this Duty of Thinking on their Ways impartially and frequently. Let us see wherein we have deviated from the Way of Truth and Righteousness; rectify fuch Errors for the future; and regulate our Conduct with greater Exactnefs; be more circumfpect and watchful; See that ye walk circumfpectly, not as Fools, but as wife, redeeming the Time. Let us cleanse our Way by taking heed thereto according to God's Word. Blessed are the Undefiled in the Way, who walk in the Law of the Lord. Let us pray that our Ways may be directed, that we may keep God's Statutes, and that our Steps may be ordered by the Lord, that he may delight in the Way that we take. The Lord knows and approves the Way of the Righteous. Let us all take up that wife Refolution recommended in Lamentations iii. 40. of Searching and trying our Ways, and turning again to the Lord.

Of Cafting

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Of Cafting our Care on God.

TWO

SERMON S.

I. PETER V. 7.

Cafting all your Care on him; for he careth for you.

ST;

T. PETER, in this, and the following, Epiftle, endeavours to establish the Chriftians in the Faith, and to promote their Perfeverance. To this End he encourages them, by several weighty Arguments, to Conftancy amidst the sharpeft Trials and Perfecutions. He acquaints them, that thus they would be entitled to, and thould certainly be Partakers of, very diftinguishing Degrees of Glory and Bleffedness, when Chrift fhould come to the Final Judgment; their Faith would be found to Honour, Praife, and Glory, at the Appearing of Jefus Chrift. He puts them in Remembrance of

the

the Design of their Vocation, or being called to be the Disciples and Followers of Christ; Hereunto ye were called, becaufe Chrift fuffered for them, leaving us an Example, that we fhould follow his Steps, Chap. ii. 21. In the 3d Chapter he gives very excellent Rules for the regulating their Conduct, that they might not needlefly or foolishly enrage their Enemies; but rather, by a blameless and holy Behaviour, might cause the Religion of Jefus to fpread, and fo bring others who were Strangers to it to be the Approvers and Profeffors thereof, when they faw what good Effect it had on their Lives and Converfations. He also mentions the Power of the Holy Spirit, which should strengthen and fortify them; the Spirit of God and of Glory, or the glorious Spirit of God, should reft on them. Chap. iv. 12, 13, 14. Beloved, think it not frange concerning the fiery Trial, which is to try you, as tho' fome firange Thing happened to you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are made Partakers of Chrift's Sufferings, that when his Glory fhall be revealed, ye may be glad alfo with exceeding Joy. Having thus warned them of the greatest Perfecutions which might attend them, and they might be called to endure, he fuppofes, that fuch Difcourfe might terrify their Minds. He gives them very pertinent and excellent Advice, namely, to commit themselves entirely,

and

and with full Refignation, to God, and to his Difpofal. Verfe 19, Let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit the Keeping of their Souls to him, in well doing, as to a faithful Creator; which Advice is very much like to this in the Words I have chosen to confider and improve, Cafting all your Care on him, for he careth for you: Whatever Trials or Difficulties you may meet with, let not your Minds be intimidated or difturbed, and weakened with Cares, and Fears of what may poffibly attend you; Let not your Hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. As our Lord addrefs'd to his Apostles, Believe in God, &c. fo the Apostle here, Caft all your Care on him, for he careth for you Refer yourselves to the Divine Difpofal, either to guard you from any violent Sufferings for Chrift and the Truth, or to fupport you under them. In difcourfing on thefe Words I fhall obferve the following Method;

I. Inquire what are thofe Cares which may disturb the Minds of good Men, and that with reference to the Things and Concerns of this prefent World, and that which is to come.

II. When the Chriftians Cares about thefe Matters do exceed proper Bounds, and are unwarrantable and finful.

Q 2

III. Why

III. Why thefe Cares are inordinate, and therefore to be avoided.

IV. The Method of having our Minds freed from thefe uneafy tormenting Cares,

that is, to caft them all on God, who careth for us.

I. I fhall briefly enquire what are those Cares which may disturb the Minds of good Men; Cares about the Affairs and Concerns of the present and future World. Our Saviour, difcourfing fo largely and fully as he does in the 6th Chapter of MATTHEW, fhews the Unreafonableness and Impiety of anxious mistrustful Cares about the Things of this World, and that he knew that the Minds of his best Disciples were liable to be perplexed with them. A great Part of the Infelicities and Miseries of Mankind are owing to themselves, either by giving way to irregular diforderly Paffions, or by multiplying Cares and Fears about future Events, which fome of a melancholy Temper are apt alway to imagine will be very calamitous and diftreffing; thus torturing their Souls, and making themselves uneafy about those Things which may never befall them; not minding our Saviour's Words, Sufficient for the Day is the Evil thereof. Every Day will bring on fome kind of Trouble or other; and 'tis our

Duty