630 The Wiflom of Vol, I. fatisfied and contented with the Difpofals of his Providence, whatever they be. You fee then the Nature of the Duty which the Apoflle here exhorts to, viz. That after all prudentCare and Diligence have beenufed on our Parts we fhould not be difqùieted in our Minds about the Event of Things, but leave them to God, who hath the Care of us and all of our Concernments. Which is the IL. Thing I propofed to fpeak to and which I intend chiefly to infift upon, viz. The Argument which the Apoflle here ufeth to perfuade us to this Duty, of calling all our care upon God, becaufe it is he that eareth for us ; and this implies in it thefe two Things. I. In general, That the Providence of God governs the World, and concerns it felf in the Affairs of Men, and difpofeth of all Events that happen to us. 2. More particularly, That this Providence is peculiarly concerned for good Men, and that he takes a fpecial Care of them and their Concerns ; He careth for you. The Apoftle fpeaks this to them , not only as Men, but as Chrifliane. And thus the Pfalmift, from whom thefe Words feem to be taken , does apply and limit this Promife; Call thy burthen upon the Lord, and hefhali Main thee ; be %hall neverfuller the righteous to be moved. I. That God taketh care of us, implies in general , That the Providence of God governs the World, and concerns it fell in the Affairs of Men, and dif pofeth,of all Eventsthat happen to us. I (hall not now enter upon a large Proof ofthe Providence ofGod ; that is too large and intricate an Argument fora fliort Difcourfe, andhath a great deal of nicety and difficulty in it ; and tho' it be a fuudemental Principle of Religion, and bath been almoft generally entertained and believedby Mankind, and that upon very good Reafon; yet becaufe the vin- dication of many particular appearances of Providence, does in a great meafure depend upon a full view and comprehenfion of the whole defign, therefore we muff neceffarily refer our felves, for full fatisfaétion, as to feveral difficulties and Objec`,tions, to the other World, when we flial! fee God's Works, together with the relation of every part to the whole defign, and then manyparticular Pairages, which may now feem odd and crooked, as we look upon them by themfelves, will in Relation to the whole, appear to have a great deal of Reafon and Regu- larity in them, Therefore I (hall at prefent onlybriefly, and in the general, thew that it is ve- ry credible, that there is a wife Providence, that governs the World, and in- terefls it felf in the affairs of Men, and difpofeth of all Events which happen to us. And I delire it may be obferved in the entrance upon this Argument, that the handlingof this Queflionconcerning Providence, doth fuppofe the being ofGod, and that he made the World, as Principles already known and granted, before we come to difpute of his Providence ; for it would be in vain, to argue about the Providence of God, with thofe who queftion his .being, and whether the World was made by him: But fuppofing thefe twoPrinciples, that God is, and that he made the World, it is very credible, that he fhould take care oftheGovernment of it, and efpecially of one of the nobleft Parts of it, the race of Mankind. For we cannot believe, that he who employed fo much Power and Wifdom, in the railing of this great and magnificent Pilé, and furnifhing everypart ofit with fuch variety of Creatures, fo exquifitely and fo wifely fitted for the ufe and 'fervice of one.a- nother, fhould fo loon as he had perfeâed it, forfake his own Workmanfhip, and take no farther care of it ; efpecially con fidering that it is no trouble and dif- qu iet to him, either to take notice of what is done here below, or to interpole for the regulating of any Diforders that may happen; for Infinite Knowledge, and Wifdom, and Power can do this with all imaginable cafe, knows all things, and can do all things, without any difturbance of its ownHappinefs. And this hath always been the common Apprehenfion of Mankind, that God knows all things, and obferves every thing that is done in the World, and when he
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