not to the swift, nor the
battle to the strong; that virtue starves, while vice is fed, and that
schemes for doing good are frustrated, while evil plots succeed. But we
may reply:

1. The prosperity of the wicked is often apparent, and well styled a
shining misery. Who believes that Nero enthroned was happier than Paul
in chains?

2. We are often mistaken in calling such or such an afflicted man good,
and such or such a prosperous man bad.

3. The miseries of good men are generally occasioned by their own
faults, since they have been so fool-hardy as to run counter to the laws
by which God acts, or have aimed at certain ends while neglecting the
appropriate means.

4. Many virtues are proved and augmented by trials, and not only proved,
but produced, so that they would have had no existence without them.
Many a David's noblest qualities would never have been developed but for
the impious attempts of Saul. Job's integrity was not only tested but
strengthened by Satan being permitted to sift him as wheat. Passions,
experience and hope were brought as ministering angels to man, of whom
the world was not worthy, through trials of cruel mockings and
scourgings.

5. The unequal distribution of good and evil, so far as it exists,
carries our thoughts forward to the last judgment, and a retribution
according to the deeds done in the body, and can hardly fail of throwing
round the idea of eternity a stronger air of reality than it might
otherwise have done. All perplexities vanish as we reflect that, "He
cometh to judge the earth."

6. Even if we limit our views to this world, but extend them to all our
acquaintances, we cannot doubt that the tendencies, though not always
the effects, of vice are to misery, and those of virtue to happiness.
These tendencies are especially clear if our view embraces a whole
life-time, and the clearer the longer the period we embrace. The
Psalmist was at first envious at the foolish, when he saw the prosperity
of the wicked; but as his views became more comprehensive, and he
understood their end, his language was, "How are they brought into
desolation as in a moment; they are utterly consumed with terrors." The
progressive tendency of vice and virtue to reap each its appropriate
harvest is finally illustrated by Bishop Butler, best of all perhaps in
his picture of an imaginary kingdom of the good, which would peacefully
subvert all others, and fill the earth. Indeed, as soon as we leave wh