SERM. Satisfaction they poffefs their Souls, and have VI. Anxiety and Diftruft removed far from

them, all is calm and ferene within, and under the Shadow of his Wings are they fafe, who has ordered them to be careful for nothing but how to please him, and caring for the Things of the Lord, to caft all their Care for other Things on him, for he careth for them, and loadeth us with his Benefits (c).

OUR moft indulgent Father does not, except in fome extraordinary Cafes, expect our Obedience either at the Expence of our Lives, or our Happiness, he knoweth whereof we are made, that we are compounded of a Body as well as a Soul,---that we have both a fenfible and rational Nature,----that we live an animal Life here, and expect a divine Life hereafter, and he has accordingly provided bodily, fenfible and animal Goods, fuited to our prefent being, as well as fpiritual, rational and divine Pleasures referved for the future.

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AND if our bountiful Creator has made this Provifion for us, has given us Appetites to defire and Senfes to relifh these Advantages, it is impoffible it should

be

(c) Pf. lxviii. 19.

be abfolutely a Fault, to pursue and enjoy SERM. them, and to regret in any Meafure the VI. Want or the Lofs of them. We may, no doubt, very innocently, and confiftently with the Duties enjoined in the Text, concern ourfelves about worldly Goods, because they are one Source of Comfort and Satisfaction to fuch Creatures as we are. But then, they being defigned to gratify our bafer Part, the Body, and to ferve us for Conveniencies only during our fhort Stay in it, to be too intent after them, before they are gotten,--too fond of them, whilft they stay with us,--or too dejected, when at any time they are taken from us, is no way becoming Men and Christians, and equally condemned by Reafon and Religion.

.

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THE former clearly forbids fuch a Conduct, as it is an over-valuing of Things much beyond their real Worth, and a fuppopofing our chief Happiness to be placed in what can at beft yield but a very small Part of it.

NOR doth the latter lefs ftrongly protest against it, becaufe of the ill Effects which worldly Mindedness has on Mens Innocence and Virtue, by taking them off from the

Care

SERM. Care of their Souls, and the Concern for VI. Religion, and leading them into Temptation, and a Snare, and many finful Lufts which drawn Men into Deftruction and Perdition (d).

IN fhort, the whole Blame lies in the Excefs of that Regard we are very apt to beftow on worldly Enjoyments. Whilft our Lord bids us feek more excellent Things first; we put ourselves upon the very utmoft Stretch of Application for thefe, and are rack'd at different Times with different Pains about them; impatient to get thefe ad mired Goods, afraid perpetually of lofing them, and quite defperate on their Lofs.

BUT let us at length take other Measures, and make fure of every folid Comfort by obeying God's Orders, and behaving ourfelves in his Kingdom agreeably to that Plan of Government which he has marked out for us. Let us be diligent, but not in the wrong Place, nor for Trifling inftead of Subftantial Bleffings; let us no longer concur with those who seem to read our Saviour's Precept backward, and interpret it directly contrary to its true Meaning: He would have them follicitous fór nothing in this

(d) 1 Tim. vi 9.

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VI.

this World, and they are follicitous for no- SERM. beyond it. That Thought and Labour which he requires them to employ on the Treasures of Eternity, they confine to the fleeting Amusements of a Moment, and by courting the Happiness of one World run the Rifque of being miferable in both.

AND a great Rifque in Truth it is, even with Refpect to the Happiness of the prefent Life; which as Chrift declares, confifts not in the Abundance of good Things in any Man's Poffeffion. That Perfon may may be very wretched with them who cannot be content without them; whilft he, to whom they are moft indifferent, as having a much better Profpect, will always reap moft Satisfaction from them. As long as they continue, he will be fure to use them to the Purpofes of Piety, Charity, and Sobriety, to God's Glory, his Neighbour's Support and his Refreshment; and if they happen to be taken from him, he will refign freely to the Will of Providence, without a murmuring or a defponding Thought, being perfuaded, that if he be careful to feek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteouefs, all these Things, all the Neceffaries of Life, fhall yet be added unto him.

SERMON

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