DISC. "

I.

reap, nor gather into barns; yet your

heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye "not much better than they?"

1

The little innocent inhabitants of the air, which are continually flying around us, were not created only for the use of the body of man. They serve higher and nobler ends. They often read lectures, to which the greatest philofopher might attend, and be the better for them, if he would confider and apply them aright. When therefore you behold one of these chorifters of heaven finging upon a naked bush, amidst the darkness and defolation of winter, might you not address it in fome fuch manner as the following?" Sweet bird, how cheer

fully doft thou fit and fing; and yet "knoweft not where thou art, nor where "thou shalt make thy next meal, and at

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night must shroud thyfelf in this fame "bush for a lodging, while the winds shall "howl through it, and thy feathers shall "be wet with the rain, or covered with "the fnow! How ought I to blush, who

" fee

"fee before me fuch liberal provifions of DISC.

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my God, and find myself fitting warm "under my own roof, yet am ready to droop

through a distrustful and unthankful dul

"nefs! Had I fo little certainty of my fupport and shelter, how anxious and “heartless should I be; how little disposed "to make mufic for thee or myself! Surely "thou camest not hither without a Provi"dence; God fent thee not fo much to de

light, as to shame me out of my fullen “unbelief, who, under far more apparent "means of maintenance and protection, am "lefs cheerful and confident. Reason and

faith, alas, alas! have not yet done for me, "what mere inftinct does for thee; and "want of forefight makes thee more merry, "if not more happy here, than the fore"fight of better things maketh me. Certainly, thy providence, O God, is not im

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paired by thofe fuperior powers thou haft

given me; let not my greater helps hin"der me from poffeffing an holy fecu

rity, and comfortable reliance on thee. I "never knew an earthly father take care of "his fowls, and neglect his children; and "fhall

I.

1.

DISC. " fhall I fufpect this of my heavenly father?" "That man is unworthy to have God for "his father in heaven, who depends lefs

upon his goodnefs, wifdom, and power,' "than upon a crop of corn, which may be "spoiled either in the field, or the barn ".

But forcibly as thefe little animals teach, the parts of inanimate nature are by no means behind hand with them. Walk into a flower-garden, and fee with what beautiful garments God has invested the perisha ble grafs, which to-day is, and to-morrow withers away. Above the reft, look at the lovely white of the lily, pure and fpotlefs as it's parent, the light of heaven. Solo mon in all his glory was not arrayed like it. It resembles a greater than Solomon, whofe face did fhine as the fun, and whose rai ment was white as the light, fo as no fuller on earth, no effort of human skill and la→ bour, could whitem it. From a flower of the field, then-from a flower of a moment's duration, man, who is made for

See Bp. HALL'S Occafional Meditations, No. xiv, and QUESNELL in loc.

heaven

J.

heaven and eternity, may learn how low the DrSc. care of Providence vouchfafes to ftoop. And fhall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Shall he not protect and adorn his chosen people, the plants of his own hand, the flowers of his own paradife? Yes, verily, believe in him, and he shall bring it to pass. The light of his countenance shall shine, the dew of his celeftial benediction fhall defcend upon you, enabling you to grow up and flourish, to reflect glory on your Maker, and to cheer the hearts of men. And although your appointed time on earth be fhort, and you likewife muft fade away, and return to duft; yet even from that duft can the fame influences call you forth, to be clothed with honour and immortality, to enjoy a perpetual fpring, and bloom for ever in unfading beauty. Such are the lef fons of confidence in God's mercy, and refignation to his will, which meet us every time we take a walk in a garden.

Another reafon urged by our Saviour against indulging that wretched care which has fretted fo many hearts in pieces, is it's fruit

leffnefs.

DISC. leffness. When we have been uneafy for I. half a century, what has it availed us? Nothing. It is not in our power to add a day to our lives, or a foot to our stature. Which of you, by being anxious and careful overmuch, can add one cubit to his ftature? By taking contentedly and cheerfully our portion of food, the body attains in due time to that fize and height which God has appointed, and lasts as long as he intends it fhould. Fretfulness and impatience may diminish fomething, but can add nothing. To what purpose, then, serves anxiety? If it cannot do the lefs, it certainly cannot do the greater. Uneafinefs and distrust render us unworthy of that bleffing, without which all our labour is in vain. And no wonder they should do fo. He who diftrufts a friend, is very near forfaking him; and a man is not far from murmuring againft Providence, when he is diffatisfied with it's conduct. This is fo very dangerous a temper of mind, that we fhould always be on our guard against falling into it, as many are apt to do, upon flight and common occafions, merely for want of confideration.