632 The. Pr/rfdoyn . of God; full Opportunity of fettingall things flreight, and no Man (hall have reafon then, either to glory in his wickednefs, or to complain of his fufferings in this World. This is the full, that God's Providence governs the World, and interefts it felf in the Affairs of Men, and difpofeth of all Events that happen to them ; and this is a very good Reafon, why we fhould call our particular cares upon him, who hash undertaken the Government Of the whole. z. The Providence 'of God is more peculiarly concerned for good Men, and he takes a more particular and efpecial care of them. The Apoftle (peaks this to Chriftians, call all your care on him, for he careth foryou. And this Arvidlimits in a more peculiar manner to Good Men ; call thy burthen upon the Lord, and he will fa/lain thee ; he(hall never fuller the righteous to be moved. The Providence of God many times preferves Good Men from thofe Evils which happen to others, and by a peculiar and remarkable interpofition, refcues them out of thofe Calamities which it fullers others to fall into ; and God many times bleffeth good Men, with remarkable profperity and fuccefs in their Affairs To which purpofe there are innumerable Declarations and Promifes in the Holy Scriptures, fo well known thatI (hall not trouble you with the recital of them. Notwithftanding which, it cannot be denyed, that good Men fall into many Evils, and are harraffed with great Afliictions in this World : but then the Provi- dence of God ufuallyordereth it fo, that they are armed with great Patience to bear them, and find great comfort and fupport under them, and make better ufe and improvement of them than others fo that one way or other they turn to their advantage. So the Apoftle affures us, Rom. 8. 1.8. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. All the Evils and Afflictions which happen toGood Men, confpire one way or other to the promoting of their hap- pinefs, many times in thisWorld,, to be Pure they make a great addition to it in the other. So the fame Apoftle tells us, z Cor. 4. r y, r 8. Our light Aflülion, which is but for a moment, worketh for us .a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, whiff we look not, &c. And can we fay God's Providence neglects us, when he rewards our Temporal Sufferings withEternal Glory : when through may Hardfhips and Tribulations, he at laft brings us to a Kingdom ? Was 7ofepb neglected by God, when by a great deal of hard ufage, and a long imprifon- ment, he was railed to the higheft dignity in a great Kingdom ? Or rather, was not the Providence ofGod very remarkable towards him, in making thofe Suffer- ings fo many Steps to his Glory, and the occafion of his Advançement ? And is not God's Providence towards good Men as kind and as remarkable, in bringing them to an infinitely better and more glorious Kingdom, by Tribulations and Sufferings ;. and making our light Afili`ions which are but for a moment, . to work for us a far more exceedingand eternal weight of glory ? Thus you fee what is implyed in God's care of us in general ; that he governs the World, and difpofeth all Events;. and particularly, that he is peculiarly con- cerned for good Men, and takes a more efpecial care of them. - Let us now fee of what force this Confideration is, to perfwade to the Duty enjoyned in the Text, to call all our care upon God ; that is, after all prudent Care and Diligence hath been ufed on our part, not tobe anxious and folicitous about the event of things, but to leave that to God. Now this conf,deration, that Godcares for us, fhould be an Argument to us, to ca/l.:all our care upon him, upon thefe two Ac- counts. r, Becaufe if God cares for us, our. Concernments are in the belt and fafelt hands. z. Becaufe all our Anxiety and Solicitude will do us no good. z. $ecaufe if God cares for us, our Concernments are in the belt and fafeft hands, and where we fhould delire to have them ; infinitely fafer, than under any Care and Conduct of our own. And this ought 'to be a great, fatisfadion to our Minds, and to free us from all difquieting Thoughts ; for if God undertakes the care of us, then are we fuse that nothingTall happen to us, but by the di- fpofal or permiffion of Infinite Wifdom and Goodnefs. There are many things indeed, which to us feem Chance and Accident ; but in refpect of God, they are Providence VoI,I:
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