Evils to Be Expected in This Year
Ctf evils to be expected in this year; the i»isdom and mercy of God in concealing from us the kn&voledge of future events*
Not only few and uncertain, but evil likewise, are the days of the years of my life, may every one say, with the patriarch Jacob. A sufficient portion of evil for every year may well be expected, when our Lord tells us, there is a certain measure allotted for every day. Sufficient to the day is the evil of it.” Not only is our life short, but troublesome, full of vexatious mixtures. We cannot sing a requiem to our souls when one great calamity is past; for, we know not, in this region of changes, but another, a greater, may be at hand. One messenger of ill-news may succeed and outdo another, as it was with Job. We come weeping into the world, in a most helpless, forlorn, state; and, if we escape the dangers of infancy, and the casualties of childhood, and after that outlive the snares and follies of youth, we are tossed upon the pikes of time and chance, and sadden and disquiet ourselves with a thousand griefs and sorrows, by inevitable and unexpected occasions; though we increase the num« ber of needleaa cares, and fears, and dv%colle.w till, at length, a 8udden stroke arrests us, we fetch a groan, and die!
We can give a catalogue of the afflictions and calamities, perplexities and disappointments, incumbrances, crosses, and evil accidents, of human life! By means whereof millions are disconsolate and sad, mourn and complain, weep and sigh, and from day to day, are “fed with the bread of affliction and the water of adversity.” Not to mention men’s fluctu’- ating restless thoughts of heart, importunate desires, baffled projects, defeated purposes, which suppose or bring vexation. A good share of these is not to be avoided; and yet very few can be particularly foreseen. Who could prognosticate, a year ago, the mercies or the evils which have happened since, public and private, personal and relative, to the countries, cities, families, and persons, we are concerned for? And who can certainly foretel the events of this ensuing year? God hath intermixed good and evil in the life of man: he hath set “prosperity against adversity,” saith Solomon, “to the end that man should find nothing after him;” that he may not know what shall come next, whether a prosperous or a calamitous event.
What a change may be made in a year by the mere casualty of human events; by the treachery of friends, or the malice of enemies, or the more immediate hand of God! We know not ‘^ what shall be on the morrow,” much less what a twelve-month may produce. Because whatever may be disposed to happen, from natural causes, or civil councils, may be altered by a particular decree of providence. Prepare me, Lord! and every one of those in whose felicity I more especially take part, for all the calamities and sorrows thine infinite wisdom shall think fit to exercise us with this following year: and, by thy merciful providence and gracious conduct, cause them to work for good: furnishing us with suitable strength and wisdom to acquiesce in thy good pleasure, and obey thy will. Let me follow thee, as the Father of the faithful, though I know not whither thou wilt lead me. Knowing the wisdom and faithfulness of my pilot, let me therein be satisfied, though I know not particularly what course he will steer!
I thank thee, O heavenly Father! that thou hast reserved the knowledge of future tiroes and seasons to thyself, and hid events froro men; lest, by considering them certain, we should presume in case they are good; or should despairingly afilict ourselves, by foreseeing the evil we’ know to be inevitable. Did we certainly foreknow the good that would befal us, we should not trust in thee to bring it to pass, or heartily implore thy care and conduct. Did we foresee the evils we should suffer, before they overtake us, we should be overwhelmed with diffidence and despair. Many a mother, who rejoiceth at the birth of a son, would mourn to foresee what a man, what a son, be will prove. Such an increase of knowledge would increase our sorrow; such a prescience would transport and discompose us by unseasonable joys and sorrows, born out of time; make us remiss in our duty to thee, and weaken our dependence on thine own unerring wisdom, truth, and power!