109 DEATH OF GEORGE I. 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 threatenings in the followingverses. To make a right improvement of the present providence, and the text, I shall enquire, I. What sort of notice we ought to take of the dispensatic, ons of God, 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 tq the present events. First, " What sort ofnotice we ought to take of the dispel'- sationsof God ?" I answer briefly under three general heads. I. " We should make a solemn observation ofwhat is awful and afflictive in the events of divine providence and learn some instructive lessons thereby." If the life of.a sparrow be the ob- ject of divine superintendency, zfa sparrow fall not to the ground without our heavenlyFather; Mark x. 29. much more should we directour 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 inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness, or at least they ought to do it ; Is. xxvi. 8, 9. Is thereany evil in the city, any sorrow attendsa nation, but theLord bath a hand in it? Amos iii. 6: The voice of the Lord bath, spo- ken, and the man of wisdom will see his name, will hear the rod and him that hatis appointed it; Micah vi. 9. The man of reli- gion will enquire, " What have I done to provoke the Almighty to send down his judgments from heaven ? What abuse of mer- cies have I been guilty of, to provoke the great God to remove them fromme ? What share have I had in the common guilt of a nation, that may have awakened the anger of God against it in any instances of public sorrow ?" 2. '" We should raise our hearts to a delightful notice, and a grateful sense of the mercy of God- in his providences." The business of religion is not all sadness and mourning. We are bound to take notice of pùblic joys, as well"as of common and extensive calamities. A christian may rejoice in the light of hea- ven and the sun - beams, as well as observe the clouds, and thun- der and storms; but be must remember theyall come from above. The wicked of the earth make themselves merry amidst the com- forts of life, without any notice of the God that gives them, or any thank-offerings to his name : But a sincere christian loves to receive his blessings front the hand of his heavenly Father : He looks on them as the distributions of divine love, be beholds them sanctified by the covenant of rich grace, and thereby he
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