just, and His ears unto their prayers. But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth."[1]
As the greatest reward of the Christian in this life is God's fatherly care, and as our joy and confidence must increase in proportion to our faith in this providence, we shall add here a few passages from Scripture in proof of this doctrine. In Ecclesiasticus we read: "The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear Him; He is their powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from the heat, and a cover from the sun at noon; a preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling; He raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, life, and blessing."[2] "With the Lord," says the prophet, "shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall like well his way. When he shall fall he shall not be bruised, for the Lord putteth His hand under him."[3] And again "Many are the afflictions of the just, but out of them all will the Lord deliver them. The Lord keepeth all their bones; not one of them shall be broken."[4] This providence is still more strongly set forth in the Gospel, where our Saviour affirms that not "a hair of the just shall perish."[5] Even stronger is His assurance expressed by the mouth of His prophet: "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of My eye."[6]
Besides this care which He Himself has for us,
