Year: 1870

2. All anxiety and disquieting thought
about our future maintenance is condemned,
in the second place, by the kindness and con-
stancy with which divine Providence takes
care of the inferior creation.


Christ enforces his command by an argu-
ment which is drawn from the birds of the
air and the flowers of the field. Are you
disposed, my Christian readers, to wear a
care-worn face and care-worn heart? Then;
"behold the fowls of the air; for they SOW
not, neither do they reap, nor gather into
barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth
them. Are ye not much better than they
Aud why take ye thought for raiment
Consider the lilies of the field how they
grow; they toll not, neither do they spin
and yet [ say unto you, that even Solomon
in all his glory was not arrayed like one Of
these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass
of the field which to-day is, and tomorrow is
cast into the oven, shall he not much more
clothe you, 0 ye of little faith?" This ar.
gument is conclusive. 1t may not touch the
hearts and affect the conduct of the ungodly
who practically ignore the presence of a su
perintending Providence but it should si-
lence carefulness in the people of God who
know that the very hairs of their head are
all numbered If the little bird that neither
sows, nor reapS, nor lays up for the future
receives its daily nourishment from the Goo
that gave it life, shall the Christian, who has
received the infinite treasures of Fathers
loving heart, be uncared for and forgotten
If the short-lived grass that is green but fol
day, and when the morrow comes is cut
down to be converted into fuel for the baker
enjoys the sunshine and the shower, and the
dew, shall the child of God-the heir ot
eternal glory,-be neglected, and suffered tc
90 shivering through the world in want Of
raiment? The answer must be, no. If Goo
provides for the less, he will not forget the
greater. If his almighty, ever present Prov
idence feeds the chirping sparrow and clothes
the lily with its gorgeous robe, he will sure
ly give food and clothing to his own deal
children. II, therefore, the laborious an
can read the sluggard lesson of wisdom
the grass of the field and the birds of th'
air are no less able to teach the Christian +;
most important and wholesome TRUTH nc
less able to condemn all anxiety about oul
future worldly state as unworthy of Chris
tians and dishonoring to the God whom w
profess to serve.


3. All carping, anxious care should b.
laid aside, in the third place, because it ii
characteristic of the heather.


"After all these things do the Gentle
seek" They are debased and grovelling il
their views. They are ignorant of the tru
God,-of his providence and his promises
They are blind in their understanding, an
gross in their tastes, and have no highe
practical object in view than the things G
the present life; and therefore it is nc
strange, that they should make everything
time, and bend their eager, anxious gaze ont
upon what is perishable.


But we are enlightened in the knowledg
of the true God. We understand the rels
ton of the present life to that which is t
come. We have sources of spiritual enjoy
ment of which they have never dreamed
We have objects presented to our hearts
which they have not even the faintest cor
ception. And, therefore, we should not
like them. We should set before the worl
higher and brighter example than their
We are children of the great King, an
should live like children who know that the
are loved and will be provided for.