DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0249
a Devout and Holy Life. 247
God's providence ; under the same care and protection of God,
as if the world had been made for him alone. It is not by-
chance that any man is born at such a time, of such parents, and
in such a place and condition. It is as certain, that every soul
comes into the body at such a time, and in such circumstances,
by the express designment of God, according to some purposes of
his will, and for some particular ends ; this is as certain, as that
it is by the express designment of God, that some beings are
Angels, and others are men.
It is as much by the counsel and eternal purpose of God, that
you should be born in your particular state, and that Isaac
should be the son of Abraham, as that Gabriel should be an
Angel, and Isaac a man.
The Scriptures assure us, that it was by divine appointment,
that our blessed Saviour was born at Bethlehem, and at such a
time. Now although it was owing to the dignity of his person,
and the great importance of his birth, that thus much of the
divine counsel was declared to the world, concerning the time
and manner of it; yet we are as sure from the same Scriptures,
that the time and manner of every man's coming into the world,
is according to some eternal purposes and direction of Divine
Providence, and in such time, and place, and circumstances, as are
directed and governed by God, for particular ends of his wisdom
and goodness.
This we are as certain of from plain revelation, as we can be
of anything. For if we are told, that not a sparrow falleth to the
ground without our heavenly Father; can anything more strongly
teach us, that much greater beings, such as human souls, come
not into the world without the care and direction of our heavenly
Father ? If it is said, the very hairs of your head are all num-
bered; is it not to teach us, that nothing, not the smallest things
imaginable, happen to us by chance f But if the smallest things
we can conceive, are declared to be under the divine direction,
need we, or can we, be more plainly taught, that the greatest
things of life, such as the manner of our coming into the world,
our parents, the time, and other circumstances of our birth and
condition, are all according to the eternal purposes, direction, and
appointment of Divine Providence ?
When the disciples put this question to our blessed_ Lord,
concerning the blind man, saying, ' Master, who did sin, this
' man, or his parents, that he was born blind ?' He that was the
eternal wisdom of God, made this answer, ' Neither hath this
' man sinned, nor his parents ; but that the works of God should
' be made manifest in him.'* Plainly declaring, that the par-
* John ix. 3, 7.
God's providence ; under the same care and protection of God,
as if the world had been made for him alone. It is not by-
chance that any man is born at such a time, of such parents, and
in such a place and condition. It is as certain, that every soul
comes into the body at such a time, and in such circumstances,
by the express designment of God, according to some purposes of
his will, and for some particular ends ; this is as certain, as that
it is by the express designment of God, that some beings are
Angels, and others are men.
It is as much by the counsel and eternal purpose of God, that
you should be born in your particular state, and that Isaac
should be the son of Abraham, as that Gabriel should be an
Angel, and Isaac a man.
The Scriptures assure us, that it was by divine appointment,
that our blessed Saviour was born at Bethlehem, and at such a
time. Now although it was owing to the dignity of his person,
and the great importance of his birth, that thus much of the
divine counsel was declared to the world, concerning the time
and manner of it; yet we are as sure from the same Scriptures,
that the time and manner of every man's coming into the world,
is according to some eternal purposes and direction of Divine
Providence, and in such time, and place, and circumstances, as are
directed and governed by God, for particular ends of his wisdom
and goodness.
This we are as certain of from plain revelation, as we can be
of anything. For if we are told, that not a sparrow falleth to the
ground without our heavenly Father; can anything more strongly
teach us, that much greater beings, such as human souls, come
not into the world without the care and direction of our heavenly
Father ? If it is said, the very hairs of your head are all num-
bered; is it not to teach us, that nothing, not the smallest things
imaginable, happen to us by chance f But if the smallest things
we can conceive, are declared to be under the divine direction,
need we, or can we, be more plainly taught, that the greatest
things of life, such as the manner of our coming into the world,
our parents, the time, and other circumstances of our birth and
condition, are all according to the eternal purposes, direction, and
appointment of Divine Providence ?
When the disciples put this question to our blessed_ Lord,
concerning the blind man, saying, ' Master, who did sin, this
' man, or his parents, that he was born blind ?' He that was the
eternal wisdom of God, made this answer, ' Neither hath this
' man sinned, nor his parents ; but that the works of God should
' be made manifest in him.'* Plainly declaring, that the par-
* John ix. 3, 7.