for your good. The absence of the object for the poffeffion of which you are anxious; the failure of your efforts to acquire it; the final disappointment of your hopes, are working together for your good. What is there farther for you to defire? : Let us all, my brethren, lay to heart the truths on which we have meditated; and fervently feek from the Giver of all good the bleffing of a contented fpirit. The finfulness of Discontent is pointedly marked in the hif tory of the children of Ifrael. When the people complained, during their abode in the wilderness, it difpleafed the Lord; and the Lord heard it, and His anger was kindled and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and confumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp (b). Afterwards they became difcontented with the manna, and murmured for flesh to eat. Then Mofes heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly. His power which had been questioned, he displayed by bringing an innumerable company of quails round the camp. while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people; and the Lord fmote the (b) Numbers, xi. 1. P 3 But people Hear people with a very great plague (i). St. Paul in his application of the example of the Ifraelites to ourfelves: Neither murmur ye, as fome of them alfo murmured; and were deftroyed of the destroyer (k). Hear St. Jude characterising the finners of the last days as Speaking hard fpeeches against God, as murmurers and complainers, walking after their own lufts (1). Let us beware of being found in the number. Let us have faith in God; and quietly commit ourselves in all things unto Him. us be content with fuch things as we have: for He hath faid, I will never leave thee nor forfake thee (m). (i) Numbers, xi. 10-33. (2) 1 Cor. x. to! (m) Hebr. xiii. 5. Let SER. SERMON XII. On WORLDLY ANXIETY. PHILIP. iv. 6, 7 Be careful for Nothing: but in every Thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving let your Requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which paffeth allUnderStanding, fhall keep your Hearts and Minds through Chrift Jefus. N this paffage the Apostle warns us against IN a frame of mind, which, whether its intrinfic nature or its effect as to morality be regarded, will prove itself intimately allied to a fpirit of Difcontent. The preceding verfe closes with a very weighty admonition; The Lord is at hand. As though St. Paul had faid « The present "life is not only fo uncertain, but is like"wife fo fhort, that death, which fixes your <ftate for Judgement, may well be always "contemplated by every one, whether old or "young, P 4 young, as near." To thevarious inftructions which he had before been delivering this confideration would give additional force. Had he thus exhorted the fervants of Chrift: Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice? The more warmly would they rejoice in the promises of the gofpel, when they reflected that it could be but a fhort time which should pass before they should depart and be in poffeffion of their inheritance with their Lord. Had he thus addreffed them; Let your moderation be known unto all men? The more eafily would they reftrain themfelves through the grace of God from setting their affections on things on earth, when they bore in mind that the period could not be long before they should be feparated from earthly things for ever. The fame confideration would contribute to teach and to enable them to obey the fucceeding command; Be careful for nothing. On another. occafion we find the apostle employing the fame general argument in a manner fubftantially fimilar. When he counfels the Corinthians to be cautious as to the needlefs aggravation of their difficulties in their Chriftian course, and the accumulation of fresh anxieties respecting temporal concerns, by entering into the married state during those days of diftref distress and perfecution; it is thus that he impreffes the advice. This I fay, brethren ; the time is fhort. It remaineth that they that weep be as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, (not they that rejoice in the Lord, but they that rejoice in the present accomplishment of their worldly wishes) as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy as though they poffeffed not; and they that use this world, as not abufing it: for the fashion of this world passeth But I would have you without careful away. ness (a). We perceive then how powerful is the motive with which the apostle introduces to the Philippians the directions upon which we are now to meditate: Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and fupplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Chrift fefus. They are directions replete with the foundest advice and the most encouraging confolation. May the divine grace guide us all to apply them aright to our own inftruction and comfort! I. What is the difpofition of mind, against which Saint Paul admonishes us? Carefulness; that is to say, harraffing anxiety, whe(a) 1 Cor. vii. 29-32, ther |