and as pledged to bring him in safety to the harbour where he would be. If any anxious thought arise, he checks it ; and " casts all his care on Him, who careth for him." This we should do in reference to every concern whatever. In relation to temporal things, we should have no more anxiety than the fowls of the air, which subsist from day to day on the bounty of their Creator*^: and even in reference to the soul, the same entire confidence must be placed in God, who has engaged to carry on and perfect in his people the work he has begun ^ Let us not however be misunderstood to say, that we are to put away a jealous fear of ourselves : that we must retain even to the end of our lives : but an unbelieving fear of God, as either unable or unwilling to save us, we must cast it off with abhorrence, and " be strong in faith, giving glory to God."]
The promises annexed to these several injunctions shew,
II. What God will do for us —
Truly he will do exceeding abundantly for us above all that we can ask or think —
1. He will supply our wants — [Great and urgent they may be, even like those with which Israel was oppressed on different occasions in the land of Canaan : but God vnW interpose for us in the hour of need, so that *' verily we shall be fed." Under the pressure of their troubles, many Jews deserted their own land, and sought for security or plenty among their heathen neighbours : thus they rather fled from trouble, than looked to God, as they should have done, to relieve them from it. We must not act thus : we must not desert our post because of difficulties which we meet with in it ; but must expect from God all those supplies of grace and strength which we stand in need of. "He that believeth, will not make haste :" he will not presently despond, because he sees not how his wants are to be supplied ; bvit will remember, that, as " the earth, and the fulness thereof, is the Lord's," so there is all fulness of spiritual blessings also treasured up for him in Christ, and he will look to Christ for daily com- munications, according as his necessities may require. The Lord did not give to Elijah a store of provision that should suffice for months to come, but sent him bread and meat twice a day by the ministration of ravens, and afterwards a daily supply from the widow's cruse. In the same manner will he impart a sufficiency of temporal and spiritual blessings to all who trust in him ; and " according to their day, so their strength shall be." " The soul that trusts in Him shall want no man- ner of thing that is good."]
'1 Matt. vi. 25—34. ^ phii, j. (j.