June 17

The paths of the Lord are mercy and truth. - Psalms 25:10.

“THE ways of the Lord” here mean the way in which God walks with regard to us. His ways in nature, in the seasons of the year, in. the beauties of creation, in the produce of the garden and of the field, in his marching forth in the loveliness of the spring and in the plenty of the summer, to cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man,-producing first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear, till the fields stand thick with corn, and the little hills rejoice on every side. They include his dispensations of providence. Nothing in the world occurs by chance: what men call chance is nothing less than the wise permission, the appointment, the administration, of God.

Therefore we should never forget him, but, as events occur, say, with Eli, “It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good.” These dispensations of providence are various; some of them plain, others are very dark and mysterious. Sometimes his way is in the sea and his path in the deep waters, and his footsteps are not known. With regard to some of these ways of the Lord, therefore, we are required to walk by faith, and not by sight. David could rejoice in them all. He said, “I will sing of mercy and judgment;” and, however mysterious to us now, we have the encouraging assurance that what we know not now we shall know hereafter; and then we shall be able to say, what we now believe, “He hath done all things well.”

How abundantly is the mercy and truth of God manifested in his dispensations of grace, by which he rescues sinners from the ruin of the fall! This is called “the way of salvation;” and he hath sent his gospel and he sends his ministers to “show unto men the way of salvation;” the way in which this salvation was devised before time, procured in time, carried on through time, and in which it is completed when time shall he no longer. This, God himself considers his highest dispensation. Here he displays all his perfections, and brings glory to himself in the highest, furnishes materials for the study of angels who “desire to look into these things,” and will fill all heaven with endless admiration and praise.