316 Of acknowledging God in all our Ways. SERM. what we know, the bell and moft neceffary XII. in the fcheme of his wife counfels for accom- ''plifhing the greateft good in the whole, and, in fubordination to that, our own greatelt happinefs : nay, it mull be fo, if that good be the end of his adminiftration, and he knows and has appointed the molt effectual means in order to it. Is it not infinitely rea- fonable we fhould refer ourfelves and all our concerns to that wifdorn which is perfe t, and that goodnefs to which we owe our be- ing; which is the moll free, unlimited, and unchangeable, not capable of being milled in its exercife, or abated by any miflake, any felfifh affection, any prejudice, indigence, or private intereft ? No example of refignation among men is equal to that which God jufily demands from us ; no fervant is fo abfolutely in the power of any human malter ; no pa- rent, even the wifeft and molt affectionate, has fo good a claim to the acquiefcence of a child in his orders and appointments ; becaufe the difproportion is infinitely greater between the divine power and wifdom as well as good- nefs, and our higheft privileges or endow- ments, than between the moil exalted capa- city and condition of the heft earthly parent, or greateft fovereign, and the meaneft fubjecl, or
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