fusion of good, are exempted from this
universal law? Such an exception, how incongruous! It would be an
excrescence on the very vitals of nature.

II. _From the characteristic of Divine beneficence_. The supply of
our physical necessities and comforts comes in the order of those
natural laws already referred to. Social and civil blessings result
from certain principles of mental, moral, and political science. Method
is equally characteristic of our spiritual blessings. No sooner had man
fallen, than God began to unfold the remedial scheme. But he is
influenced by no impulses in accomplishing the wondrous plan. He rushes
not to the result with an impetuosity indicative of a zeal that flames
along its course uncontrolled by reason. But there is a steadiness of
onward movement, showing that unwavering principles of order preside
over all his proceedings. The world, the intelligent universe, must be
prepared for such a stupendous event as the incarnation and death of the
Son of God; prophecies, promises, types, and ritual institutions must
gradually open the scheme, ere the final development could be suitably
made. After forty centuries of preparation, Christ came; and yet years
must pass away, before, in that order of events which God had
established, the crowning event of all could occur,--the propitiatory
sacrifice be offered up. In extending the kingdom thus founded, the
same order, the same adaptation of means to ends, is observable. The
word of God, the Sabbath, the sanctuary, the workings of the Holy
Spirit, and the co-operation of the individual reason and conscience,
are all linked consecutively to each other, or work in beautiful harmony
together. Thus, throughout the entire scheme of spiritual blessings,
reaching from the opening promise of a Saviour to the incarnation; and
from the incarnation to the judgment; and onward to eternity, everything
is done systematically.

This is the result of the unchanging principles of the Divine Mind.
They grow with a steady heat, equally prompting him to activity at every
moment. Hence, like the sun shining in its strength, God sends down
unweariedly the rays of his love, both on the evil and on the good,
crowning their days with "loving-kindness and tender mercies." Indeed,
should the ardor of his love cool, or the hand of his power or grace be
withdrawn but for a single moment, all our hopes would be dashed, our
very existence cease.

From this characte