King Alphonso's folly!

(Letters of John Newton)

It is reported of King Alphonso of Portugal, that he presumed to say that if God had consulted him at thecreation about the dispositions and motions of the planets — he would have contrived them better than they are. I suppose the poor man took the schemes and dreams of the astronomers of his day to be an accurate representation of the solar system. It sounds, however, like a blasphemous speech in our ears.

We take it for granted that the Sun, the Moon, planets, and the stars are exactly where they should be — and move just as they ought. But if we are content that the Lord should manage the heavenly bodies without our assistance — we are ready enough to advise Him how He should dispose of our insignificant selves! We think we could point at twenty things in our situation which might be mended; and that we would serve Him much better than we do — if we were but at liberty to choose where and how we would be thus placed.

Thus we rightly censure King Alphonso's folly — without being aware that the thoughts that we sometimes indulge, are no less vain and arrogant than his! We might with as much reason, offer to assist God in the government of the universe — as in the direction of our own paltry concerns!

"We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28

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