of this consistency which exposes religion to the scoff of those who hate it, and does it more hurt than all the books that ever were written against it; as the examples of those, who, in despite of temptations, hold them fast by God, and continue steadfast unto the end, do it, perhaps, more good than all the books that ever were written for it. Of this, however, rest assured, that, try as long as you will, and be as cunning as you please, "you cannot serve God and "mammon."

"Therefore," continues Christ, "I say unto you, "be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or "what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." An unreasonable anxiety and solicitude about the things of the world, even food and raiment, the necessaries of life, is plainly deemed by our Lord to be a serving of mammon. He who is so intent even on the means of subsistence, as to lose all the satisfaction of it, has but little faith. He is, in effect, an unbeliever. On the other hand, to rely so much upon providence, as to do nothing at all, is to tempt God. But to labour without placing our trust and confidence in our labour, expecting all from the blessing of God; this is to obey him, to work with his providence, to set the springs of it a going, and to imitate Christ and the saints by a sedate care and an industrious confidence. He whose mind, through the influence of religion upon it, is calm and resigned, will always exert his diligence to the best advantage. Fretfulness and impatience not only do not assist, but they hinder. A person in this state has not the use of his powers and faculties,

which he otherwise would have; besides that the Holy Spirit of God flies from such a temper, delighting to dwell in a meek, quiet, and contented heart. -But, perhaps, you have not things as you could wish to have them, through some fault or mismanagement of your own; and it is this which troubles you. You have made some false step. Nothing more probable. We all make many. The famous Marshal Turenne, who was a good man, as well as a great general, used to say, he was not more obliged to any of his friends, than to one who had given him, at his first setting out in life, the following piece of advice: "When you have made a false step, spend "not a moment in vexing yourself, and moaning over "it; but consider how it may best be repaired, and instantly set about ita.”

Christ, in his divine discourse, lays down several reasons why men should not disquiet themselves about the wants of life, or concerning the future; but, having done their part, should repose themselves in full confidence of the goodness of God.

"The mountainous nature of this country (the Pays, de "Vaud) subjects it to frequent torrents, which, when violent, "sweep away vines, soil, and walls, in one common destruction. "The inhabitants behold the havock with a steady concern, "and, without giving way to the clamorous rage of the French, "or sinking into the gloomy despair of the English, think only "of the most effectual means of repairing the loss.-As soon as "the storm has abated, they begin, with admirable patience "and perseverance, to rebuild the walls, to carry fresh earth "on hurdles to the top of the mountain, and to spread a new "soil wherever the old one has been washed away." MOORE's View of Society and Manners in France, Swisserland, &c. I. 313.

The first reason is, the experience of greater benefits already received. "Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? You are uneasy lest you should want proper food to support life, and proper raiment to clothe the body. Life and the body are certainly greater gifts than food and raiment. Who gave you them? God gave them; and gave them of his own will, before you could be in a capacity to ask them. Will not he who gave the greater, give the less? Will not he who gave life and the body, take care they shall be supported and clothed? Will he, who gave what you could not ask, withhold what you can and do ask at his hands? It is ingratitude to distrust your best Benefactor. Consider, likewise, under this head, the proofs you have had of God's kindness in providing for you hitherto : look back on your past life, and mark the blessings of various kinds that have distinguished the several parts of it; the difficulties you have surmounted, the dangers you have escaped, and the favourable circumstances and connexions into which you have been led. Why should you apprehend, that he who has been with you all your life long, should now be with you no longer? Recollect the promise, "I will

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never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Above all things, forget not that greatest and most stupendous of mercies, that best and unspeakable gift of God, and the unanswerable argument formed upon the consideration of it by the apostle, "He who' "spared not his own Son, but gave him up for "us all, how shall he not with him also freely give

"us all things?"-Reflect on this, and "be not faithless, but believing."

The second reason alleged by Christ is, the example of the lesser animals, which the providence of God feeds without their own labour. "Behold "the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do "they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your hea"venly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much "better than they?"

The little innocent inhabitants of the air, which are continually flying around us, were not created only for the use of the body of man. They serve higher and nobler ends. They often read lectures to which the greatest philosopher might attend, and be the better for them, if he would consider and apply them aright. When, therefore, you behold one of these choristers of heaven singing upon a naked bush, amidst the darkness and desolation of winter, might you not address it in some such manner as the following?" Sweet bird, how cheerfully dost thou "sit and sing; and yet knowest not where thou art, nor where thou shalt make thy next meal, and at night must shroud thyself in this same bush for a lodging, while the winds shall howl through it, and

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thy feathers shall be wet with the rain, or covered "with the snow! How ought I to blush, who see be"fore me such liberal provisions of my God, and

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find myself sitting warm under my own roof, yet

am ready to droop through a distrustful and un"thankful dulness! Had I so little certainty of my support and shelter, how anxious and heartless

"should I be; how little disposed to make music for "thee or myself? Surely thou camest not hither "without a Providence; God sent thee not so much "to delight, as to shame me out of my sullen unbelief, who, under far more apparent means of maintenance and protection, am less cheerful and con"fident. Reason and faith, alas! alas! have not yet done for me what mere instinct does for "thee; and want of foresight makes thee more merry, if not more happy here, than the foresight of better things maketh me. Certainly, thy pro"vidence, O God, is not impaired by those supe"rior powers thou hast given me; let not my

greater helps hinder me from possessing a holy "security, and comfortable reliance on thee. I "never knew an earthly Father take care of his "fowls and neglect his children; and shall I sus

pect this of my heavenly Father? That man is un"worthy to have God for his father in heaven, who depends less upon his goodness, wisdom, and power, than upon a crop of corn, which may be spoiled either in the field or the barn"."

But forcibly as these little animals teach, the parts of inanimate nature are by no means behind-hand with them. Walk into a flower-garden, and see with what beautiful garments God has invested the perishable grass, which, to-day is, and to-morrow withers away. Above the rest, look at the lovely white of the lily, pure and spotless as its parent, the

See Bp. HALL'S Occasional Meditations, No. xiv.; and QUESNELL in loc.