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WAS THIS PROVIDENCE OR CHANCE?

NOW-A-DAYS we have men going about the country telling people that there is no such thing as a Divine Providence; and that, if there be a God, he takes no notice of us; and that all we have to do is to see after ourselves, for "Science is the Providence of man."

These men have always a great deal to say against any of the preachers of the gospel who are paid for devoting their time to religious services; and yet they themselves are picking up much more money by going about to abuse and belie religion. It is a bad sign when working-men would rather pay to hear religion abused than go for nothing to hear it recommended.

But which is right and which is wrong, the Christian or the Infidel-that is the question. The religious man does all he can to provide for himself and his family, and trusts in God's fatherly care at all times-the infidel can only do his best, let him talk about "science" as long as he may; and when he has done that he has done all. He has no refuge in God. then with him is chance and hap-hazard. He may find help or he may not. His tempest-tossed vessel has neither compass, mast, sail, rudder, or anchor! Not so the christian; he is persuaded "the Lord will provide."

All

The other day we received some extracts of two letters from Upper Canada, which illustrate what we have just said. They are dated, Indian village, Chemong Lake, November 30, 1843, and May 21, 1844.

"MY DEAR BROTHER,-I purposed when I last wrote, to be a more attentive correspondent, but circumstances of a painful nature have prevented me; some of the particulars of which, as displaying a gracious and particular Providence, I will relate, in order to give God all the glory.

Soon after my last was written, I was seized with the pleurisy, attended with fever and ague; and my dear wife, at the same time, was brought down so low with the fever and ague, that she appeared like a skeleton. Some of the children were also ill with the same complaint. In consequence of my illness, I was not able to attend to my crops, so that they were all destroyed or spoilt. This was in the autumn of 1841. When the winter set in, we all began to get better, and soon

WAS THIS PROVIDENCE OR CHANCE?

recovered, struggling through a Canadian winter the best way we could. But the following summer we were again visited with sorer trials. I was again attacked with fever and ague, which terminated in typhus fever; after which I was seized with inflammation of the bowels, when I did not expect to survive, but was entirely resigned, 'knowing that we have in heaven a better and enduring substance.'

My dear wife was confined with a daughter at the same time, and all our children except Elizabeth, (the eldest, twelve years old) down with the fever and ague, and no one else to do anything for us. You may suppose we were in a distressed state, especially when there was no 'oil in the cruse,' and the 'barrel' was empty. Our crops were again destroyed by breachy cattle and hogs; our wheat was struck with the rust, and entirely spoilt; and again we had nothing to look forward to, but a dreary winter, and no provision. We fell behind with our rent, and our landlord seized for it, and we were under the necessity of giving up the farm, in order to settle with him. But enough of this dark catalogue, though I have only given you the outlines.

Under these fiery trials, we can say, the Lord was with us, and we were wonderfully supported by Divine grace. Many of the exceeding great and precious promises' were a cordial to the soul. We enjoyed a lively faith, and could say, 'It is well.' We had to learn to trust in a naked promise, when no possible means of help appeared; and we had such a view of the PROMISER, his faithfulness to perform, his wisdom to guide, his power to protect, and his love to provide, as completely silenced all murmuring and discontent. I need not say such accumulated trials needed a corresponding supply of grace. Such supplies were granted in answer to prayer; and we experienced joy and peace in believing,' such as we never enjoyed before. We have also met with many interpositions of Providence, as so many props to our faith; some of them almost as remarkable as the prophet Elijah being fed by ravens. I will relate some of them.

One day after we had spent all that we had for medicine, and nothing left in the house but potatoes, our cat caught a wild rabbit, and brought it to the door, and stood still while my wife took it from her. Of course we were much struck with the circumstance, and being ill at the time, it came very acceptably.

WAS THIS PROVIDENCE OR CHANCE?

Another time, a person returning from market, called to light his pipe, and inquiring after our health, my dear wife told him that I was very ill in bed. He made answer, if the mainstay is laid up, we must be in want. He went away a few steps, and then came back, and put a dollar into my wife's hand, saying that would do for the present, and he would send us a little flour. I was engaged at the time wrestling with God in prayer, not knowing anything about it, when my dear wife came to me with tears in her eyes, saying, 'Here is some help,' showing me the dollar; for we had eaten the last meal that was in the house, and did not know what to do but to pray. I thought on Dan. ix. 23. What makes it the more remarkable is, that we had no particular acquaintance with the person, and he knew nothing of our circumstances, to induce him to act thus kindly. Where is the infidel who would say this is all chance?

