ther or not I shall be restored to my house 4th place, To cast all our care upon and throne, I cannot at present foresee: God, implies a full and unsuspecting debut this I know, that in either case it pendence upon his wisdom and goodness; shall be well with me. If I return to such a dependence as quiets the mind, disJerusalem, I shall again behold this ark, posing it to wait patiently upon God, and and enjoy the Lord my God in his or to accept with thankfulness whatsoever he dinances; but if my God hath no farther is pleased to appoint. The Christian who service for me on this earth, I shall go to hath learned this important lesson, not that place where there is no occasion for only brings his cares to the throne of external means of correspondence and in-grace, but there also he leaves them, and, tercourse. Behold, here I lie at the dis-like Hannah, returns with his countenance posal of my Father and my King, equally no more sad. Having, "by prayer and prepared to live or to die; to reign once supplication, with thanksgiving, made hist more in the earthly Jerusalem, or to take requests known to God," his mind is at up my eternal residence in the Jerusalem that is above.—This unlimited resignation to the will of God makes an essential part of the duty which my text recommends. It further implies, rest," he is careful for nothing; " he hath put all his interests into the best hands; he hath committed them to One, who is too wise to bestow what is hurtful, and too kind to withhold what is good. In con3dly. That we renounce all confidence sequence whereof, "the peace of God, that in the creature, and place our trust in God passeth all understanding, keeps his heart alone. We are required, you see, to cast and mind through Jesus Christ." This ALL our care upon him; not a part, but gracious temper brings not only rest, but the whole. For thus it is written, (Jer. liberty to the soul. It breaks all those xvii. 5, 8.) "Cursed be the man that fetters in pieces, by which the covetous, trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, the ambitious, the voluptuous, are chained and whose heart departeth from the Lord. to a present world, and dragged at the For he shall be like the heath in the de- heels of those worse than Egyptian tasksert, and shall not see when good cometh, masters, "the lust of the eye, the lust of and shall inhabit the parched places in the flesh, and the pride of life." Whatthe wilderness, in a salt land and not in-ever God willeth is pleasing to the sanctihabited." Whereas, "Blessed is the man fied believer; and the light of his Father's that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope countenance, amidst the deepest and most the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree complicated distress, puts greater gladness planted by the waters, and that spreadeth | into his heart than the sensualist can feel, out her roots by the river, and shall not or is capable of conceiving, when his corn see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall and wine do most abound. It is this that be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." A divided trust between God and the creature, is as foolish and unsafe, as to set one foot upon a rock and the other upon the quicksand. We must, as I formerly observed, be diligent in the use of means; for thus the commandment "Trust in the Lord, and do good;" but at the same time we must look beyond and above all means to God himself for success; saying, as David did, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expec. tation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge is on God." Once more, in the runs, gives the Christian the true enjoyment of another. Whereas the man who hath been taught to cast his care upon God, can sit cheerfully at the feast which Providence affords him, and think of his dying hour without diminishing the relish of his present enjoyment. Like David, (Psal. xxiii.) he can look forward without dismay, to his walk through the valley and shadow of death; and, while the gloomy object is in his eye, he can say to his God with thankful praise, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over: surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." ed abroad throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia." Such persons were not likely to enjoy much worldly ease or affluence; and indeed we have positive evidence that they did not; for we are told expressly, that "they were in heaviness through manifold temptations," reproached as evil-doers, and cruelly persecuted for the name of Christ. Nay, as if these trials had been only the beginning of sorrows, the apostle forewarns them, at the 12th verse of the preceding chapter, that they were soon to enter upon a new scene of sufferings; the severity of which should far exceed any thing they had yet felt. "Beloved," saith he, "think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; THUS have I opened the meaning of the exhortation, and at the same time attempted to give you a general view of the dig-but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers nity and excellence of the temper it re- of Christ's sufferings; that when his glory commends. But the most persuasive shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with motive to the practice of this duty, is that exceeding joy." which the apostle himself maketh use of in the close of the verse, where he giveth full assurance to believers in Christ, that God, in a peculiar manner, careth for them. To this I shall proceed in my next discourse. May God lead us by his Spirit to the knowledge of our duty, and dispose us by his grace to the love and practice of it, for Christ's sake. Amen. SERMON XXXIV. THE CHRISTIAN CHRIST'S CARE. We can hardly doubt, that such an awful prospect would beget many anxious, disquieting thoughts. Cares it behooved them to have; not about the trivial accommodations of a present life, theirs would be of a more serious and important nature: How they should quit themselves like men, and maintain their ground against the craft of seducers, and the furious attacks of persecuting zeal; how they should adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour, and "cut off occasion from those who desired occasion to blaspheme that worthy name by which they were called; "' above all, how they should recommend religion 1 PETER V. 7.