Serm. LXXXIII. in the Creation of the World. 629 created thefe, confider'd how to fupply them ; the Wifdom of God knew that you would want all thefe, and hath accordingly provided for them , therefore fear not. S E R M N \ LXXXI V e The Wifdom of God, in his Providence. I PE TER V. 7. Calling all your care upon him, for he Garethforyou. AMongft the feveral Duties, which towards the Conclufion of this Epifile the Apoftle exhorts Chriftians to, this is one, not to be over-much foli- citous and concerned about what may befal us , but to refer our felves to the Providence of God , which takes care of us. In fpeaking to this Argu- ment, I fhall I. Confider the Nature of the Dutyhere required , which is to call our care upon God. II. The Argument ufed to perfuade us to it : Becaufe hecareth for ea. I. For the Nature of the Duty here required. The word plejlace liignifies an anxious care about Events , a Care that is accompanied with Trouble and Difquiet of Mind about what may befal us ; about the Good that we hope for, and delire ; or about the Evil which we fear may come upon us. This the A- poftle exhorts us to throwoff; and to leave to the Providence of God and his Care, all thofe Events which we are apt to be fo folicitous and difquieted about. The Exprefïìon feems to be taken out of Pfal. SS. xz. Caff thy burthen upon the Lord, and he(hallfuflain thee. Now that we may not miflakeour Duty in this Matter, I !hall Phew what is not here meant by calling all our cureupon God, and then what is meant by it. The Apoftle doth not here intend to take Men off from a provident care and diligence, about the Concernmentsof this Life ; this is not only contrary to Rea- fon, but to many exprefs Precepts and Paffages of Scripture, wherein Diligence is recommended to us, and the Bleflìeg of God , and the good Succefs of out Affairs promifed thereto ; wherein we are commanded toprovide for thofe of our Family, which cannot be done without force fort of Care ; and wherein Sloth- fulnefs and Negligence are condemned, and threatned with Poverty ; fo that this is not to call our care upon God, to take no Care of our felves, to ufe no Di- ligence and endeavour for the obtaining of the Good Which we delire, and the Prevention of the Evil we fear ; this is to tempt the Providence of God, and to Galt that Burthen upon him, which he expeéts we fhould bear our felves. But by calling our care upon God, the Apoftle intends thefe two Things. s. That after all prudent Care and Diligence have been ufed by us, we fhould not befartherfelicitous, nor trouble our felvés about the Event ofThings, which, when we have done all we can, will be out of our Power. And this certainly is our Saviour's Meaning, when he bids us, take no carefor themorrow. When we have done what is fit for us for the prefent to do, we fhould not difquiet and tor- ment our felves about the Iflue and Event of Things. a. Gifting our care upon God, implies, that we fhould refer the Iffue of Things to his Providence, which is continually vigilant over us, and knows how to dif pole all Things to the bet} entirely confiding in his Wifdom and Góodnefs, that he will order all Things for our Good, and in that Confidence, refolving to reft fatisfied Preach- ed at Kenfng- ton.
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