for they fow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into Barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Ver. 26. The Argument is clear and ftrong, that if the Care of God's Providence extendeth even to the irrational Brute Creatures, we may be sure he will not neglect the rational and much nobler Part of his Creation. This is not to be understood, as if we were not to fow or reap any more than the Brute Animals, who are incapable of doing this; but the Meaning is, that as he provideth for the Brutes in a Way fuited to their Natures, fo he will much more provide for Men in a Way fuited to the rational Nature he hath given them, which requireth, that they should apply themselves to the Ufe of all proper Means according to their Ability. If they do this, they may, without anxious Solicitude, commit themselves to Divine Providence, depending upon it, that he who neglecteth not the inferior fenfitive Beings, will take Care of the human Race, especially those of them that exercise a regular Trust in him, and will grant what he feeth to be really good and needful for them. Thirdly, From what hath been offered concerning the Dominion and Sovereignty of Divine Providence over both the in animate animate and Brute Creation, we may fee how careful we should be to please and ferve God, and how much it concerneth us to secure an Interest in his Favour. We live in a World where every Thing above, beneath, on every Side of us, is in the Hand of God, and under his Direction. If we be rebellious and difobedient to his Voice, he can arm all the Creatures against us. He can cause the Earth we tread upon to shake under us, and fwallow us up; he can point his awful Thunder at our Heads, or can taint the Air we breath in with a poisonous Influence; he can commiffion the Water to overwhelm us, or the Fire to confume us; or he can make the Brute Beasts the Inftruments of our Punishment. And that he doth not fo, is only owing to his wonderful Patience and Forbearance, because he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to Repentance. On the other Hand, if we lay hold of his offered Mercy upon the most gracious and reasonable Terms of his Covenant, and are careful to walk before him unto all pleafing, he can make the whole Creation to be as it were in a Covenant of Friendfhip with us, and to subserve his own kind and gracious Intentions towards us. This is beautifully expreffed by Eliphaz, when he exhorteth Job to return to God, and and be at Peace with him: Thou shalt be in League, faith he, with the Stones of the Field; and the Beasts of the Field, faith he, shall be at Peace with thee: And thou foalt know that thy Tabernacle fhall be in Peace; and thou shalt vifit thy Habitation, and fhalt not fin. Job. v. 23, 24. And to the fame Purpose, Hof. ii. 18. God is introduced as declaring concerning his People, In that Day will I make a Covenant for them with the Beasts of the Field, and with the Fowls of Heaven, and with the creeping Things of the Ground. And Ver. 21, 22. And it shall come to pass in that Day, I will hear, faith the Lord, I will hear the Heavens, and they Jhall bear the Earth: And the Earth fhall bear the Corn, and the Wine, and the Oil, and they shall hear fezreel. Where there is held forth to us a wonderful Concatenation of fecond Causes, all co-operating, under the Direction and Influence of God, the fupreme Disposer, for the Good of his People. Let us, therefore, learn to yield a willing· and entire Subjection to the great Lord of the Universe. Let us make him our Friend, and all Things fhall work together for our Good. Either none of the Creatures fhall be fuffered to hurt us, or, if they do, we may be fure this is ordered for wife Ends, and fhall be over-ruled for our greater Benefit. For they can do no more to us than he feeth proper to permit. Him, therefore, let us reverence and adore; on him let us place our Confidence, and not be afraid what any Creature can do unto us. And to this bleffed and only Potentate, the Sovereign Lord of the Creation, who doth whatsoever he wills in Heaven and in Earth, be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever. Amen. On |