Trusting and Tempting Providence
H. R. Haweis, M. A. Luke 4:9-13 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you:… You may rely upon God for protection, solace, help, but not if you are foolhardy. No miracle will do for you what you can do for yourself. Jesus might have come down by the staircase; there was no need to get down the other way — tempt providence, and providence will fail you to a certainty. If you are idle and feckless, no philosopher's stone will turn your dross into gold. If you have weak lungs and expose yourself recklessly to chill, God's icy wind will slay you in spite of your prayers. If you neglect the laws of health and live fast, you will soon sink from the heaven of health into the hell of disease. If, from the pinnacle of desire, you leap into the pit of lust, you shall die mangled. If, from the pinnacle of greed, you plunge into the gulf of peculation, you fall crushed. The moral order of the universe will not be suspended for you — "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." (H. R. Haweis, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: WEB: for it is written, 'He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;'