Anne Dutton's
Letters on Spiritual Subjects
Dear Sir,
I am sometimes apt to be grieved at how things happen; but when I think that
God fulfills His sure purposes for His glory and His people's good, by
things which to us seem contingencies, and that He who shuts up our
way in one place opens it in another—my spirit is at rest.
You will like these cross-providences well, when
you see them overruled by infinite wisdom and grace to meet in their
designed center—the glory of God, and your greatest advantage. We must
believe now; we shall see before long. Meanwhile, O for a meek and humble, a
patient, Christ-like spirit!
Trials do us no harm, nor will they much afflict us,
if we are enabled to behave well under them. But if we foolishly look off
from the 'supreme hand of God' therein, unto 'creatures', and our spirits
fret and chafe at instruments—that wounds us instantly, and weakens our
hands exceedingly. In patience let us possess our souls, and we shall see
that our all-wise and all-gracious Lord has done, does, and will do, all
things well. Most surely every man disquiets himself in vain—God's counsel
shall stand, and He will do all His pleasure. Would we have things go
otherwise than well—any better than best of all? And thus all things always
go well for us in Christ—for us who are the delight, the care, and charge of
Prince Emanuel—upon those mighty shoulders the whole weight of government is
devolved by His and our Father!