the Lord of man's heart could have faid unto Moab, and said it with efficacy, "Let "mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be "thou a covert to them from the face of the "fpoiler?" Thus, when it pleaseth him, 'he can open a fanctuary for his people in the midst of their foes, and make these very foes the protectors of his people. In fhort, "with God all things are poffible." He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can afk or think. This good old Jacob gratefully acknowledged, when he met with his darling fon Jofeph, whose supposed death he had long and bitterly lamented : "I had not thought to fee "thy face, and lo! God hath showed me thy children alfo." When the apostles "had the fentence of death in themselves," God difpelled their fears, and preserved their lives, in spite of all the rage and cunning of their perfecutors. And thus, "in "the mount of the Lord" it hath often "been seen :" deliverance came when death was expected; or, according to the prophetic style of Zechariah, chap. xiv. 7. at ❝evening time:" when, according to the courfe

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courfe of nature, nothing was looked for but deepening fhades and increafing darknefs, " light" hath fuddenly fprung up, and the thick clouds have fled and vanished away. Here then is a folid ground of confidence and hope: He that careth for us, not only knoweth all things, but can do all things. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth ftrength."Fear not," faith he, " for I am "with thee: be not difmayed, for I am thy "God: I will ftrengthen thee, yea I will help "thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right "hand of my righteoufnefs." Have we not then the most powerful encouragement to caft our care, our whole care, upon God? And ftill more, when I add,

3dly, That he who is fo wife in heart, and mighty in ftrength; fo wonderful in counfel, and excellent in working; is likewife poffeffed of infinite goodness. Like as a father pitieth his children, fo the Lord pitieth them that fear him. "God is love," faid the Apostle John; and well might he fay fo, who was one of the heralds of that joyful proclamation, "God was in Chrift reconciling

reconciling the world unto himself, not "imputing their trefpaffes unto them.". Here then is a foundation that is able to carry all the weight a believer can lay upon it; for if God fpared not his own Son, "but delivered him up for us all, how "fhall he not with him alfo freely give us "all things?" What can he with-hold from those upon whom he hath already beftowed his own dear Son, and enabled, by his Spirit, thankfully to receive him as the "unfpeakable gift" of God to men. firm then are the grounds of the believer's hope? With what humble, but triumphant confidence, may he caft his care upon God, whofe wisdom knoweth all things, whose power can do all things, and whose unbounded goodness doth conftantly incline him to bestow every needful bleffing upon his people?

How

As I have made it my business, in every branch of the fubject, to keep the perfons in your eye to whom the exhortation is addreffed, it is almost unneceffary to remind you, in the conclufion, that the comfort of all I have faid, must be confined to those

whe

who are Chriftians indeed. None else are the objects of that peculiar care which the Apostle speaks of; and therefore to them only the privilege belongs of cafting all their care upon God. Permit me now to add, that as it is their privilege, fo it is likewife their duty; and they difhonour themselves, and reproach their Father, when they give way to anxious disquieting cares 'upon any account whatsoever. We may justly say to fuch, as Jonadab faid to Amnon, "Why

art thou, being the king's fon, lean from "day to day?" Carry all your grievances to him, who is both able and willing to redrefs them. Make use of thy birth-right,

Christian! and caft thy cares upon him who careth for thee. Your very reliance upon him, in the way of duty, your leaning upon his arm, if I may fo exprefs it, while you are using the appointed means, infures his protection, according to that gracious promife, . xxvi. 3. "Thou wilt keep him in "perfect peace, whofe mind is stayed upon "thee, because he trufteth in thee."

But what fhall thofe do who are of an opposite character?" May not they too caft

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their care upon God, as the God of nature, the Father of their spirits, and the former of their bodies, in whom they live and move? Doth not his providence extend to all the creatures he hath made? Doth he not clothe the lilies, and feed the ravens, and hear the lions when they cry to him for food? All this is true; and, in one fenfe, all men without exception are the objects of his care. But this can yield no comfort to impenitent unbelieving finners: for the fame God who fuftains them in life, and gives them what they poffefs, and most ungratefully abuse, hath exprefsly declared, "that though hand join in hand, the wicked "fhall not pafs unpunished." I appeal to yourselves, is it reasonable to expect, that God fhould take the burden of your cares, while you deny him your hearts, and even fight against him with the fruits of his bounty? If you think coolly upon the matter, I am almost perfuaded you will blush to afk it.

How then are you to difpofe of your cares? What fhall I fay? I might tell you, that your anxiety will do you no good; and

therefore