PRACTICAL OPERATIONS OF BENEVOLENCE. 



75 



lo every rank of sensitive and intellectual beings ; 

 a id the moral world, as it actually exists, is the 

 grand theatre of its operations. I have already 

 endeavoured to illustrate some of the modifica 

 tions of this affection, in its relation to God ;* and, 

 in the preceding sections of this chapter, have 

 occasionally adverted to some of its benignant 

 effects in reference to man. It may, however, 

 be expedient, in this place, to enter a little more 

 explicitly into the practical operations of benevo 

 lence, and the various modes by which its influ 

 ence may be manifested in relation to our bre 

 thren of mankind. 



The grand object which love proposes to ac 

 complish is the communication ofhappiness. And, 

 in order to stimulate and direct us in its opera 

 tions, the character and agency of God are set 

 before us as our examplar. There is not a more 

 amiable, attractive, nor comprehensive idea of 

 the Divine Being any where to be found than that 

 which is exhibited by the Apostle John, in three 

 words GOD is LOVE. He is the eternal, un 

 created Source of felicity, from which flow all 

 those streams of joy which gladden the hearts of 

 angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim ; 

 and whatever portion of happiness, sensitive or 

 intellectual, is enjoyed by man on earth, and by 

 all the subordinate tribes of animated nature, is 

 derived from the same inexhaustible fountain. 

 For the purpose of communicating happiness, he 

 called the material universe into existence, to 

 serve as an immense theatre, on which his bene 

 volence might be displayed to countless orders 

 of sensitive and intelligent creatures ; and all 

 the perfections of his nature may be considered as 

 so many agents employed for the execution of 

 this noble design. Impelled, as it were, by this 

 essential and characteristic affection of the Di 

 vine Mind, all the attributes of Deity are inces 

 santly operating throughout the immensity of 

 creation in the view of the inhabitants ofall worlds. 

 His Omnipotence is employed in supporting the 

 worlds already created, and in bringing new 

 systems, and new orders of beings into exist 

 ence ; and his Wisdom, in devising, select 

 ing, and arranging those means which are requi 

 site for accomplishing the plans of benevolence. 

 Towards those wretched beings who have abused 

 his goodness, and wandered from happiness, his 

 Mercy is proclaimed ; and his Patience and for 

 bearance are long exercised, in order to lead 

 them to repentance, and to the paths of felicity. 

 His Justice, conjoined with his power, is exer 

 cised for the purpose of restraining the efforts of 

 malevolence, for preventing the inroads of anar 

 chy arid confusion, ana for preserving the order 

 and happiness of the intelligent creation. In this 

 view, all the judgments, however dreadful and 

 appalling, which have been inflicted on the work 

 ers of iniquity in every age, have had a tendency 



* See p%ges 4G FI 



to accomplish the purposes of benevolence, in 

 reference to the universal system. For, the ge 

 neral good of God s universal empire, considtrr.d 

 as one whole, must be viewed as the great end 

 which benevolence is accomplishing, and the 

 partial exclusions from happiness, which now 

 happen in the case of certain classes of moral 

 agents, must be regarded as necessary arrange 

 ments subservient to this important end. His 

 infinite Knowledge, extending to all events, past, 

 present, and to come ; and his Omniscient eye, 

 piercing into the secret purposes of every heart, 

 surveying the various tribes of men, and the cir 

 cumstances of all the worlds which float in the 

 immensity of space, and comprehending the re 

 motest consequences of all actions throughout 

 infinite duration, enable Him, in every instance, 

 to form those arrangements by which the objects 

 of benevolence may be accomplished on the most 

 extensive scale, and by which the everlasting 

 happiness of the holy and intelligent system may 

 be most effectually secured. 



For the purpose of displaying his love to the 

 moral intelligences of our world, he has given 

 us a revelation of his character and will ; he has 

 exhibited his law as a law of love ; he has pro 

 mised the agency of his holy Spirit, to produce 

 in us those dispositions which his law requires ; 

 and he has given the most affecting display of 

 his love, in the mission of his Son into the 

 world. &quot; In this,&quot; says the Apostle John, &quot; was 

 manifested the love of God towards us ; because 

 that God sent his only-begotten Son into the 

 world, that we might live though him. Herein 

 is love; not that we loved God, but that he lov 

 ed us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for 

 our sins. Beloved, ifGod so loved us, how ought 

 we to love one another ?&quot; 



Now, we are commanded in the Sacred Scrip 

 tures to be imitators of God in his benevolent 

 operations, and especially in those cases in 

 which love requires to surmount every obstacle, 

 and to exert all its powers in opposition to ha 

 tred, enmity, and ingratitude. &quot; Be ye perfect,&quot; 

 says our Saviour, &quot; as your Father who is in 

 heaven is perfect. Love your enemies ; bless 

 them who curse you ; do good to them who hate 

 you ; and pray for them who despitefully use you 

 and persecute you. That you may be the chil 

 dren of your Father who is in heaven : for he 

 maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the 

 good ; and sendeth rain on the just ana on the 

 unjust.&quot; So that his enemies subsist on his 

 bounty, and are cheered and refreshed hy his pro 

 vidential care. In like manner, the operation o. 

 love on the part of man may be consideredas .he 

 whole energy of an intelligent, mind, directing 

 its faculties of perception, judgment, reasoning, 

 and imagination, along with its physical pow 

 ers, to the production of happiness both among 

 friends and enemies, so far as its influence can 

 extend. In the prosecution of this noble end, man 



