soldiers, who cast lots for one garment, whilst they divided the other in four parts, acted from a regard to their own personal interests. But God made use of their respective weaknesses for the accomplishment of his own designs.
It is in this manner that God is carrying on his plans on the great theatre of the world. Ambition stimulates one ; jealousy restrains another ; fear paralyzes, or divisions distract, others : but by all, God works his sovereign will, and renders all the dispositions and pursuits of men subservient to his own eternal purpose. He uses the great conquerors now, precisely as he did Sennacherib of old, for the effecting of his own unerring- counsels. " Howbeit, they mean not so, neither doth their heart think so ; but it is in their heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a fewh :" but " they are only his rod, and the staff of his indignation," which he will break and cast into the fire, as soon as they have executed their appointed task'.
It is thus also that God governs his Church. The very people who most labour to destroy it, are sometimes made unwilling instruments of its enlargement. This was particularly the case in the persecution that took place after the death of Stephen; when God rendered the scattering of the Christians the means of diffusing the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world k. And every individual, if he could trace back all the events of his former life, would find, that many circumstances, as little connected with religion as the curiosity of Zaccheus !, or the dishonesty of Onesimusm, have been overruled by a gracious Providence for good.
How little did these soldiers think of being witnesses for Christ ! As little do we think that every thing, however small or casual, is ordered of God, and made a necessary link in the chain of his eternal counsels. To every thing he assigns its proper limit ; " Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further." Men devise their way, " but the Lord directeth their steps :" he draws them imperceptibly, but effectually ; yet not as stocks and stones, but by means of their own understanding and will: " He draws them with the cords of a man, and with the bands of love"."]
It is not however for the formation of theories only that this subject is useful : it is equally beneficial in a practical view.
We may learn from it,
1. To adore God for his mercies to us in times past —
h Isai. x. 7. ' Isai. x. 5, 6, 15, 16. k Acts viii. 3, 4.
1 Luke xix. 2 — 9. m Phil. ver. 10 — 18. n Hos. xi. 14.