1. Let us depend uj)on our heavenly Fa- ther, in all our straits and exigencies ; let us believe that he will ])rovide for us. Children rely upon their parents for the supply of wants : if we trust God for sal- vation, shall wc not trust him for a liveli- hood ? There is a lawful provident care to be used, but beware of a distrustful care, Luke xii. 24., " Consider the ravens, they neither sow nor reap, and God feedeth them." Doth God feed the birds of the air, and will he not feed his children ? v. 27., " Consider the lilies how they grow ; they spin not : yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Dotb God clothe the lilies, and will he not clothe his lambs? Even the wicked taste of God's bounty, Ps. Ixxiii. 7., " Their eyes stand out with fatness." Doth God feed his slaves, and will he not feed his family ? God's children may not have so liberal a share in the things of this life, but little meal in the barrel ; they may be drawn low, but not drawn dry ; they shall have so much as God sees is good for them, Ps. xxxiv. 10., " They that seek the Lord shall not want any giuid thing." If Go<l gives them n«»t ad voluiitateiii, he will ad sauitatein ; if lie gives them not always what they crave, he will give them what they need ; if he gives them not a feast, he will give them a vioiiciini, a bait by the way; let Ciod's chil- dren therefore depend upon God's fatherly providence, — giv(. not way to distrustful thoughts, distracting cares, or indirect means,— God can provide for you without your sins, 1 Pet. v. 7., " Casting all your
care upon him, for ho carctb for you." An earthly parent may have affection for his child, and would jirovido for him, but some- times he is not able, but God can create a supply for his children, yea, he hath pro- mised a supply, Ps. xxxvii. 3., " Verily thou shalt be fed." Will God give bis children heaven, and will ho not give them enough to bear their charges thither ? Will he give them a kingdom, and deny them daily bread? O depend upon your hea- venly Father ! He hath said, " I will ne- ver leave thee nor forsake thee," Hob.
xui. 5.
2. If God be our Father, let us imitate him. The child doth not only bear his Fa- ther's image, but doth imitate him in his speech, gesture, behaviour : if God be our Father, let us imitate him, Eph. v, 1,, " Be ye followers of (iod as dear children." — 1. Imitate God in forgiving injuries, Isa. Ixiv. 22., " I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions." As the sun scatters notoidy thin mists, but thick clouds, so God pardons great offences ; imitate God in this, Eph. iv. 32., " Forgiving one ano- ther." Cranmer was a man (»f a forgiving spirit, he did bury injuries, and requite good for evil : he who hath Ciod for his Fa- ther, hath God for his pattern. — 2. Imitate God in works of mercy; " He looseth the prisoners," Ps. cxlvi. 7. " He opens his hand, and satisfieth the desire of every liv- ing thing," Ps. cxlv. 16. He drops his sweet dew as well upon the thistle fis the rose : imitate God in works of mercy, — re- lieve the wants of others, — be rich in good works, — Luke vi. 36., " Be merciful as y()ur Father also is merciful." Be not so hardhearted, as to shut the poor out of the lines of communication. Dives denied La- zarus a crumb of bread, and Dives was de- nied a drop of water.
3. If God be our Father, let us submit patiently to his will ; if he lay his strokes on us, they arc the corrections of a Father, not the punishments of Ji judge: this made Christ so ])atient, John xviii. 11., "Shall I not drink the cup which my Father hath given me ?" He sees me need aflliction, 1 Pet. i. 6. ; he appoints it as a diet-drink, to purge and sanctify us, Isa. xxxii. 9., there- fore dispute not, but submit: Ileb. xii. 9.
400
OF THE PREFACE TO THE LOKD'S PRAYER.
" We liad fatliors of our flesh wliich correct- ed us, and we ji^iive tlieiu reverence ;" they mifflit correct out of an humour, but (iod doth it for oin- ])rofit, Ileh. xii. 10.; iherc- fore s:!y, as Eli, 1 Sum. ill. 18., " It is the Ltud, let him do wliat seemeth him good." What irets the chihl by struggling, but more blows? What got Israel ,by their murmuriiig and rebelling, but a longer and more tedious march, and at last their car- cases fell in tiie wilderness?