326 Of acknowledging God in ail our Ways. ERM. is this intirely confiftent with the rectitude, XII. the wifdom, and goodnefs of the Supreme """Y 'Being, which do not require that he fhould always at up to the plenitude of his oven perfe &ion in every work ; but that his ope- rations fhould be divers, according to the dif- ferent capacities and conditions of the fubjeds, whereby a beautiful variety of effects is pro- duced, all harmonioufly confpiring to Phew his pra fe. The path of an angel, though vaftly more eminent in refpect of its fuperior moral excellence and enjoyment, yet is not without the divine direction ; and the path of a weak fincere mortal in this ftate of dif, cipline, though of a far lower confideration, is as truly a monument of God's goodnefs, wherein he conftantly interpofes by his pro- vidence and his fpirit to bring it through many difficulties and infirmities to a happy con- clufion. The true application of this dottrine, is in the practice of univerfal religion ; for what is that but a conftant affectionate fenfe of God upon the mind, with the difpofitions which naturally arife from it governing our lives, fuch as gratitude, confidence, purpofes of obedience to his laws, and refignation to his 'providence, encouraged and animated by the 5 lively
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