The Marvels of God’s Providence   “How great a pleasure is it to discern how the most wise God is providentially steering all to the port of His own praise and His people’s happiness, whilst the whole world is busily employed in managing the sails and tugging at the oars with a quite opposite design and purpose! To see how they promote His design by opposing it, and fulfill His will by resisting it, enlarge His church by scattering it, and make their rest come the more sweet to their souls by making their condition so restless in the world.  This is pleasant to observe in general: But to record and note its particular designs upon ourselves; with what profound wisdom, infinite tenderness, and incessant vigilancy it hath managed all that concerns us from first to last is ravishing and transporting.”     -- John Flavel (1627-1691) ------------------ God Knows Best Whichever way the wind doth blow, Some heart is glad to have it so; Then blow it east or blow it west, The wind that blows, that wind is best.   My little craft sails not alone; A thousand fleets from every zone Are out upon a thousand seas; What blows for one a favorite breeze Might dash another, with the shock Of doom, upon some hidden rock, And so I do not dare to pray For winds to waft me on my way, But leave it to a Higher Will To stay or speed me, trusting still That all is well, and sure that He Who launched my bark will sail with me Through storm and calm, and will not fail, Whatever breezes may prevail, To land me, every peril past, Within His sheltering heaven at last.   Then, whatsoever wind doth blow, My heart is glad to have it so; And blow it east or blow it west, The wind that blows, that wind is best.   -- Caroline Atherton Mason (1823-1890)