Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Not by chance


Great providence of heaven--
What wonders shine
In its profound display
Of God's design:
It guards the dust of earth,
Commands the hosts above,
Fulfils the mighty plan
Of his great love

The kingdoms of this world
Lie in its hand;
See how they rise or fall
At its command
Through sorrow and distress,
Tempestuous storms that rage,
God's kingdom yet endures
From age to age

Its darkness dense is but
A radiant light;
Its oft-perplexing ways
Are ordered right.
Soon all its winding paths
Will end, and then the tale
Of wonder shall be told
Beyond the veil.

David Charles, 1762-1834;
Translated from the Welsh by Edmund Tudor Owen


Article 7: 
Of God's Providence 
in the Preservation and Government of the World
Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Confession of Faith 
(1823)

God, in his wise, holy, and righteous providence, 
upholds and governs 
all creatures and their actions. 

His providence extends over 
all places, 
all events, 
  all changes, 
    and all times. 

His providence, in its operation,
is full of eyes to behold, 
and
powerful to perform, 
and
makes all things work together for good 
to them
that love God. 

It overrules the sinful actions of men; 
nevertheless, 
it neither causes nor occasions the sinfulness of any of them.

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