providence tell you all this?-By the subversion of your schemes; by the disappointment of your hopes; by the situation and circumstances in which you are placed?

Does any thing come to pass by chance? Are not the very hairs of your head all numbered?— Does God take care for oxen? does he feed the fowls of the air? does he clothe the grass of the field? And does he abandon friends? children? No: he appoints, arranges, overrules all your concerns. This consideration repressed the ferment of unsanctified passion in David-"I was dumb; I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it," This calmed Job: though the Chaldeans, the Sabeans, and the elements of nature had deprived him of all; he looks beyond them to one, the discovery of whom hushed all his passions "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord."

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Realize this principle. See the providence of God determining the bounds of your habitations; the age in which you were to live; the stations you were to fill; the comforts you were to enjoy; and the trials you were to endure. And if you have not much of the world, ask-Whence is it? Is it because my Heavenly Father is not able to give me more? No. The silver and the gold are his. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Is it because he has no inclination to indulge me? No: "He takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants."-It is, therefore, to be resolved into the wisdom and kindness of his administration. His wisdom tells him how much I can bear, and his kindness will not suffer him to give me more. His aim is my welfare. The same disposition

which leads him to give, induces him to deny. He corrects and he crowns with the same love. This loss is to enrich me: this sickness is to cure me. I know that "all things work together for good, to them that love God; to them that are the called, according to his purpose."-And to his government, in providence as well as grace, I once solemnly, and have since repeatedly given. up myself. Too ignorant, too impatient, too carnal to choose properly myself, I said, Thou shalt choose my inheritance for me. And shall I find fault with his decision, after beseeching him to decide? And with his guidance, after desiring him to guide?

Consider, VI., How much safer you are with little than with much. Honey does not more powerfully attract bees, than affluence generates temptations. Did you never see men ruined by prosperity? Did you never read the verse following our text?- "But they that will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition; for the love of money is the root of all evil: which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Did you never hear our Saviour saying, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God?" And do you wish to make the way to heaven more difficult than it is, and to render your salvation almost impossible? If desirous of subduing depraved principles and tempers, what madness makes you try to nourish them? Why do you wish to have fewer motives to live by faith? and to have stronger ties of attachment to earth? If you pray to be preserved from evil, why

wish to be led into temptation? Why would you cross the mouth of hell upon a narrow plank?What makes you think that you can sail where others have been wrecked? What a confidence must you have in your own strength, to imagine that where so many have fallen, you can conquer?

Have you duly considered the duties as well as snares of a prosperous condition? "Where much is given, much will be required." We think it a fine thing to be rich; but we do not consider, the awful account the rich will have to give, not only of the manner in which their wealth was obtained, but also of the manner in which it was expended! We'do not consider that they will be responsible for all the good they could have done in spreading the gospel, and in relieving the poor-but which they neglected.

For they are not proprietors of these goods, but only stewards: and the great Lord of heaven and earth will soon say, "Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward."-Produce your account, O ye rich. You had so much intrusted to your care-have you employed it? And how has it been employed?— O the embarrassment, the misery of some! "So much has been wasted in dress: so much in amusements; so much in extravagance of table and furniture."-Depart.

Finally. Consider the brevity of your continuance upon earth, where alone you will need any of these things. "What is your life? It is even as a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." And how much of this fleeting period is already consumed. There may be but a step between you and death. Now

If time be short, your trouble cannot be long. No: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." These light afflictions are but for a moment. Behold the pilgrim! He meets with many disagreeable occurrences: he expects storms: he looks for travellers' farebut says he, Why should I vex myself?-these inconveniences are only for a time: I have better accommodations at home.

Were you ever so prosperous, it is only the sunshine of a day-the evening shades are beginning to spread, and will hide all your glories from your view. Read the verse before the text: "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." Yes, you must leave it all behind; and what will it be to you then? "Lo," said Esau, "I am at the point to die; and what profit shall this birthright do to me ?" So should you say: I am hastening off the stage; the grave is ready for me-of what importance will it be, in a few days, perhaps in a few hours, whether I have been rich or poor? whether I have been honourable or despised?

"Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul; and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish."

“Now, of that which we have spoken, this is the sum: Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted; but the rich, in that he is made low; because as the flower of the grass he

shall pass away; for the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.-Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.-Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die. Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.-Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother; my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever."

Christians, we have been admonishing you to be content with a little of the things of this life; but God forbid you should be satisfied with a little religion-a little grace. Here you should be ambitious; here you should be covetous. It is a holy ambition; it is a heavenly covetousness.You are allowed to seek more; you are commanded to seek more. More is attainable: more is necessary. Therefore, be not only alive in religion-but be lively-do not only bring forth fruit-but much fruit-that your Heavenly Father may be glorified, and that you may appear to be his disciples. Let your faith grow exceed