of outward prosperity contingent on other qualities besides the purely spiritual. we may Those things being thus, it must not be supposed that the failure of worldly plans and hopes argues against our favour with God. He may be willing to bless us, but He must do so in harmony with his general laws; and if some wheel be awanting in the machinery of success, lament our misfortune, or blame our incompetence, but have no reason to think God is against us. Nor is success always greatest when we get what we wish. The Israelites got the desire of their hearts, but had leanness sent into their souls. It looked as if Joseph had been utterly forsaken when he lay, first in the pit, and then in the prison; but if either had been omitted he would never have been ruler of Egypt. Moses spent many years as a shepherd, in Midian, a most ungenial and humbling lot for one who had been trained in all the wisdom of Egypt; but if he had not been forced into this solitude, he would never have been a lawgiver and leader to his people. The scheme of deliverance, and the body of laws he provided for the new-born nation, bear the impress of long meditation, such as only retirement could yield. The artist effaces much as his work advances, to put something better instead, and, though, for the time, it look as if he were destroying instead of creating, the result, in the end, shows the reason for all he has done. Our lives may seem disfigured and marred by failures and blots, but He in whose hands they are knows what is best, and works by a plan which will show His wisdom when finished. If our own fault, or position, or temper of heart, make it needful or best that we have little of earth, we may have more of heaven, if we bear our trials rightly. The soul may prosper all the more, for being tried, like gold, in the fire. Take care, then, not to think yourself specially good if specially fortunate, or specially under the frown of God if your lot be clouded. To do the one, is to build up self-righteousness, and form false judgments as to God and yourself; to do the other, is to create distress that He does not intend. Keep your eyes on the promises, and rest in them, thanking God if you are enabled to live so as to draw down their fulfilment here, but guarding against light conclusions that you have done so by any outward favours received. After all, He thinks little of time, which is so much to us, and lays the stress of his purpose on our life hereafter. If He give us both worlds, it is well, but a false belief in his approval, from prosperity here, may rob us of unspeakably greater in heaven, and a desponding fear, from present misfortunes, may hinder our finding the benefit they are designed to secure us. Whate'er Thy providence denies, For Thou art good, and just, and wise; Whate'er Thy sacred will ordains, Whether, then, in want or wealth, My God, my Father, while I stray If Thou should'st call me to resign E'en if again I ne'er should see Should pining sickness waste away If but my fainting heart be blest Renew my will from day to day; Then, when on earth I breathe no more Thy will be done! ELLIOTT. |