September 27
The Kindness of God to Man
The Christian's Daily Treasury"What is man that thou art mindful of him?"—Psalms 8:4.
DAVID uttered these words when he had been contemplating the wisdom and power of God as displayed in the starry heavens. Let us glance at two things here.
THE CONDITION OF MAN. View him in his past, present, and future state; or what he was, what he is, and what he shall be. View him
In his past condition. What was he? Created by the Divine Being in his own image, a noble creature, the masterpiece of the great Creator. God made man upright, the possessor of innocence, the object of the Divine favor, holding communion with God, the lord of the creation, exercising dominion over all the creatures.
In his present state. What is he? Very different from what he was when he came forth from the hands of his Maker. Here is a dark cloud over a bright scene. The workmanship is marred, the image is defaced. There is no movement for God—all is disorganized, like a broken watch, whose wheels lie scattered here and there, and whose spring ceases to work. Come and drop a tear over the ruins of that which was once so lovely and beautiful. What is man? The dupe of Satan, the servant of sin, the child of hell, a rebel to his God, an enemy to himself, the victim of death; guilty, depraved, fallen, polluted, miserable, and wretched.
In his future destinies. What shall he be? The body shall crumble into dust, and be the food of worms; but the soul, the nobler part, the thinking principle, can never cease to exist: man is destined to live forever. There is the great alternative of endless happiness or woe.
THE KINDNESS OF GOD. "Thou art mindful of him."
All are under the government of his Providence. Thus his kingdom ruleth over all.
Many are under the light of his gospel. Let us be thankful that he is thus mindful of us; and pray that his name may be known upon earth, his saving health among all nations.
Some are the subjects of his grace. Of them he is peculiarly mindful; he was mindful of them in his divine choice, in effectual calling, in their conviction and conversion. He is mindful of them in the communication of his grace, the tokens of his love, and the manifestations of his Spirit. Let us never forget Him who has been so mindful of us.