MEMORIALS OF GOD's GOODNESS.
1 Sam. vii. 12. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it hetween Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
THERE is in the generality of men a very culpable inattention to the ways of Providence. A variety of dispensations succeed each other without ever attracting their notice. Hence they are unconscious of any kindness exercised towards them ; and are ready to ascribe their success to themselves^ or even to chance, rather than to God. But, if they would observe the many strange and unforeseen events which arise, and notice how they concur to promote their welfare, they would " understand the loving- kindness of the Lord," and be constrained to acknow- ledge his wise and gracious agency.
The veil with which modern occurrences are co- vered, is, in the Scriptures, removed; and we see " the holy arm of the Lord made bare." We at this day should regard a storm as a mere accidental thing, common perhaps at the time of year ; and think little of God, " who maketh the clouds his chariots, and his ministers a flame of fire." But, in the passage before us, the victory gained by means of a storm is ascribed to the merciful intei-position of Jehovah. By means of thunder which terrified the Philistine army, the unprepared Israelites were enabled to destroy them, and to break the power of those who for twenty years had grievously oppressed them : nor was it a little remarkable, that this victory was gained upon the very spot where, twenty years be- fore, God had delivered both them and the ark in which they vainly trusted, into the hands of the Phi- listines. To commemorate the goodness of the Lord, " Samuel set up a stone, which he called Eben-ezer, saying. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
From these words we shall take occasion to shew,
L What reason we have to erect similar memorials —