ns
of this world may alter, however the powers of men may vary time after
time, God's government is an immutable thing; it changes not. The
perfect idea of a human government is this--I do not say it is
realised--to have certain fixed principles that are to abide, and then in
the application of those principles to find an elasticity which shall
meet every conceivable alteration of circumstances about us. That is the
idea of a perfect human government; but human governments do not attain
to it. The government of God, however, is perfect. The great principle
is love--"God is love;" its great end, the welfare of man; the purpose of
that government, the spread of Christianity for the welfare of mankind.

There is no expediency in this government, as men understand it. The
governments of this world are too much founded upon expediency--the
government of this country for the last sixty or seventy years lamentably
founded upon it. There was a time when there was less of it here, but
the disciples of expediency increase, and it is now rather "What is
convenient?" than "What is right?" There is an expediency taught in the
Bible, but it is nothing more than the best way of doing the right thing.
It never truckles. The government of God knows nothing of our human
expedients; it knows a great deal of Divine arrangements, and God as
truly governs as though in his government of the nations He should work
signs and wonders and divers miracles daily.

God has spoken in the history of our own country. Look at some of the
startling events of the last two hundred years. You look at the act of
our noble, intelligent, never-to-be-sufficiently-admired, firm old
English ancestors, in driving James the Second from his throne, and
working out the glorious Revolution of 1688. Well, if you look at all
this politically, you speak of their wisdom, their fortitude, and their
indomitable spirit; you speak too of storm and tempest all working in
their favour. Aye, aye, but the hand of God was there, as much in
sending away that unworthy King as God's hand was in sending
Nebuchadnezzar to feed among the oxen. God's hand may not appear in our
modern times as in former days, but faith sees that hand in the common
affairs of mankind. But because we do not see the operation, because the
operation is not palpable to men's senses, the agency of God is
forgotten. Depend upon it, it is a great mistake to imagine that if we
could see, now and th