t Wisd. V. 4 — 6. u Isai. Iv. 1—3.
* ver. 13 — 18. y Luke xiv. 23.
773.] god's care for the righteous. 95
god's care for the righteous.
Prov. X. 3. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous
to famish.
GOD, who is the author and giver of all good, dis- penses his blessings no less to the evil and unjust, than to the good and just. But he promises to those who seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, that all other things shall be added unto them. To this effect he speaks also in the passage before us. But though this be the primary import of the text, we must not exclude its relation also to the concerns of the soul.
To elucidate this blessed promise, we shall shew, I. What reasons the righteous have to apprehend that their souls may famish —
A sense of weakness and of guilt may greatly dis- courage them : for,
1. They cannot secure provisions for themselves — [The word of God, and Christ in the word, is the proper
food of the soul : and, if a person can read, he need not be wholly destitute. But it is by the public ministration of the word that God principally confirms the souls of his people. Now in many places where Christ should be preached, his name is scarcely heard ; and, instead of children's bread, little is dispensed besides the husks of heathen morality. Even where some attention is paid to Christian doctrines, there is often much chaff mixed with the wheat ; and " the trumpet that is blown, gives but an uncertain sound." Those therefore who by reason of distance, or infirmity, or other insurmountable obstacles, cannot have access to the purer fountains of truth, have great reason to fear that their souls will famish.]
2. They cannot, of themselves, feed upon the pro- visions set before them —
[Where all the treasures of the Gospel are fully opened, it is God alone that can enrich any soul by means of them : even " Paul may plant, or Apollos may water, but it is God alone that can give the increase." The very same word is often made a peculiar blessing to one, that was altogether useless to another. God reserves the times and the seasons in his own hands; and " gives to every one severally as he will." Wlien therefore the righteous hear of the effects Vvrought on others.