—“ Casting all your care upon н, to the esteem and choice of their enemies, for нE careth for you." HIM, and become the instruments of saving from eternal death those who thirsted for their own blood, and treated them like the filth and offscouring of all things. Such, we may suppose, would be the principal cares of persecuted saints; and all these they are exhorted to cast upon God: For, adds the apostle, God careth for you. This is the argument which I shall now endeavor to illustrate, THESE words contain a pressing exhortation to an important duty, and a most persuasive argument to enforce the practice of it. It was an apostle of Christ who gave the exhortation, and he addressed it to believers in Christ; not to those who barely professed Christianity in opposition to Heathenism, but to real saints, as distinguished from mere nominal Christians, "who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof." What their condition 2. By showing its propriety and strength was with respect to external things, partly for engaging us to cast our care upon God. appears from the inscription of the epistle, I. WHEN We consider the character of where they are called "strangers, scatter- the persons to whom this exhortation was 1. By laying before you the evidence of its truth; and, Our Father in heaven hath in a man originally addressed, it will readily occur to us, that the apostle means something ner laid open his heart to us, and told us more by the care of God, than that gene- plainly what we may lawfully ask and hope ral providence which extends to all the to obtain. He hath published his good-will creatures he hath made. The care he in a variety of great and precious promspeaks of, is that peculiar and affectionate ises; promises that extend to all the neregard to the saints which he had before cessities of his children; insomuch, that described, (chap. iii. 12.) "The eyes of be their condition what it will, they may the Lord are over the righteous, and his find some gracious declaration of what ears are open unto their prayers; but the God hath purposed to do, which suits their face of the Lord is against them that do case with as much precision and exactness, evil." Thus it is written, that "he with- as if their particular distress had been the draweth not his eye from the righteous." immediate occasion of it. Or if any "The Lord is God," saith the prophet calamity should present itself to their imNahum, a strong hold in the day of agination, against which no effectual protrouble, and he knoweth them that trust vision appears to have been made, there in him." Many other passages might be is one promise upon record, to which the quoted which assert, in the most explicit believing soul may at all times retreat, terms, that God careth for his saints in (Rom. viii. 28.) "We know that all things another manner than he doth for the rest work together for good to them that love of the world. But that you may have a God, to them who are the called according more extensive and encouraging view of to his purpose." These are the words of the evidence of this truth, consider him who is unchangeable, "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, without any variableness or shadow of turning." Hear what he saith, (Isa. xlix. 15.) "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb ? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." And that we may have fuller assurance of this, we are told by the prophet Malachi, that a book of remembrance is written before God, for them that fear the Lord, and that think upon his name." Nay, the Scriptures inform us, that there is One in heaven, infinitely dear to the Father, who is not only a faithful Remembrancer, but a powerful Advocate, and unwearied Intercessor, in behalf of all who come to God by "him.' How intimately the saints are related to God. "Behold," saith the apostle John in name of all the faithful," behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." Nor is this a mere title of honor; the persons on whom it is conferred are invested with a full and unalterable right to all those privileges which the title imports; for, as St. Paul reasons, "If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." And can it be supposed, that the Father of mercies will abandon his own offspring? Do earthly parents care for their children? and can he who hath implanted that disposition in their nature, be unconcerned about those whom he hath adopted into his And this may be considered as, an adfamily, and regenerated by his Spirit? Is ditional ground of assurance that believers it possible that the streams should have are the objects of God's peculiar care. more sweetness than the fountain whence" We have a great High-Priest, who is they flow? No, surely. "If men, being evil, know how to give good gifts to their children, much more will the Father of mercies give good things unto them that ask him." And is not this a solid ground of confidence and hope? Every believer in Christ may expect all from God, and infinitely more, than any child can expect from the most affectionate and tenderhearted parent upon earth. But this is not all for passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, who constantly appears in the presence of God for us." Thus John beheld him in vision, "standing in the midst of the throne, as a Lamb that had been slain," displaying those wounds which he received, when "he bore our sins in his own body on the tree," as so many mouths filled with the most prevailing arguments for mercy and grace to his redeemed ones, whom he then did, and still doth, repre of his peculiar people? Nothing can be conceived more formidable than Pharaoh's preparation against the Israelites; the whole strength of an extensive and potent empire employed against an undisciplined company of fugitives, who had long been dispirited by oppression and slavery: but though the bush was all in flame, yet it was not consumed. when the enemy said, "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my lust shall be satisfied on them, I will draw the sword, my hand shall destroy them :"-then the sea opened sent. We have a specimen