Page:God Manifest.djvu/182

172 The striking narrative of the cure of Naaman's leprosy is one of these. Restoring to life the Shunamite's son, is an example of the second. The immediate creation of food for the starving widow woman, is an instance of the third. The last mentioned story is touchingly told. It was in a time of famine: the poor widow was out at the gate of the city, gathering sticks, to dress her last handful of meal for herself and her son, that they might eat it and die. But the prophet, by the Divine command, told her not to fear; that her "barrel of meal should not waste, nor the cruse of oii fail." And the promise was fulfilled. And so would it be now, and always, were there but faith in the heart of man. None need starve, who will but look up in trust to their God and Saviour, and implore His support, and at the same time strive to do His will. His hand is ever open, and His power is infinite; He not only was the Creator, but is the perpetual Creator of all things; and he will not suffer any to perish who look to Him. It is because men will depend on themselves, instead of on Him,—^it is because they will not believe in the continual presence and perfect power of the Lord,—it is because they prefer to follow their own ways, and pursue their own phantasies, instead of walking in the path which He points out, and which would bring them to happiness and heaven:—these are the causes of the misery, anxiety, want, and wretchedness, that we see all around us in the world. Would men but look up, and trust in their Heavenly Father's perfect power, and believe in His providential interest and care, and then seek to do His Holy will by a faithful performance of the duties set before them,—