will bring to pass what concerns them in this respect in due season. Meantime, let them cast all their care upon him, since he careth for them; let them be anxious for nothing, but submit to his disposal, as the best and most desirable. When persons have been blessed with children, and begin to think of their maintenance, education, and provision; they have many anxious cares how they shall support them with honour, and promote their future success in the world. But their first care should be, to train them up " in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" to instil into their minds the principles of virtue; and by prudent discipline, to qualify them for acting their part in society, with dignity and honour. Thus, they may expect that their children shall walk in the truth, and be blessings in their generation; by the possession and exercise of every good disposition, and by passing their days in the fear of God. But, as the divine blessing alone can render them virtuous and happy; therefore it should be the care of parents to implore the grace of God, and the protection of his providence, to guide their children in all their ways. Then shall they be enabled to proceed through all the perils of life with integrity, and walk in the path appointed them, and not stumble. Thus, let them cast all the cares of their family upon God, since he careth for them.

When people have established themselves in those respective professions, by which they must earn their subsistence; they are often careful about accumulating a portion of this world's goods, and deem it indispensable to acquire such a share of wealth, as may support themselves in the station which they occupy. This is doubtless a reasonable wish, since the comforts of life are necessary to render us easy and contented. They can only be attained, however, by success in our pursuits, and prosperity in all that we put our hands unto. But how is success ensured; is it not by steady conduct, and "the blessing from on high, which maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow?" Yet notwithstanding our integrity and steadiness, if we suffer anxiety about the issue of our affairs to perplex our minds, this will be a constant source of

vexation of spirit. For; while human schemes are subject to a thousand accidents; we must be uncertain about the events which may ensue, to disappoint our expectations. But if, when we have done all that prudence recommends, we then trust to the divine disposal, this will relieve us from anxious cares; since we believe that God will make all things contribute to our welfare. If we supplicate his favour and loving-kindness, this will engage him to make our way prosperous; or if misfortunes should befal us, we shall be resigned to the will of him who lifteth us up, or bringeth us low. Thus, let us cast all our cares upon God, since he careth for us.When we are placed in comfortable circumstances, we often dread a change for the worse, which occasions many an uneasy reflection. Though we are now sufficiently fortunate in our worldly business, and though our families are flourishing around us; yet we think, a time may come, when we shall no longer enjoy our present advantages, and we shall be bereft of those in whom our hearts delight. The evils of human life are indeed appalling to the mind, even in the prospect; and render many men all their life-time subject to bondage. But, if religion taught us to trust in God, that he will still continue to bless us, and to do us good; such desponding anticipations would be banished from our breasts, and we would have no apprehension of contingent disasters. Let us therefore pray, "that God would never leave us, nor forsake us ;" let us cast all our care upon him, since he careth for us. When also, we look forward to old age, and conceive ourselves reduced to poverty and indigence, such a melancholy scene is sufficient to stir up dejection and anxiety. Indeed, the forlorn condition of the aged, who have none to help them, is in a high degree deplorable; and therefore it is no wonder that the stoutest heart should be alarmed at the prospect. But if we trusted, that he who has hitherto guided us all our life long, will not forsake us in our old age, but will furnish means for our accommodation and support; this would be an anchor of hope to which we could cling, whenever the billows of adversity would overwhelm our souls. Let us

X

therefore cast all our care upon God, since he careth, and will still care for us.-When, lastly, we perceive our final hour approaching, and enter the valley of the shadow of death, we may dread the passage which we have to tread; but let us fear no evil, since the rod and staff of divine assistance, which hath supported us during our earthly pilgrimage, will strengthen our hands when we come to grapple with our deadly foe. If we have made God our confidence, and secured his favour, he will enable us to support the contest with becoming fortitude; "he will help us, yea he will uphold us with the right hand of his righteousness." Let us in our last moments apply to him for succour, and he will impart to our souls a stedfast hope of coming off more than conquerors; and enable us to say, "O death! where is thy sting? 0 grave! where is thy victory? thanks be to God, who giveth me the victory through Jesus Christ my Lord." Now let me die in peace, for mine eyes shall see thy

salvation.

