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SERM. where the ordinary ones will fuffice without VII. our own fault or neglect, yet even those

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ordinary ones themselves are owing to the fame goodness, and derive their efficacy from the blefling of that God who has appointed their refpective ufe and tendency. Such things are ufually reckoned the effects or works of nature, and do not affect us with the fame wonder and astonishment as those which ftrike out of the ufual method, and are called miraculous.

But what is Nature, let us feriously put the question, besides the will and appointment of the Supream Being, who has fixed to himself a certain rule or method, in which he will ordinarily govern and uphold the Univerfe? Which furely cannot reprefent it to be lefs his act and deed, or lefs wonderful in itself, than when, for fpecial reafons, he chooses to act after a new and extraordinary method in the government and prefervation of his creatures. They are both alike the work and doing of the fame Agent, and effects of his Almighty power, only in the one case he acts according to a fixed and ftated method, in the other by a fpecial and particular appointment.

Obferve by what a train of wonders our daily fuftenance is provided and fecured to us; how the warmth of the fun, and the moisture of the clouds, do mutually con

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fpire to promote the pregnancy and ferti- SER M. lity of the foil;-how, after this, the VII. juices of the earth do, in a myfterious manner, impregnate and augment the feeds committed to them, and convert in great variety to the substances of fruits and Howers, fo that the several species of herbs and plants, the corn and grass of the field, do grow and Spring up we know not how how again by being digefted and improved to the nourishment of Animals, or otherwife dreffed and prepared by culinary arts, it is fitted and made ready for the food of men;-how, laftly, this is all fo fuited to our frame and conftitution, as to affimilate in just measure and proportion to the fubftance of our bodies, the organs whereof are preferved in fuch tone and capacity, as may qualify them to digest and difperfe it for that purpose.

And can we think it after all to be the refult of chance or any limited power, that these natural caufes (as we are apt to call them) do act with fuch harmony and regularity, and all confpire together to our ufe and fatisfaction? Shall we not much rather refer it to the wife defign and forecaft of the Author of nature, who alone could beftow thofe faculties and powers on the creatures of his workmanship, or preferve them in the ufe, and direct the ap plication of them? It is be that both minif

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SERM.treth feed to the fower, and multiplies the VII. feed fown. It is he that maketh corn to grow out of the earth, that provides bread to ftrengthen, and wine to exhilarate the heart of man. It is he that giveth rain and fruitful feafons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Neither the vegetable œconomy by which fruits are produced out of the earth, nor the animal œconomy, by which they are made to ferve to the nutriment of living bodies; they are neither of them the refult of our own art and contrivance, nor are we able fo much as to conceive or comprehend the manner in which they are conducted.

The confequence hereof must be, that this is the daily and continual work of Providence, which ought not furely to abate our admiration of that power, wisdom, and goodness, by which it is effected, nor leffen the tribute of our praise and gratitude.

It is owing then to the Divine bleffing and appointment, that the ufual provisions which are made for our fuftenance do anfwer that end and purpose for which they are afforded us. And if the fame bleffing and appointment should be imparted in any other way or method, then that would be effectual to the fame end, and ferve in like manner to the preservation of life.

When

When Daniel, in obedience to the law SER M. of God, refused the King of Babylon's VII. meat, the officer, to whofe care he was committed, was apprehensive left his spare diet should discover itself in the ill habit of his body, and endanger the King's displea fure for neglecting his appointment. But the effect (we read) was contrary; the Divine bleffing followed his obedience to the Divine law, fo that both Daniel and his three companions improved more upon plain pulfe and water, than those other children of the captivity who consented to drink of the wine, and eat of the provifions appointed them at Babylon *.

And as the coarseness of the diet was no impediment to their nutrition, fo where all diet has been wanting (as in the cafe of the Ifraelites before us) God has been pleased to supply it in a new and unaccuftomed manner, by fending bread immediately from heaven, when the barrenness of the foil, or the want of proper cultivation had occafioned the deficiency.

At other times (as in the cafe of Elijah with the widow of Sarepta, and those multitudes that followed our Saviour in the wilderness) he has wonderfully multiplied a fmall ftock of provifions, to fatisfy fuch great numbers of people, or last for such a period of time, as could not be, accord* Dan. i. 8, 10, 15.

SERM. ing to the ufual course of things, or by any VII. means expected from them.

Yet neither are we allowed from fuch instances as these to prescribe any method to Divine Providence. The fame power which provides our food, either in the natural course of things or by a miracle, is likewise able to sustain our bodies and fupport life without any food at all, or continue the nourishment fupplied by it thro' a long and extraordinary space of time, when that shall appear moft fitting and expedient to his godly wifdom. So it was that Mofes and the bleffed Jefus, the Jewifb Lawgiver in the Old Teftament, and the Chriftian Lawgiver in the New, were both of them fuftain'd for forty days together, without eating or drinking thro' that whole fpace of time. To which we may add the like example of the prophet Elijah. And when the Devil would have taken advantage of this abftinence to tempt our bleffed Saviour, that if he were the Son of God, he would command the ftones in the defart to become bread to fatisfy his hunger; our Lord baffled and repelled the Tempter's fubtilty, by alledging this Text of Mofes, which teaches, that the method of our fuftenance ought to be submitted to the care of Providence :-It is written (fays he) Man fhall not live by bread alone,

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