men would never have left the land of their fathers to subdue the wilderness of America, and our country would not be to-day the "land of ne ice. Truly there is a God "He ruleth in the armies of heaver and among the inhabitants of the earth, and no man can stay His hand." Money would not have brought the men to this continent that came over in the Mayflower, and those that came after them. God purposed building up here a great nation, and He allowed the people to fly here from the land of bondage and persecution, as the children of Irael departed out of Egypt, and to every descerning mind it is clear, that God went before them in the cloud and pillar of fire, in the latter as in the former time. Truly He is God, and there is none like Him.

It would fill a large volume, just the names of those who have had their tongues bored through with hot irons, their faces branded, their ears cut off; been pilloried; have died in prison; been sewed up in sacks and thrown into rivers; were burnt to death at the stake just on the island of Britain alone, for the sake of their religion.

Since the accession of William and Mary in 1688, who were Presbyterians, the dissenters have had rest in England, and, though she still maintains an established church and hierarchy, all denominations of christians, and the Jews, are at liberty to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences.

Discourse the Third.

PROVIDENCE.

(A Lay Sermon by Ye Puritan.)

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Ps. 23:I.

The sentiment of this line of ancient Hebrew poetry is my religion. It is pre-eminently the faith of the ancients. Take this idea out of the Old Testament and the New, and there is little left in them; and I can truly say, rob me of this thought and I am without hope and without God in the world. It is vital to me. It is my shield in time of trouble. This is the faith that ennobles man. The faith in the breast of Jesus that the Father had given him a work to do, and that God was with him, and in him, and round about him, sustaining, inspiring, animating and protecting him, made Jesus what he was and is to-day-gave him a name above every name. See him in times of trial going up into the mountain to pray, separating himself from all men, and ascending the heights, that he might ask and receive help from the Father. Feeling his entire dependence upon God, he exclaims: "I can of mine own self do nothing." Earnestly praying to his Father, yours, and mine, he receives the inspiring aid that leads him to declare, “I and my Father are one." He felt God to be in him. Such is the inspiring consciousness of exalted purpose, such is the experience of noble minds. "I wil dwell in them, and I will walk in them," the Scriptures represent God as saying to the good. He truly dwells and walks in the man of faith. "God is with us," thought Crom well; thought Cromwell's army; thought the Puritans who came over in the Mayflower. He was with them. He is with the earnest and prayerful soul everywhere, and in every age. God is with those who have aith; and without the help of God through faith in Him, humanity is too weak for the migty labors imposed in the conflicts and struggles of this life. This nation was founded by men of faith. "God is with us; He will protect us," was the thought that sustained our fathers in all their hardships and struggles. Was it superstition?It

was the superstition of the great. Without this ennobling superstition no great work was ever acomplished by man. no man's life was ever successful. Despair and disappointment will subdue any man without faith-a shadow will be ever upon his path*

It is natural for man to look up for help when humanity is become too weak for the conflict. What said the great and aged Franklin in congress when the constitution of America was being framed, and when dissention threatened defeat to the cause of human liberty? "I have lived long," said he, "but the longer I live the more am I convinced that there is a God, and that He rules in the affairs of men and of nations." Franklin, therefore, moved for prayers in Congress. God controls all men, and watches especially over every individual. He controls all nations; nor is there any power, being or thing so mighty that is not dependent on Him; nor so minute and insignificant that He does not especially observe it and carefully guard it in His love. Not a sparrow falls to the grounds without His care. The very hairs of your head are all numbered.

"Laws," says one, "the universe is governed by laws." True, but all law is only the revelation to us of intelligence. It is in accordance with law that my mother held me to her breast when I was an infant that my father loving me supplied bread for my hungry mouth when I was a little child. No good thing is done but in accordance with law-intelligent law. God loves me and protects me, not contrary to His intelligent and benevolent law-but according to it, in harmony with it, as I, in accordance with His admirable law hasten home, after a long absence, eager to see my dear children and give them gifts. "If ye, then, being evil," says the Saviour, "know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father, which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him." Nor will God set aside his own law in giving "good things to them that love Him," any more than I set it aside in giving gifts to my children. God is certainly not any more fettered, and hindered by law, from reach

*"I am not a cowardly man; but if I were convinced there is no God, my courage would drip as water and be no more. I am not an unhopeful man. There are few men who hope so much. I never despair of truth, of justice, of love and piety. I know man will triumph over matter, the people over tyrants, right over wrong, truth over falsehood, love over hate. I always expect defeat today, but I am sure of triumph at last; and with truth on my side, justice on my side, love on my side, I should not fear to stand in a minority of one against the whole population of this whole globe of lands. I would bow, and say to them, "I am the stronger. You may glory now, but I shall conquer you at last." Such hope have I for man here and hereafter, that the wickedest of sinners, I trust, God will bring face to face with the best of men, his sins wiped clean off, and together they shall sit down at the table of the Lord in the kingdom of God. But take away my consciousness of God, and I have no hope; none for myself, none for you, none for mankind. If no mind in the universe were greater than Humboldt's, no ruler wiser than presidents, and kings, and senates, and congresses, if there were no appeal from the statutes of men to the laws of God. from present misery to future eternal triumph, on earth or in heaven, then I should have no hope. But I know that the universe is insured at the office of the Infinite God, and no particle of matter, no particle of mind, shall ever suffer ultimate shipwreck in this vast voyage of mortal and immortal life.

