Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 1.pdf/33

 foresees the evil that will arise from man's free nature, and mercifully so bends the evil as to secure a permanent and lasting good?

O tried Christian! weep not for thy trials, for by these thou art proved; that so it may be well with thee in thy latter end. Place thou a settled dependence on the providence of God thy Father, and He who feeds the ravens will not fail to provide for thee. Let not thy soul be depressed in states of trial, but say in afflictions, as did David, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God." (Psa. xlii. 11.) "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his rightcousness" (Matt. vi. 33), and doubt not but that all needful things will in mercy be added.

AN, know thyself, all wisdom centres there!" is a maxim so trite, that without this knowledge our conception of the character of the true God, as an all-wise, merciful, and ever-loving Father, can be but at best imperfect and obscure, if not erroneous and dangerous. O my soul! contemplate with humble joy, that God in the beginning created man, male and female, in his own image and likeness; that He blessed them and placed them in the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it; that He bade them increase