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lot of the parents is not equal: — the one stretches herself out on the burning sand to die alone; the other hears the fluttering of wings about him while death is closing his eves.
Would the last hour of Nathan have been as peaceful as it was, said Eber, if he had not labored to do the will of God, as well as believed that it would be done? He knew that the original decrees of God could not be reversed or changed; that if his children were appointed to forsake the God of their fathers, no man could save them; and that if the destitute were ordained to perish, no man could preserve them. Yet he brought up his children carefully, and fed the poor; so that through him it has been proved that the will of God was merciful to them.
Havilah answered, God works every where, and none stays his hand. He orders all things that are done in heaven and on earth: but he orders many things through the purposes of man, and works many things by the hand of man.
Alas for him, said Eber, who fulfills the designs of God against his own impure will! Happy is he whose purposes are godlike, and whose holy deeds show whence proceeds the power of his will!