Having thus explained the nature of trust in divine providence, I proceed to consider,

II. The proofs afforded by experience and scripture, that God careth for us.

It has always been a tenet maintained by mankind in every age of the world, that God superintends and directs the system of the universe in general; and even extends his care to the children of men in particular. The evidence for this universal agency of divine providence, is derived from the nature of God; the nature of his creatures; and the experience which we have, of our dependence on some power superior to ourselves. As God hath created the world and its inhabitants, it is reasonable to suppose that he will support them by his protection. And indeed he manifests his loving-kindness in ministering to the wants of man and beast. He hath furnished the world with abundant stores of provision, for supporting the lives of all his creatures. He hath given them instincts, by which they are enabled to select their food, and preserve themselves and their tender off

spring. He hath also supplied the human race with food convenient for them, by causing the earth to produce such plants and vegetables, as afford them sufficient means of subsistence. He interposes in the direction of second causes, for promoting the welfare of mankind, or punishing them for their iniquity. Thus, he over-rules the elements of heaven, and changes the temperature of the air, so as to occasion an early or a backward spring, a fruitful or a barren season: he facilitates or retards the designs of men by the influence of wind and weather, and causeth their influence to be favourable or unfavourable, "whether for correction or for mercy." These are effects which we observe produced in the natural world, that can only be ascribed to the interposition of him whose kingdom ruleth over all. In like manner, many casual events befal us in the course of our lives, which seem to happen by chance; but though we see no visible cause of their occurrence, they are arranged and appointed by the direction of him "who worketh all things after the counsel of his will."We know not indeed the manner in which the Deity operates in conducting human affairs; but as the hearts of all men are in his hands, and he turneth them whithersoever he willeth; therefore it is easy to conceive that he may employ the concurrence of his creatures, in bringing about whatever he hath determined respecting them. As their lives are also in his hands, and every change in their condition ordained by his decree, therefore his providence exerts its influence in arranging every circumstance of their lot, for promoting the purposes which he had designed by sending them into the world. Accordingly scripture informs us, that "though a man's heart may devise his way, yet the Lord directeth his steps." And our Saviour, who knew the divine counsels which are exercised over human affairs, informs us, that providence is so particularly interested in over-ruling every event which occurs in the world, that "not even a sparrow can fall to the ground" without its notice; and that the very "hairs of our head are numbered." Such, then, are the general proofs afforded by reason, experience, and scripture, for demonstrating

the truth of the position in the text;-that God careth for us.

But this doctrine may be more explicitly verified, by an appeal to facts, which are manifest to the observation of every one, who reflects on what has happened in the course of his own life, and the lives of others. Through the various stages of our existence, we have experienced the loving-kindness and tender mercy of our heavenly Father. When we were born, the providence of God interposed, to appoint our lot in that part of the world which we inhabit. To what cause, but a superintending ordination, are we to ascribe the time and place of our birth; the constitution of our bodies; and the powers of our minds? These are entirely subject to the appointment of our Maker, who giveth unto all men, life, and breath, and all things. To the same supreme allotment, do we owe our descent from our parents according to the flesh; and the station in which, by their means, we were originally placed on our entrance into life. Thus, our Almighty Creator hath" appointed the times beforehand, and fixed the bounds of our habitation."-During our years of infancy and childhood, have we not had reason to acknowledge the interposition of providence in our behalf, in preserving us from innumerable diseases to which we were exposed; and preserving us alive, while many as healthy and vigorous as ourselves have been cut off from the land of the living? To what cause but the will of God, can we ascribe that measure of health which we now enjoy; while so many are confined to beds of languishing, and spend their days in sorrow, and without hope?-If we take a retrospect of our past lives, have we not also reason to consider our worldly employments, as appointed by the guidance of him," in whose hands our lives are, and whose are all our ways?" We have perhaps been placed in such circumstances as determined us to fix on a certain profession; or by our own inclination and the advice of our friends, have been induced to betake ourselves to one, which might not have been expected in those of our condition. And God has, in the course of his providence, enabled us to accomplish the