purposes, and uses them as means whereby his ends shall be fulfilled. This was remarkably the case with Joseph, in all his trials : and there is no true believer who will not acknowledge, that in his own experience many things which have been desired by him w^ould have proved injurious, and many things which have been deprecated by him have been overruled for his welfare. From a full conviction that " a man's way is not in himself, and that it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps'"," we must renounce all idea of planning for ourselves, any further than in an entire dependence on the divine guidance and direction. We are doubtless to use all proper means for attaining what on the whole appears most desirable : but the relying on our owTi devices, as calculated of themselves to ensure success, is the thing which God has marked \\ith his strongest disapprobation*^ ■ — The doing of this de- monstrates our folly '^, and exposes us to the heaviest curse ^. We must therefore altogether " cease from our own wisdom^."]
3. Uniform —
[" In all our ways we must acknowledge him ;" not in those only which seem to be of greater importance, but in all without exception. It is not in the rise and fall of empires only that God's hand is to be viewed, but in the falling of a sparrow, or in any event equally insignificant. We are apt to consider some things as important, and others as unimportant ; but the truth is, that in God's sight nothing is important (except as it may advance his glory) ; nor is there any thing unimportant as it relates to us. Many things which in their effects and consequences have been of the greatest imaginable importance, may in their origin be traced to the slightest pos- sible occurrence. If we look into the book of Esther, we shall see this observation confirmed in its utmost extent. Nor is God to be acknowledged only in those events which would be deemed small, but in those also which are casual, or, as we call them, accidental : " the lot (than which nothing is more casual) is cast into the lap, but the whole disposal thereof is of the Lord." In every thing therefore, whether great or small, painfid or pleasant, concerted or fortuitous, God must be acknowledged as having sent it, if past, and as having the entire disposal of it, if future.]
To place this entire confidence in God will be found our truest wisdom;, if we consider,
II. The encouragement he gives us to trust in him —
^ Jer. X. 23.
<= Isai. xxii. 8 — 11. See also Isai. xxx. 1 — 3. and xxxi. 1 — 3.
^ Prov. xxviii. 26. ^ Jer, xvii. 5, 6. ^ Prov. xxiii.4.