spurned it and thrown it off? Nay, is he not rushing right in the face of it? or, what is the same, acting directly in opposition to the course of Divine Providence? and is he not consequently plunging into dangers? It is to be remembered, that Divine Providence, from its very character of love, has for its end the good and happiness and peace of all: consequently, it is willing and able to protect all who fall in with its plan—that is, those who are good. But those who will not thus concur with the will and ways of Providence, but rather run counter to them, seeking some selfish plan of their own at the expense of their neighbour's welfare—such cannot be protected by Divine Providence: to do so would be to thwart its own end: to protect the evil would be to destroy the good. This is plain enough.
Now, apply this illustration to the question before us, and it will at once be seen why it does not follow that, because God is good, therefore He will protect every man during the dangers, trials, and temptations of the day. The evil, as we have just seen. He cannot protect, consistently with His very goodness itself. The temptations, and also trials and dangers, which will meet the evil-minded man before the day is through, are such as in the very pursuit of his evil end he is about to bring on himself: he is rushing right into dangers, he is plunging amongst temptations, and will consequently subject himself to painful trials and sufferings. Thus he throws himself out of the Divine protection. But how, it may be asked, does this apply to our case? It applies clearly enough; we are evil-minded men, every one of us, before regeneration,—evil-minded, in a greater or less degree.
