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54â.
THE RELIGIOUS IMPROVEMENT
2.
Those
who
disregard the word
of God
in
the
events
of
human
life,
"
they
deprive
the
great God
him-
self of
that
honour
which he
demands and
expects, espe-
cially from
his
more
important
providences."
Do not
his
sublime wisdom,
his
extensive
goodness
and
his
almighty
power, display themselves gloriously
in
his
providential
government of mankind
?
And
is
it not
with this design,
that
his
intelligent
creature
man should
take
notice
of
this display
of
his
glories
?
To
what purpose are
all
the
manifestations
of
his
mercy
and
of
his
judgment
among
men,
if
the sons
of
Adam
disregard them
all
?
Will
not
the stipreme
Governor
of the world resent
such
a
stupid-
and sottish
conduct
?
Does the great God
write
his own
name
in
every
leaf
of
his two
great
volumes
of nature
and
providence,
and
shall
his
creature
man
take
no
notice
of
it,
and refuse to
read it
?
Will
he for
ever bear
with
crea-
tures
that
neglect
to take
notice
of the
name and
works
of
their
almighty
Maker
?
3,,
"
They
bereave themselves
of
the rich
advantages
that
may be
derived from
such converse with
God about
the
events
of
human
life."
If
we
were
but
wise
and curi-
ous observers
of
the
conduct of
providence,
what
divine
experiments might
we
obtain
of
the
wisdom
and of
the
grace
of God
?
And
lay
up
a
treasure
of
sweet
and
solid
foundations
for
encduragement and hope
in
days to
come
?
The
royal Psalmist assures
us
of
blessed
advan-
tages to
be
derived
from
a
skilful
notice
of
divine
provi-
dences
;
Ps.
cvii.
43.
"
Whoso
is wise
and
will
observe
these things, even they shall
understand
the loving kind-
ness
of
the Lord."
They
who
learn
to know
his name,,
by
a
wise
attendance
to
his
works,
will
put their trust in
him;"
Ps.
ix.
10.
If
we
overlook the
hair
=l
of
the Almighty
in
the
events
of
human
life, we
lose
'.inch
of
the spiritual profit
of
aw-
ful
and
afflictive-
provicicnces,
and much
of
the sweetness
of
temporal
mercies.
Such a
sinful
neglect
will
also lead
us
by
degrees to
a
wafui omission
of our
daily duties,
and
bring
us
into
great danger of
degeneracy, and backslid-
ing,
into a catnap and
worldly frame
of spirit
Whereas
if
we
Make
it
our
business
to
Watch
the
hand
of God
in'
the occurrences
of
the
world,_
this
is
indeed living
by
faith,
"
as
seeing
him.
that
is
invisible
;"
lieb.
xi:
f27.
and
we
are much
better prepared
by
such
a
converse with'