of his intercession recorded by that apostle in the 17th chapter of his gospel; where, among other tender and affectionate requests, we find the following remarkable words: "Now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." In a passage for their escape, and overwhelmsuch terms did our Lord recommend his ed their enemies; "God did blow with his immediate followers, and all his disciples wind, the sea covered them, they sank as in succeeding generations, to the protec- lead in the mighty waters." How wontion and care of his heavenly Father. derful were the steps of Joseph's advanceAnd may not this beget in us the fullest ment to which his father and brethren owed and most joyful assurance, that God doth, their preservation in a time of famine ? and always will, care for them? And And no less wonderful was the defeat of still more, when we consider, that he who Haman's wicked attempt to cut off the thus intercedes in their behalf, is himself whole nation of the Jews as one man. In possessed of all power in heaven and in either case the failing of one circumstance earth, and is constituted Head over all would have varied the event; and yet each things for the church. "I am he," said circumstance in both, when viewed apart, he, that was dead and am now alive, and seems purely accidental; nay, some of behold I live for evermore, and have the them appear at first sight rather adverse keys of hell and of death." than favorable. And lest any should imagine that these, and other deliverances of the like nature, were really casual, and therefore no proofs of God's gracious protection, let it be observed, that in two of the instances I have mentioned, the events were the direct and immediate answers of prayer. Thus the Red Sea was divided when Moses and the children of Israel "cried unto the Lord." And Haman's plot was detected and broken on that very day which Esther and Mordecai had set apart for fasting and prayer. To which I may add, that Asa obtained a complete victory over his enemies, after he had uttered that fervent supplication, "Help us, O Lord our God." And the apostle Peter was brought out of prison by the ministry of an angel, on that very night when prayer was offered up by the church in his behalf. These are some of the evidences which the Scriptures afford us, that God careth for sanctified believers. The relation he bears to them, the promises he hath given to them, the constant prevailing intercession of his Son, together with the power committed to him as King of Zion, all concur to secure this important benefit. But I have further to add, that we have the evidence of facts, as well as of arguments, to establish our faith of the divine care and protection. The sacred records bear witness, that God hath been the dwelling-place of his people in all generations, and give us abundant reason to say, with David, “Our fathers trusted in thee; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered; they trusted in thee, and were not confounded." And God is always in one mind: "He is the rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." What signal appearances hath he made in every age for the protection and safety You see, then, upon the whole, that the truth of the apostle's assertion in the text is supported and confirmed by every kind of evidence we could wish to obtain. Let us now consider, II. THE propriety and force of the argu ment for engaging us to cast our care upon God. This branch of the subject will need little illustration. For, in what proportion, pain, or sickness, or 1st. If God careth for us, then we have one to care for us who is infinitely wise, who is perfectly acquainted with all our wants, and can never mistake in judging what is best for us. We may choose many things apparently good, the possession of which would prove hurtful to our souls; for, as Solomon observed long ago, (and daily experience confirms the observation) "No man knoweth what is good for man in this life." There are many latent seeds of corruption in our hearts that we do not at present suspect, and perhaps shall never discover, unless a proper temptation bring them forth to our view. David, whose conscience was so tender in the wilderness, that it smote him for cutting off the skirt of Saul's garment, continued insensible for a long time under the most aggravated guilt, after he was fixed in the peaceable possession of a throne. Hezekiah, whose devotion was so humble and ardent in the time of his sickness, waxed proud and vain-glorious when restored to health; insomuch that "he brought wrath upon himself, and upon Judah, and upon Jerusalem." Many who, in a low estate, were humane and kind, and did good with the little they possessed, have been so intoxicated with the full cup of prosperity, that, for a season at least, they have forgotten themselves, their neighbor, nay, their God, and become quite the reverse of what they formerly appeared to be. One thing is certain, that if left to our own choice we should never feel distress or affliction of any kind; and yet the Scriptures assure us, and our own observation may convince 2dly. That his power is equal to his us of the truth of it, that adversity is more wisdom. "Whatsoever the Lord pleaseth, friendly to religion than prosperity. Our that doth he in heaven, in the earth, and diseased nature requires bitter medicines in the sea, and in all deep places." He much oftener than cordials; even the best causeth the wrath of man to praise him; need frequently to be dieted, and brought and the remainder thereof he is able to low, to keep their feverish passions and restrain. All the power of the creatures appetites within bounds. Now God is is derived from him, and dependent upon perfectly acquainted with all the tenden- him. The haughtiest tyrant upon earth cies of our nature, and can therefore judge is only the rod of his anger, which he with unerring skill what things are best employs for a season, and then breaketh for us, and most conducive to our interest. in pieces, and throws it away. When He knows what measure of health, or Pilate said to our Lord, "Knowest thou riches, or honors, we shall be able to bear, not that I have power to crucify thee, or be disposed to improve; when, and] and power to release thee?" he at once |