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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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With nought in charge , he cotdd betray no trust ; And if he fell , would fall because he must . If love reward him , or if vengeance strike , His recompence in both , unjust alike . " * I . Lr .
* Cowper ' s Prog , of Error .
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610 An Essav . bv the late Rev . J . Holland , on the Providence of God .
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Sir , IF think the following essay , which remains among the papers of the Rev . JqIhi Holland , of Mobberley , ( of whom see Vol . V . p . 327 , ) may be read with some advantage by those engaged in the present discussion on Providence , it is at your service V . . F .
That all events , both great and small , are appointed by the providence of God , is indisputably the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures . The history which they give us of the Jews and other nations , the incidents relating
either to societies or to particular persons , are constantly mentioned as proceeding from God , who is frequently mentioned by our Lord himself , and by all the sacred writers , as directly concerned in whatever
happens . We are apt , indeed , to regard the affairs of our own race , as of peculiar importance ; and therefore as worthy , in an especial manner , of the Divine care and superintendence . But the Scriptures assure us , that not only the concerns of mankind , but those
also of the most inconsiderable orders of existence , are managed by the Father of all . " These all wait upon him , and he giveth them their meat in due season ; he openeth his hand , they are satisfied with good . " " Behold the fowls of the air ; for they
sow not , neither do they reap , yet our heavenly Father feedeth them / ' Nor is his goodness confined to living creatures , he forms and cherishes the very grass and flowers of the field , and clothes them with inimitable excellence and beauty .
But this doctrine of an universal providence is , perhaps , most strongly asserted in our Saviour ' s instructions to his disciples , when he was sending them out to preach the gospel . After warning them of the persecution and cruel treatment they should meet with , he proceeds to suggest several
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arguments which should enable their bravely to face and cheerfully to beai the suffer ings and hardships to whicl they would be exposed . Among othei things , he reminds them of the provideuce of God , than which no consideration is better suited to fortify the minds of good men against the evils and calamities of life . " Are not two
sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father ; but the very hairs of your head are all numbered fear not , therefore , ye are of more value than many sparrows / ' As if he
had said , " Be not discouraged by the prospect of those sufferings of which I have forewarned you ; for nothing can happen to you but under the cognizance and by the appointment of God . His care extends to all affairs ,
however minute and inconsiderable . Beings , much inferior in dignity , and things which seem of the most trifling nature , fall under his inspection , and are ordered and conducted by his
providence . Be as 3 ured , therefore , that you , and what concerns you , will not be overlooked . He knows every thing that concerns you ; and how should he but know it , since he was the
original cause of it ? As he is acquainted with your sufferings , you cannot doubt but he will reward you for them ; and as they proceed from his wise and just appointment , you ought to bear them with cheerfulness and patience . " In illustration of these words I shall
endeavour to shew , that the providence of God extends to all things , however minute , and seemingly of a trifling nature . And this appears to me the more necessary , as I am afraid it is a truth not much believed , and less attended to by the generality of mankind . For it is now become somewhat
unfashionable , and regarded as the work of a vulgar and superstitious mind , to search for providence in the daily occurrences of life , and to ascribe common and ordinary events to the
Divine Power . There is , indeed , no occasion that we should be perpetually talking of God and providence ; this might look like hypocrisy and affectation , and might give reason to suspect that we are desirous to seem very
devout , whether we really are so or not . But though , it may not be proper that God should be in all our discourse ^ yet we ought to keep him
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1823, page 510, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1788/page/14/
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