will and pleasure. Let us " cast all our care on him," assured and satisfied that " he careth for us."]
Advice —
Our Lord traces this evil to a want of faith': hence we see what is its proper antidote ; and what advice should be given to all who would avoid it. It is that which our Lord himself repeatedly gave to his Dis- ciples, to compose their minds under trials \ and to qualify them for every part of their arduous under- taking : " Have faith in God V Believe in him,
1 . As a God of providence —
[Men think they honour God when they limit his opera- tions to what they call great things : but, in fact, they dishonour him exceedingly, for they judge of him by themselves ; and, because they would be distracted by a multitude of little con- cerns, they think that He would be also ; or, at least, that they are unworthy of his attention. But there is nothing, however minute, which he does not order and overrule with as much care as he does the rise and fall of empires. " The very hairs of our head are all numbered." Let this then be a fixed prin- ciple in the mind, that " there is neither good nor evil in the city, but the Lord himself is the doer of it." As for men and devils, they are all, however unconscious of it, mere agents of his, *' a sword in his hand," with which he effects his own gra- cious purposes. Be it so then, that we are destitute both of food and raiment for the morrow, and that we know not where to obtain a supply of either, we need not be anxious: for " godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come ; " and if we call upon him, his word shall be verified, which saith, " They who seek the Lord, shall want no manner of thing that is good :" yea, the very straits and difficulties which we now feel, are " working together for our good," and shall hereafter form a ground of praise and thanksgiving to our God.]
2. As a God of grace —
[It is this view of God that will in a moment silence every doubt and fear. Who can reflect on what he has done, in giving his only dear Son to die for us, and his Holy Spirit to renew and sanctify us, and doubt whether he will overlook our necessities, either of soul or body ? Hear St. Paul's opinion of that matter: " He that spared not his own Son, but deli- vered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" The Apostle seems surprised that such a
» ver. 30. ^ John xiv. 1. ' Mark xi. 22.