March 2

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:23.

THE providence of God is an interesting subject for our contemplation, extending as it does from the mightiest to the meanest of his creatures. It is so vast that he presides over the armies of heaven, and the destinies of states and empires are under his control; so minute that a sparrow falleth not to the ground without his knowledge of it. This passage gives us an animating view of it.

A DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTER. Believers are described

By their calling. They have the inward call of the Spirit, accompanied with Divine power, and according to the eternal purpose of God.

By their love. This will be found in the hearts of all the children of God, and is evinced by their delight in, thirst after, communion with, and obedience to him.

A DECLARATION OF COMFORT. To such individuals, all things work together for good. Here note

Universality. "All things;" that is, all the providential dispensations of God, not our sins and acts of rebellion against him, but his dealings with us. How prone are we to say with Jacob, "All these things are against me!"

Harmony. "Work together." This may allude to the mixing up of various ingredients of different medicinal qualities, in order to relieve the patient laboring under some bodily malady. God often effects the greatest good, by apparently the most unlikely means. There must be time for them to work and harmonize together, and by and by we shall see the glorious

Design, "for good." This is the end of God in all that concerns us, to wean us from the world, endear us to himself, prepare us for his will in all things, and ripen us for glory.

AN EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE. "We know;" the Apostle does not speak of it as a matter of probability, but as something certain. We know it from the word of Scripture, and the testimony of experience. Providence may be compared to a great clock, containing in it the most curious machinery, in which there are many wheels of various dimensions and complex movement; but all is regulated exactly by the great Fountain of light, and will go on keeping time and order, till the ultimate designs of God are accomplished.