December 12

Lastly, revelation. Here we have the testimony of the only wise God himself frequently interposed and expressed, in every kind of statement—"Who knoweth what is good for man in this life?" "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill: but time and chance happeneth to them all." "Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?" "He performeth the thing that is appointed for me, and many such things are with him." "He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."

So true is the doctrine before us. And who does not believe the truth of it? It is not the conviction we want, but the temper, the practice that becomes it, and which we might imagine would certainly be produced by it in rational creatures. But, alas! these rational creatures are also depraved creatures; hence they see and approve better things and follow worse. Yet surely this knowledge should be a principle, and we ought to derive from it gratitude. Have we been preserved from the dangers to which we were once unknowingly exposed? Have we escaped the follies and evils into which wiser and better men than ourselves have fallen? Have we been sheltered and indulged in our course? Have we had comfort in our connexions, and success in our engagements? Let us not burn incense to ourselves, as if all this was owing to our own prudence, and caution, and care; but exclaim, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give glory; for thy mercy and thy truth's sake." It should also yield submission. We may pray with regard to an affliction, "If it be possible let this cup pass from me;" if we can add, with the Saviour, "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Indeed we cannot know what the will of God is in any of our trials, till events discover it. But when it is discovered, we ought to bow to his pleasure; assured not only that he has a right to do what he will with his own, but that he is too righteous and kind to injure us, and knows infinitely better than we do what our welfare requires.

If too "the way of man is not in himself," it should check presumptuousness. This often appears in men with regard to their future expectations and designs. But wisdom says, "Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Hence James thus reproves a tradesman, not for any disposition to defraud and oppress, nor for the wish to improve his income; but for reckoning on the continuance of his being and his health, and success in business, as if no uncertainty could attend him, and forming his scheme without any consideration of God, on whom every thing relied: "Go to now, ye that say, To day, or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil." The certain rich man, whose ground brought forth plentifully, said, "This will I do; I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink,