they see many dishonouring their holy profession : they feel within themselves also "an evil heart of unhelief;" nor are they ignorant of Satan's devices to overthrow them. More- over, they frequently anticipate future evils; and tremble, lest in the day of adversity they should faint. Thus do they torment themselves with anxious and desponding fears.]
It is their duty, however, to " cast their care on God"—
[To cast their care upon any creature would be fruitless, and it would involve them in the deepest guiltb. God alone is able to sustain their burthen : on him they are commanded to cast it°x they must do so in the exercise of faith and prayer d ; nor are any cares whatever to be excepted, " Cast all your care," &c. : none are so small but they shall be regarded, none so great but they shall be alleviated.]
There is a backwardness in many, to comply with this duty.
II. Their encouragement to perform it —
God extends his care to the whole creation ; but in a more especial manner careth for his people —
[He conducted the Jews through the wilderness : he in- terposed for them in all their dangers : he supplied their every wante. Thus, though less visibly, he still i*egards those who trust in him. He watches over them for goodf : he limits and restrains all their adversaries6: he sympathizes with them in all their afflictions11: he imparts to them all temporal and spiritual blessings': he hears and answers all their supplica- tionsk: he accounts them his most inestimable treasure1: he communes with them as his sons and daughters™ : he takes upon him the management of all their concerns".]
What encouragement does this afford us to trust in him !
Our Guardian and Protector is infinitely wise0 —
[He knows what trials we stand in need of: he can suit all the circumstances of them to our necessities: he can over- rule them for our eternal benefit.]
fc Jer. xvii. 5. c Ps. lv. 22. <* Phil. iv. 6, 7.
e Ps. cv. 39—41. f 2 Chron. xvi. 9. e Ps. lxxvi. 10.
h Isai. lxiii. 9. Heb. iv. 15. ' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11.
k John xv. 7. 1 Mai. iii. 17. m 2 Cor. vi. 18. n Isai. xlvi. 4. ° Isai. xxviii. 29.