BY JOSEPH BELLAMY, D. D.
MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT BETHLEM.

I bring you good tidings of great joy.

LUKE ii. 10.

Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright
in heart.
PSALM XCVvii. 11.
....There was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt; but
all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
EXODUS X. 22-23.

MORRIS-TOWN:

PRINTED BY HENRY P. RUSSELL,

FOR CORNELIUS DAVIS, N. YORK.

MAY-1804.

CONTENTS.

WHAT is implied in God's permitting sin?...Where-
in appears the Wisdom of God in permitting Joseph to
be sold-Israel to be oppressed-Pharaoh to harden his
heart-Israel to sin and fall in the wilderness ?....
God's conduct in these instances, a clue to lead us into a
view of the reasons of his permitting the original apos-
tacy of finite intelligences; and teaches how to solve all
difficulties.....Did God foresee the fall of finite intelli-
gences ?....Could he have hindered it ?....Did he stand
by as an unconcerned spectator?...What was the original
state of man ?....How was it possible so holy a creature
should fall?....What induced him ?....The good ends
God designed to be answered by it.... Humility, holiness,
and happiness increased, and God exalted.... The inhab-
itants of heaven receive great instructions from all God's
works here below.....What plan, of all possible plans,
ought to be esteemed the best?....Such is the present
plan....Objections answered.....Ramsay's scheme con-
futed.....A right idea of God, how obtained?....It is
matter of great joy, the universe is under the govern-
ment of infinite Wisdom.