1. It is unnecessary —
[Let us only look around us, and see what God is doing i?i the animal and vegetable creation ; how he feeds the fowls of the air, which make no provision for themselves ; and clothes with unrivalled beauty the flowers of the field, which have so short a continuance, and such an ignominious end. Can we conceive that God will take less care of us, who are so much higher in the scale of being, and whom he condescends to call his children?
Let us see also what he is doing in and to ourselves. He has given us a body, exquisitely wrought, and fitted to be a temple of the Holy Ghost. He has endued it not only with animal life, but with a rational and immortal soul. These also he has preserved even to the present hour ; and altogether without any aid from us, or any anxiety on our part. If then he has given and upheld these noble faculties and powers, wdll he not give such provision as shall be necessary for the preser- vation of them ? Can we suppose that He who has bestowed upon us so much, will withhold or grudge the food or raiment that are necessary for us ?
Above all, let us see what he has engaged to do for his believing people. They "seek the kingdom of God" to be established in their hearts: they " seek his righteousness" and salvation : they seek " in the first place," and as their one great object, an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the enjoyment of those blessings he has purchased with his blood : and whilst they do this, God has promised that all earthly comforts, as far as they are necessary, " shall be added unto them." Thus, in fact, they have a more secure title to earthly things, and a more certain possession of them, than any other people upon earth. What need is there then for such persons to indulge anxious cares about the world ? Both around them and ivithin them they have an evidence of what God is doing ; and in the Scrip- tures of truth they have a pledge of what God will do. Surely, then, it becomes them to suppress every anxious thought, and to commit all their concerns to the disposal and government of a faithful God.]
2. It is unprofitable —
[ What good can any man obtain by all his anxious cares ? Can he add " one cubit to his stature," or one moment to his age^'i Can he make one hair black or white; or "do even the least thing," which would not as easily be done without any solicitude at all^? On the other hand, does not every
^ This is certainly the meaning of ver. 27. Compare Luke xii. 25, 26.