The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-18
DIVINE GOODNESS AND PROVIDENCE.


l. "The LORD is good to all:
And His tender mercies are over all
His works."
says the Psalmist (chapter cxlv. 81. Because
COP made all creatures, He loves all, and
because He loves all He has provided and
cares for all. He has made provision for
the proper food and comfort Of ell In His
merciful providence over the world. The
fishes dwell in the sea, and find their suitable
conditions and food there. The birds live in
the air and make their home in the branches
of the trees, and are happy all day long with
their songs, and in gathering the abundant
food with which our "Father feedeth them"
.sThe beasts of the field" and "the cattle on
a thousand hills' drink from the springs
that fow among the mountains, and eat the
grass .sich grows in the valleys when GOD
has watered the earth from his chambers
(clouds, which were ancient representations
of the Divine dwelling place.. (See Psalm
civ. 10-14.)
"He giyeth to the cattle their food,
And to the young ravens when they cry"
psalm cxlvii. 8, Noyes' Translation).
"Not a sparrow is forgotten before COP"
uuke Xii. g. in His providential care for His
creatures.
'Thou, . LORD, preservest man and beast"
psalm xxxvi. g. Noyes' Translation.
Thy providence is kind and large:
Both men and beasts Thy bounty share"
Watts.
1.-THE eyes of all wait upon thee,
Thou eivest them their food in Que season;
Thou openest thine hand,
And satistieth the desire of every living
thirg."-Psalm cxlv. Is, 16.
q In the Scriptures the lower animals are
frequently introduced as ministrations OF the
Divine goodness and mercy, and as object
lessons for inspiring faith and trust, and en-
forcing certain graces and virtues of human
conduct and character. BE not anxious for
your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall
drink. Behold the birds of the heaven that
they SOW not, neither do they reap, nor gather
into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth
them. Are not ye of much more value than
they?n Matthew vi. 20, 26.) Will not de
who provides food for the birds take care OF
bis children who are industrious and frugaif
The indolent and shiftless are advised by the
wise man, Solomon, to take lesson from
the industrious and thrifty little ant.
go to the ant, o Sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wisei
She hath no governor,
Nor overseer, nor ruleri
We. she prepereth in the summer her food,
She gathereth in the harvest her meal"
Proverbs vi. 6-8, Noyes' Translation.
Job tells Zophar the Naamsthite, one of
his miserable comforters," who tries to
comfort him with his philosophy of eprob-
lem of evil and affection, that Creation Is his
school of knowledge, and that Providence is
instructive to him. He has learned from the
beasts and birds, the fishes and creeping
things, that GoD is the Creator and preseryer
of all. These all proclaim the omnipotence
and wisdom of their Creator.
"But ask now even the beasts-they shall
teach it thee;
And the birds of heaven-they shall declare
ID 10 thee:
Or look thoughtfully to the ground ii
shall teach it thee;
And the fish of the sea shall tell it thee.
Who would not recognize in all this
That the hand of JEHOVAH hath wrought
this
In whose hand is the soul of every living
thing,
And the breath OF all mankind" Dob xii
T-lO, Delitzschl. And in this connection
who does not remember the melodious little
hymn of good DIR. Watts learned in child
hoed, beginning,
How doth tho little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower.