The Reformation

And the Duty of Keeping its Principles

History is the record of God's providence getting Himself honour out of man's sin. It is so in little things as well as great, though we do not see it so plainly. We never get to see quite clearly in spiritual matters. We judge things by their outward seeming. But we know that, if by any means the scales could fall from our eyes, we should behold a scene no less wonderful and cheering than that which was revealed to the servant of Elisha. We see the host of the enemy and are afraid; and, because we cannot see, we scarcely will believe of the horses and chariots of fire, wherewith the mountain is full, the host of heaven which encampeth round about the righteous. The way of the world and its history are very perplexing; and we get confused when we look for any length of time upon it. It seems to be travelling its own reckless way with fearful swiftness; and our eyes cannot see in what all this will end. But we know that in its most furious tides, its most capricious changings, there is a Hand keeping it under all the while, that it is compelled against its own will and against its own thought to accomplish day by day in all its wild workings His purposes of mercy and of judgment, and that whatever and whenever the end of all shall be, it must of necessity work together for good to them that love God, and wait for His appearing. We see this every now and then when great providences happen amongst us, and startle us for a moment into religion. It is then that God puts forth His hand visibly, as it were, from underneath the veil of the holy place, and we fall back to worship.