Another circumstance I will relate, which will show how the Lord often overrules disappointments, and makes them work together for good. One of our members, Mrs. H., had made arrangements with a brother to go to meeting in his wagon. She accordingly got ready at the time, but it happened this brother started half-an-hour earlier than usual, and she was disappointed of her ride to meeting, and it was too far to walk. While the old lady was in trouble at her disappointment, it came into her mind, all at once, she said, about our being sick; and she drew the conclusion we must be in needy circumstances. She mentioned it therefore to her husband and son, and to one or two of her neighbours who were present; when one said, 'If I thought they would not be offended, I would send them a loaf or two of bread;' and another said the same; so they packed up a variety of articles of food, and the old lady, with her son, came with them in the waggon, (about four miles) the same afternoon, it being Sunday. This supply also came very opportunely as we had scarcely anything in the house, and no means of obtaining any; and I was very ill at the time. This Mrs. H. is a very pious woman, and she has taken a great interest in our welfare, while in affliction. They are living on a rented farm, and but in middling circumstances, but they have done to the utmost of their power in assisting She also took the trouble to make our case known to a few christian friends in Toronto, and obtained considerable help from them. I trust these supplies were an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.'

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WAS THIS PROVIDENCE OR CHANCE?

I know not why a comparative stranger should show so much kindness to us. It must be the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.' It is pleasing to see such an exhibition of christian love. She hath done what she could, without any prospect of remuneration. O, when will the days come when this grace shall shine throughout the world!

But to return to our eventful history. As I before observed, we had to leave our place, where we had made considerable improvements. As we had no means to help ourselves, some friends advised me to take a school in the neighbourhood, and while arranging about it, I heard from a friend in Toronto of a situation under the Rev. J. Gilman of Peterboro,' who is agent to the New England Company for the civilization of the Indians. It is situated about 100 miles from Toronto, and forty or fifty miles north of Lake Ontario, at a village entirely of Indians. We have been now nearly six months here, and are comfortably settled among the Indians. They are pretty well civilized, and we get along with them very well. I have £50 a year as teacher of the boy's school, and my dear wife has £25 for instructing the girls in domestic affairs, who board and lodge with us; and we have a good house and garden rent free. I purpose writing again, when I will give you all particulars how we proceed, and also some account of the Indians.

There were many obstacles in the way of our obtaining this situation, particularly we were embarrassed with some debts which we could not leave unsettled. The principal one was a promissory note of £28, ten of which I had paid; but the parties failed, and it was put into the lawyer's hands for collection, and the whole came against me. As the hand of the Lord was so apparent in the situation, it appeared to me that he would also clear the way. So I set about using what means I could with prayer. Here I was almost afraid of presump tion. Having the lease of a log house and stable which I had been trying to sell, but could find no purchaser, I resolved to go to Toronto, and sell it by auction for what it would fetch. On the road I was accosted by a man who I never saw before that I know of, who said, 'Do you want to sell that place of yours on the front road ?' I said, Yes;' and we immediately entered into an engagement for £33, just enough to pay my note and costs. The man had no money, but he had two promissory notes upon a respectable man, due six months hence. I could not take these until I had seen the lawyer, who held the said premises as security for my debt. We

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POETRY.

therefore went together to him, and to my surprise he consented to take the man's notes, being intimate with one of the endorsers, and transacted the business on his own responsibility, giving me a receipt in full. Here is another instance of the infinite wisdom of God. It also shows his intimate acquaintance with all the minute circumstances of his people, however intricate and perplexing. I could relate several similar circumstances, but I am afraid I shall tire you. The way in which we got through our difficulties and entered on our new situation free, appears to us almost miraculous. Surely the review and relation of these things should lead us to rely upon God in all the future trials and difficulties which we may meet with in this world, knowing that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

The writer of the above narrative has been thirteen years in Upper Canada, and has six young children.

Now let any man put all these things together, and then say if there be not reasons, and good reasons too, for believing, and believing firmly, that an unseen hand was at work managing matters for the poor sufferers, and opening a way for them out of their afflictions and troubles. Beside, why should not the wonderful Being who made all things be able to manage all things? Just as a man who makes a machine knows how to manage it.

Poetry.

THE BIBLE THE BEST BOOK.

Ir points the way to happiness unseen;
It purifies and makes the sinner clean;
It qualifies for everlasting bliss;

It animates the christian when remiss;
It breaks the stony, melts the rocky heart;
It rectifies the conduct when athwart;
Displays the love of God to sinful man,
Which, without it, we ne'er could understand
By human wit or philosophic lore.

O, book of books, how precious is thy store!
How sweet thy truths, how rich, how full of life;
Calming all discontent, and care, and strife.

Be this our guide while here we pilgrims roam,
Be Christ our all, his heaven our happy home.
Liverpool.

A.

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