conversion; and must, without a miracle done to awaken him, die in his sins.

But, brethren, we believe better things of you: "that you are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul;" and, therefore, that you will pray earnestly, for the influence of God's Holy Spirit, with due attendance at his house, and the blessed sacrament of the Lord's Supper; and, by his gracious assistance, will so walk in the duties of a Christian life, that, "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, ye also may appear with him in glory."

223

DISCOURSE XT

PHILIPPIANS, LL

BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING: BUT IN T

PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSH
YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN CNTO GOL

THESE Words contain an exhortation to t very essential duties; trust in God, prayer, and thanksgiving: and the exhortation hath th ground, that God is powerful to effect, wise to chuse, and gracious to bestow, what is good for us. He is, indeed, perfect in power, in wisdom and in goodness: but his works of creation, vidence, and gra

blessed Saviour, "Take no thought for the morrow." In both which places, the meaning is, that we should not suffer our minds to be overborne with anxiety and disquiet, in any situation, or on any occasion; but, when we have used our best reason and judgment in chusing, and our honest skill and diligence in acting, having then done all that belongs to us, we should leave the rest to God; without being uneasy and fearful about the event, which is in his hand, and which he will order as is best for us, if we submit ourselves to Him. This is to trust in God: and the reason of it arises, as well from our weakness, as from his fatherly concern. For so our blessed Saviour argues: "Which of you, by taking thought, can add one cubit to his stature?" Man, in his best estate, is a creature feeble and defenceless, liable to many casualties and dangers: his preservation from which, is an evidence of a perpetual Providence watching over him; and a constant argument for trust in God, without either anxiety or selfconfidence.

Among other instructive lessons, with which the book of Job abounds, we have a lively instance of the weakness and insecurity of our condition, unless the watchful eye, and hand, of Providence be over us, to guard us against the

dangers and miseries that surround us, and are ready to break in upon us. No sooner did the Almighty see fit, for the trial and exercise of this good man's virtues, to remove the hedge that was set about him for his defence, than men and devils invade his happiness. His greedy neighbours spoil his goods, and slay his servants; fire from above consumes the rest; a wind from the desert overturns the house where his sons and daughters were all feasting together, and buries his children in its ruins. His person is next attacked, and his body smitten with sore and grievous boils, from the crown of the head, to the sole of the feet. And the patriarch became at once childless, destitute, and afflicted, who, the day before, was famous among the people of the East, for his prosperity and the glory of his house.

uncommon.

The calamities which Job suffered, were indeed But what was it that rendered them so? It was because God, in his wisdom, was pleased to suspend for a while the ordinary protection of his Providence; and not because any new evils were called up from the bottomless pit, on purpose to torment him. The terror by night, the arrow that flieth by day, the pestilence that walketh in darkness, the destruction that wasteth at noon-day, are always ready to invade

Q

us, as they did him, but that the Almighty controuls their fury. For the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, are His.

These considerations leave no room for confidence in the arm of flesh; at the same time, they remove all just ground of anxiety and disquiet, while we so live, as to make God our friend; without whose high permission, nothing sad or disastrous can befall us. And, although

we may expect to meet with trials for this life is a state of trial, and we see that the good and righteous have their afflictions yet, under a sense of God's disposing and over-ruling providence, we have no reason to be cast down: nay, we have all reason to the contrary, whatever may befall us; since, what is appointed by Him, must be wisely and graciously appointed; either to correct and amend what is amiss, or to try and exercise what is good, in his servants; for their improvement in grace, and preparation for glory.

2. A second duty recommended in the text, is prayer and supplication: for these two words do not differ so much in sense, but that they may be considered as expressing the same duty our encouragement to which rests on the same foundation as trust in God; because his majesty and mercy are infinite.* For when the necessitous

*See Eccles. ii. 18.