170 DEATn OE GEORGE I. a thing is it then, for men who profess christianity, to logkno fur- ther than theobjects of sense, and sink themselves to the rank of the brute creation ? Man, though the be raised, by the station of his nature, to a more honourable character than the rest of the animals ; yet if he remain without understanding, and thought- less of his God, he becomes like the beasts that Perish; Ps. xlix. 20. Brute beasts, which, as the apostle says, are made to be de- stroyed ; 2 Pet. ii. 12. So men that regard not the operation of the Lord, nor consider the work ofhis hands, the Lordwill déstreg them and not build them up; Ps. xxviii. 5. 2. Those who disregard the work of God in the events of human life, " they deprive the great God himself ofthat honour which he demands and expects, especially from hismore impor- tant providences." Do not his sublime wisdom, his extensive goodness, and his almighty power, display themselves gloriously in his providential government of mahkind? And is it not with this design, that his intelligent creature man should take notice of thisdisplay of his glories ?' To what purpose are all the manifest- ations of his mercy and of his judgment among men, if the sons of Adamdisregard them all ? Will not the supreme 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 vo lumes 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 creatures that neglect to take notice of the name and works of their almighty Maker ì 3. " They bereave themselves of the rich advantages that maybe derived from 'such éonverse with God about the events of human life." If we were but wise and curious observers of the conduct.of providence, what divine experiments might we obtain of the wisdomand of the graceof God ; and lay up a treasure of sweet and solid foundations for encouragement and hope in days to come ? The royal Psalmist assures us of blessed advan- tages to be derived from a skilful notice of divine providences ; Ps. cvii. 43. Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understandthe loving kindness ofthe 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 hand of the Almighty in the events of human life, we lose much of the spiritual profit of awful and afflictive providences, and much of the sweetness of temporal mercies. Such a sinful neglect will also lead usby degrees to a woeful omission of our daily duties, and bring us into great dan- ger of degeneracy, and backsliding, into a carnal and worldly frame of spirit : Whereas ifwe make it our business to watch the the hand of God in the occurrences of the world, this is indeed
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