I am not a sad man. Spite of the experience of life-somewhat bitterI am a cheerful and joyous and happy man. But take away my consciousness of God; let me believe there is no Infinite God; no infinite mind which thought the world into existence, and thinks it into continuance; no infinite conscience which everlastingly enacts the eternal laws of the universe; no infinite affection which loves the world-loves Abel and Cain *** that there is no God who watches over the nation but "forsaken Israel wanders lone"; that the sad people of Europe, Africa, America, have no guardian, I then should be sadder than Egyptian night! My life would be only the shadow of a dimple on the bottom of a little brook-whirling and passing away; and all the joy I have in the daily business world-in literature and science and art, in the friendships and wide philanthropics of the timewould perish at once, borne down in the rush of waters and lost in their headlong noise. Yes, I should die of uncontrollable anguish and grief."Theodore Parker.

ing out his gracious hand to his children in answer to their prayers. than I, His creature, am hindered by His divine law, from being a kind and indulgent father to my children. God does not answer the prayer of faith contrary to law; but it is an eternal law of God and nature that He especially cares for every creature. Law is not the blind action of forces-but the movements of the finger of an intelligent God. He is conscious of every movement in the universe-aye, every motion is produced by His intelligent, conscious, determinate thought and action, even to the buzzing of the wings of an insect. Some ask: "What is all space filled with?" I answer, the intelligence of God. We may almost say, the universe knows-not meaning, however, by this expression, any more than was meant by David, when he exclaims: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there! If I make my bed in hell, behold Thou art there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say surely the darknes shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee."

We live in the midst of inteligence more generally diffused than the light of suns. I do not move my finger, but the knowledge of that motion, as I conceive, passes immediately to the remotest parts of the universe, beyond the sun, beyond the fixed stars. It is known and read of throughout all space. Think not, O man, that you alone know; that you alone can receive intelligence from far. Your actions and thoughts are known. When one hair of your head becomes gray, through your efforts to advance the general good, the news speeds to the outskirts of creation, and billions of intelligent souls clap applause. Be sure your good deeds and your good thoughts are not lost. All worlds are made happy by the good work you do, and the good thoughts you think. Your prayers are heard by Intelligence Supreme. This is not poetry-this is not enthusiasm-it is truth, as I believe and the sooner and the fuller we realize our relations to Deity, and learn to trust in God, the better for us. Then in adversity we may trustingly exclaim, "Not my will; but Thine, O Lord, be done," -believing, at the same time, that He doeth all things well; that our interests will be best guarded by Him. In the campaign of life, God's plan of conflict will succeed beyond our plans, and in the end we may not feel humiliated, though saying, "I thought a different course the best; but Thou hast proven wiser than I." If Lincoln could make such a confession to Grant, I think we may yield as much to God. We must work earnestly in the way we deem best-but when providence renders our labor futile, and sends us off in another direction, let us go, believing that it is for the best.

This faith in God's providence is derived by me:

1st. From my experience in life.

Closely observing the path over which I have come, I note that every seeming misfortune I have met I have got by holding on to the hand of God. I had when a child to mourn the loss of the best friend I had on earth; I have from childhood up moved along dangerous paths -climbed rugged heights, and crossed over deep and dread abysses; yet I have been saved. Many times have I pursued some desired object, feeling that my well being depended on my attaining it; but failing, I have since seen what a providence it was that I did fail; how much better end God had in waiting for me. These experiences have been many, so that now no seeming misfortune moves me.

If God has

a good work for me to do in this life, and I believe He has, He will bring about the opportunity-and in his own good way and time, I shall be enabled to do it. I am fighting; not resting and waiting on God to fight the battles for me; I am His soldier, subject to His command—and when called to pursue a path different from that in which my inclinations would lead me, I feel that I go on in obedience to God, who is wise above all. The victory will be with me.

If any one is so unfortunate as to be without this trust and faith, I do not know that my experiences will convince him of the truth of my faith, and give him the same reliance and hope and trust.

Let each one carefully observe the facts of his own history, and if he is not different from most observant men, he must acknowledge that he has been provided for, by Supreme Love and Wisdom, and be led toexclaim with David, "The Lord is my shepherd."

Especially, young men and young women, who hear me now, note carefully as you pass on in life and before you have reached middle age you will exultingly say, "The Lord is my shepherd."

2d. The most convincing proof to me, from observations outside of my own individual history and experiences, is derived from the history of nations. What great event has ever happened in the history of the world, that has not in the end resulted in good? The blood of individuals has been shed; tyrants have reigned; oppressions have been many, but out of evil God has ever brought, and ever will bring good. The first marked event that comes into my mind now, is from the history of the Jewish people-the selling of Joseph into Egypt. His brethren meant it for evil, but "God," says the ancient record, "meant it for good."

Does it not seem that the genius of evil-the devil himself-inspired the powers in England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, to pass the laws persecuting and banishing Christians for cause of conscience. But had these laws never been passed, our country America, the asylum of the oppressed of all nations, would not be the hope of mankind to-day. "Ye meant it for evil"-we may truly say to the bishops and archbishops of the Church of England-"but God meant it for good." The only motive brought our ancestors here that could have influenced them to come-the love of liberty. It was no accident that brought the Mayflower over the sea. God sent it. The souls on board that ship felt the magnitude of their mission. Read their history. How conscious were they that they had come in obedience to God-volumes, volumes, yea, myriads of volumes, tome upon tome, will contain the glorious record of the result of their coming! Every nation of the globe emancipated. The United States of the World-all nations confederated together--a band of sister republics -kings no more! wars no more!--arbitrary and cruel punishments abolished!

God permits some very wicked things to be done among men--but good must come out of every movement in the universe. See from the days of Queen Elizabeth down to the days of our own Washington, the sufferings of the poor, innocent men, women and children, dragged from their homes by the hands of ruffians calling themselves "Christians," encouraged by "christian" kings--see the poor negroes huddled together in the slave ships, and brought to a strange land and sold into slavery. Did God look with indifference on the sufferings of these people? Were their prayers offered to him in vain?

What will the future show as the consequence of this forced emigration of an ignorant and savage race? Even now God has placed the descendants of these sufferers in the halls of the Congress of the United States. The voice of the children of the abused African is heard in the Senate. Lo! a child of a poor Negro is in the seat of gods! Revel sits where Davis sat! Has not God had a hand in this

work? I see Africa regenerated. I see the sons of the oppressededucated, enlightened citizens of the grandest republic on earth, by their votes and influence and blood, helping to emancipate the world, We may say then to the slave catchers and slave sellers of old, "Ye meant it for evil; God meant it for good."

The world advances in accordance with infinitely wise and benevolent law-law that turns all apparent evil into boundless good-bends every energy and power into channels of good, and thus the world continually advances. You cannot over-reach God. You cannot hinder or retard the growth of His works and worlds. You cannot put out the fires that God kindles. You may seem to hinder for a time the blaze from shooting up; but God will convert the very material you have heaped on the fire to quench it will convert it into fuel, and all at once, Oh what a light! What a blaze above the brightness of the sun, bursts forth!

Wrong, and consequent suffering among men, is the great world in travail-good is being born. There is no greater evil than war. and there are no greater sufferings among men, than follow in the train of wars-but wars and commotions of nations, result as a rule, in good to mankind. Good came to America from the war of the Revolution, and what a mighty birth of Liberty from the war of '61. Pope has truthfully said:

"Safe in the hand of one disposing Power,

Or in the natal, or the mortal hour

All nature is but art unknown to thee,

All chance, direction which thou canst not see;

All discord, harmony not understood,

All partial evil universal good."

And in harmony with the idea of an all-controlling God, who bringeth good out of evil, are these lines.

"In spite of pride; in erring reasons spite,

One truth is clear-WHATEVER IS, IS RIGHT.”

Was it "right" that the "man of sin," as our fathers called the Roman Catholic church, should hold sway on earth so many centuries? Read what Macaulay says of its influence in civilizing the hordes of barbarians, Goths, Vandals, Lombards, etc., that over-ran the Roman empire in the dark ages. A higher civilization now, I think. demands a religion suited to an age of light. Romanism was light in darkness; but in the light of the present age, must it not grow dim like the moon after the sun has risen? So, perhaps, with all the names of churches on earth. All principalities and powers must fail and be superceded. All "isms" must come to an end-but truth and love are eternal. Who will say that sectarianism has not benefited the world has not helped the people in their war against ecclesiastical and kingly power?

When the old idea of force was dominant, we as children felt its influence in the school room. What a tyrant was the old fashioned schoolmaster. How he beat the innocents with rod and ferule! In obedience to the ecclesiastical and kingly idea of force, what anathamas of hell and damnation were hurled against the sinner from the pulpit! What sufferings of the rack, the lash, and tortures at the stake the offender against church or society underwent! But these sufferings, these anathamas, and these cruelties are no longer beneficial to men. I do affirm that I believe that these trials and sufferings of men have done much to advance the world's education.

Of love (the spirit of Christ,) there is much in the Catholic communion. In the words of T. K. Beecher:

"Where cholera rages and the pestilence works desolation, you shall find brothers and sisters of mercy nursing the forsaken and shriving the dying. When hell vomits fire, and men call it war, like flowers by lava streams. come quickly to the hot edges of devastation the meek and silent sisters of charity."