Happy would it be for us if we could leave ourselves in God's hands, and submit ourselves in all tilings to his wise disposal ! We are persuaded, that our want of submission to Divine Providence is that which so often necessitates God to afflict us ; and that if we could more cordially say, " Thy will be done," we should much sooner and much oftener be favoured with the desire of our own hearts. Have we an husband, a wife, a child in sick and dying circumstances ? our rebellious mur- murings may provoke God to inflict the threatened stroke, and to take away the idol which we are so averse to part with : whereas, if we were once brought to make a cordial surrender of our will to His, he would in many instances arrest the uplifted arm, and restore our Isaac to our bosom. At all events, he would compensate by spiritual communications whatever we might lose or suffer by a temporal bereavement.]
We may yet further learn from this subject,
1. To submit with cheerfulness to all the dispen- sations of Providence —
[We may, like Joseph, have accumulated and long-con- tinued trials; the end of which we may not be able to foresee. But, as in his instance, and in that of Job, " we have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender
t 2
mercy," so we may be sure that our trials shall terminate well ; and that however great or long-continued they may be, our future recompence, either in this world or the next, will leave us no reason to complain.]
2. To be thankful to God for the Governors whom he has been pleased to set over us —
[It is " by God that kings reign, and princes decree jus- tice." Sometimes, " for the punishment of a land, children (that is, persons weak and incompetent) are placed over it," that their infatuated counsels or projects may bring upon it his heavy judgments. We, blessed be God ! have been highly favoured in this respect. By his gracious providence, we have for a long series of years had persons exalted to posts of honour, who, like Joseph, have sought the welfare of the nation, and have promoted it by their wise counsels and inde- fatigable exertions. Let us thankfully acknowledge God in them, and endeavour to shew ourselves worthy of this mercy, by the peaceableness of our demeanour, and the cheerfulness of our submission to them.]
3. To be thankful, above all, for our adorable Emmanuel —
[" Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour." " To Him hath he given a name that is above every name ; that at the name of Jesus every knee should boivh." To Him doth our almighty King direct us, saying to every famished soul, " Go to Jesus e." In Him there is all fulness treasured up : to Him all the nations of the earth may go for the bread of life : nor shall any of them be sent empty away. They shall receive it too " without money and without price." O what do we owe to God for raising us up such a Saviour! and what do we owe to Jesus, who has voluntarily undertaken this office, and who submitted to im- prisonment in the grave as the appointed step to this glorious elevation ! Let us thankfully bow the knee to him ; and go to him continually for our daily supplies of grace and peace.]
b Compare ver. 43. with Phil. ii. 9 — 11. c ver. 55.