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OF
PUBLIC EVENTS.
545
ous notice
of
the
death
of
a preceding
prince,
which
makes
way
for
the
introduction
of
his
successor, and he
points
his eye to
the
hand of God
in
the
sudden
change
of
our rulers. The
true
christian
assumes the
language
of
the
prophet
Daniel
with a
devout temper of
mind,
"
Blessed
be
the naine
of God
for ever,
for
wisdom
and
might
are
his
:
He changed'
the
times
and the seasons,
he removeth
kings,
and
he
setteth up
kings
;"
Daniel
ii.
21. 'Whereas
the formal
professors
of
christi'anity,
or
the vicious
part
of the people,
shew
their
mirth
by
"
enflaming themselves with
strong drink
;
and
the
harp
and
the
viol
are
in
their
feasts,
but
they
regard not the
work
of
the Lord, neither consider the
operation of
his
hands." This
is
the crime
which
the
prophet
severely
reproves,
and for
which he
pronounces
divine
threaten
-
ings in
the following
verses
:
To
make
a right impròvement
of
the
present provi-
dence, and the text,
I
shall
enquire,
1.
What
sort
of
notice
we
ought
to
take
of
the
dispen-
sations
of
Goa,
and
especially
in
the
affairs
of
nations..
II.
I
shall consider,
What
is
the guilt and
danger
of
disregarding
the
hand
of God
herein.
III.
I
will
apply these
things
particularly
to
the
pre-
sent
events.
First,
"
What
sort
of
notice ought
we
to take
of
the
dispensations
of God
?"
I
answer
briefly
under three
ge-
neral
heads.
I.
"
We should
make
a
solemn
observation
of
what
is
awful and
afflictive in
the events
of
divine
providence
and
learn
some
instructive lessons thereby."
If
the life
of
a
sparrow
be
the object
of
divine
superintendency;
"
if
a
sparrow
fall
not
to.
the
ground without our hea-
venlÿ
Father
;" 111atth. x.
29.
much more should
we
direct our
thoughts
to
the operation
and influence
of
God
in
the
greater
incidents
of
the
life
and death
of
man,
and
the
important
changes
that
depend upon
them.
"
When
the
judgments of God
are
abroad
in
the
earth, the
inha-
bitants of
the
world
will
learn righteousness," or
at
least
they ought
to do
it
;
Is.
xxvi.
8,
9.
" Is
there
any
evil
in
the city, any sorrow
attends
a
nation, but
the
Lord
hath
a
hand
in
it
?"
Amos
iii. 6.
"
-The voice
of
the
Lord
hath
spoken,.
and the man
of
wisdom
will see his
name,
will
hear
the
rod
and
him
that
hath appointed
it;"
Micah:
VOL.
III
N