Unveiled Mysteries

““What 1 do thon knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” — John xiii. 7.

Much is baffling and perplexing to us in God’s present dealings. “What!” we are often ready to exclaim, “could not the cup have been less bitter — the trial less severe — the road less rough and dreary?” “Hush thy misgivings,” says a gracious God; “arraign not the rectitude of my dispensations. Thou shalt yet see all revealed and made bright in the mirror of eternity I”

‘’What I do /” — it is all My doing — J/y appointment. Thou hast but a partial view of these dealings — they are seen by the eye of sense through a dim and distorted medium, TIiou canst see nought but plans crossed, and gourds laid low, and ‘beautiful rods’ broken.

But I see the end from the beginniag. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

And “Thou SHALT know /” Wait for the “hereafter” revelation I An earthly father puzzles not the ear of infancy with hard sayings and involved problems. He waits for the manhood of being, and then unfolds all. So it is with God! We are now in our nonage; — children lisping in earthly infancy a knowledge of His ways. We shall learn “the deep things of God” in the manhood of eternity I Christ now often shews Himself only “behind the lattice,” — a glimpse and He is gone I But the day is coming when we shall “see Him as He is!” — when every dark hieroglyphic in the Roll of Providence will be interpreted and expounded I

It is unfair to criticise the half-finished picture — to censure or condemn the half-developed plan. God’s plans are here in embryo. “We see,” says Rutherford,” but broken links of the chains of His Providence. Let the former work His own clay in what frame He pleaseth.” But a flood of light will break

UNVEILED MYSTERIES. 49^

apon lis from the Sappliire Throne — “In Thy light, 0 God I we shall see light.” The “need be,” muffled as a secret now, will be confided to us tlieri and become luminous with love.

Perhaps we may not even have to wait till Eternity for the realisation of this promise. We may experience its fulfilment here. “We not unfrequently find, even in this presentworld, mysterious dispensations issuing in unlooked-for blessing. Jacob would never have seen Joseph had he not parted with Benjamin. Often would the believer never have seen Ihi true Joseph had he not been called on to part with his best Beloved! His lancuaofe at the

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time is that of the Patriarch — ‘^ / am indeed bereaved P“* ‘’^ All these things are against me P^ But the things which he imagined to be so adverse, have proved the means of leading him. to see the heavenly King” in his beauty” before he dies. Much is sent to “humble ua and to prove us.” It may not do us good now but it is promised to do so” at the latter endP

I shall not dictate to my God what His ways should be. The patient does not dictate to his Physician. He does not reject and refuse the prescription because it is nauseous; — He knows it is for his good, and takes it on trust. It is for faith to repose in whatever God appoints. Let me not wrong His love or dishonor His faithfulness by supposing that there is one needless or redundant drop in the cup which His loving wisdom has mingled. “Nbio we know in part, hut THEN shall we know even as also we are known /”