all the good that we perform, all the virtues that adorn and elevate us. It is our duty especially to adore him as the Author of our salvation, as that omnipotent Governor of all things, who, by the influences of his grace and the operations of his providence, is accomplishing in us, and in the world, his own good pleasure. 3. The consideration of the sovereign authority of God over us should produce in us submission. For the thunder of his power who can withstand?" Sovereign power merely, though it cannot excite trust and confidence, yet demands im plicit submission; and united as it is, in the Maker and Ruler of the universe, with righteousness and mercy, resistance to it would not only be ineffectual, but would display a presumptuous and arrogant assertion of our own will in opposition to infinite wisdom, perfect goodness, and supreme power. "God is greater than man," is the language of inspiration, "why dost thou strive with him?"* "When he gives quietness, who can trouble? and when he hideth, who can behold him ?" "Who is able to stand before him ?" "The earth shakes and trembles, the foundations of heaven are moved when he is wroth." In his character, as that gracious and merciful Father who knoweth whereof we are made, and remembereth that we are but dust, God calls forth our filial confidence and affection. As that almighty Father, in whose hands we are as clay in the hands of the potter; as "a great God, a mighty and terrible, who regardeth not persons nor taketh reward," he claims our submissive fear and reverence. The consideration of the awful sovereignty of God is often necessary to chasten the too familiar fervours of that love which the view of his compassion and goodness is calculated to excite. It is especially necessary to compose and settle in us a spirit of profound and unreserved submission to his will. That resignation which is founded only on a view of his mercy and love, is apt to become restless and importunate; it is apt to reason, that the heavenly Father, who is infinite in compassion, will surely pity the distresses of his children, and remove their afflictions. But unvail the awful majesty of God, and the view 1 Sam. vi. 20. * Job xxxiii. 12, 13. § 2 Sam. xxii. 8. † Job xxxiv. 29. of his sovereign authority represses the spirit of murmuring. "Wo unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou?"* Let us accustom ourselves then, my brethren, with all our views of the mercy and love of God as our heavenly Father, to connect a regard to his supreme and sovereign authority over us. All his attributes claim our homage. Fear and submission are duties which we owe to his sovereignty and power, as well as gratitude and trust to his mercy and compassion. The fervours of love should be chastened by the more sober emotions of holy fear. Submission to his will, as wise and good, should be strengthened by the consideration that it is re sistless. It would be as vain as impious to resist him; for "we are the clay, and he is the potter; and we are all the work of his hands." 4. The consideration of the sovereign power and authority of God over us, should teach us, lastly, the necessity of securing his favour, by rendering to him homage and obedience. Superior power compels obedience by operating on our interests and our fears. He who "stretcheth forth the heavens; who setteth fast the mountains, being girded about with power; who frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; who turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; who saith to the deep, Be dry;"+"who stilleth the noise of its waves, and the tumult of the people"t-he "who kills and makes Isa. xlv. 9. † Isa. xliv. 24, 25, 27. Psalm lxy. 7. |