the bounds of moderation, or live free of distressing cares: various cireuinstances will frequently occur to disquiet his mind; and the fear of want in future, is sometimes a more painful sensation than all that is felt from present distress: but from a careful review of this portion of our Lord's sermon on the Mount, he may be conforted against every dis tressing fear. The various particulars which are here presented to his consideration, are admirably calculated to cherish his hope in God, and trust in his providence, in the most distressing times. "Take no thought for your life what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body what you shall put on is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" It then God has given you life, which is a more valuable gift than the perishing food necessary to support ; if he has given you a body without any care or foresight of yours, and brought it to maturity and strength, which is more valuable than the clothing you require to cover it, he will certainly also provide you with food and raiment. The having given you blessings superior in their kind, is an argument here used by our Lord, and by the Apostle on another subject, to infer the certainty that in-ferior blessings shall not be withheld. But the consideration, that God sees to the support of creatures who make no provision for themselves as you do, must surely have its own influence in removing every perplexing care, and exciting you to trust in the providence of God. "Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Consider the lilies of the field; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, that 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 to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you?" You have some measure of care and foresight, which, with ordinary diligence and the blessing of God, may procure you subsistence: you sow, you reap, you gather into barns, and no season has yet been so unfavourable, but your labour has been attended with some fruits: now surely, in such circumstances, you can have no reason to fear, and especially when you perceive the care of Divine Providence about others of his creatures which he also supports, without any care or foresight of their own. The fowis of the air make no provision for futurity, as you do; they sow not, they reap not, they gather not not into barns, yet their Creator gives them their daily food, When you have such a striking display of the divine bounty before your eyes every day, why should you be anxious about futurity. Though ordinary means of supply should fail, relief may come to you from some unexpected quarter, as in the case of Hagar and the widow of Zarephath. Trust the providence of God, that, as he feeds the fowls of the air, and clothes the grass of the fields, he will feed and clothe you. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Again, The consideration that you are more excellent creatures than the fowls of the air, or the grass of the field, should encourage you to hope that God will provide. “Behold the fowls of the air," &c. " are ye not much better than these?" Indeed, a proper view of yourselves might lead you to fear, that God in just judgment will give you up to famine in this life, and eternal perdition in the life to come, It is not by directing you to consider your intrinsic excellence, that your Lord encourages you against fear; but by taking a view of his care over creatures far your inferiors, you are encouraged to trust he will provide for you," Willhe not much more feed and clothe Ŏ you, ye of little faith!" In proportion as you are above these in the scale of creation, in proportion as you are more striking displays of the wisdom and power of him who made you, in proportion as you are more useful, is it not natural to suppose that you will be more the objects of his providential care? Yes; ye are much better than these; much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith." In the next piace, consider who it is who feedeth the fowls of the air. "Your Heavenly Father feedeth them." This consideration to the people of God is sufficient to suppress every undue care. To view God as the God of providence, who is kind to the evil and unthankful, is an exercise that may naturally issue in content with your present lot, and good hope in God for what is to come: but there is a relation in which God stands to all his people, in its nature so comfortable and encouraging, that when they properly consider it, we cannot suppose that any condition whatever will fill them with fear, or any alarming prospect beget disquieting apprehensions. He is their Father; and who that knows a parent's care, or has a parent's heart, can be tormented with fear, or distrust the Divine Goodness, when they know that the God of providence is their Father! and and that, as a father" pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him!" "If an earthly parent knows how to give good gifts to his children, much more does our Heavenly Father know to give good, gifts unto you." Suppose yourselves in want, and ready to perish, and many around you in the same circumstances; some benevolent person comes among you, and distributes to the necessitous severally as he pleases, your mind is for a while in anxious suspense, whether this benefactor shall relieve your wants; but the moment you discover that this generous man is your father, that moment your hearts within you leap for joy; for you are confident, in his paternal kindness, that your wants shall be supplied. Besides," your Heavenly Father knoweth you have need of all these things." Your wants are better known to him than they are to yourself; and all the care you have row they shall be relieved, is infinitely short of the care of your Heavenly Father. In fine, Consider what your God has provided for you in the world to come; and this will support your hearts under present hardships, and against the fear of future evil.— Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom*." Why need the people of God be in fear of want, or too much troubled what they shall eat, or what they shall drink? they " are heirs of a kingdom that cannot be inoved; an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." They may experience many hardships here, and be brought to many straits; but why need any thing of this kind disquiet them? their poverty and meanness, their care and perplexity, shall issue in more than eye hath seen, ear heard, or hath entered the heart of man. Faint not, therefore, under the trials you are bearing, or which you may be called to endure, but remember, it is " your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom;" and surely then you need not be anxious about food and raiment; for if it is his pleasure to give you as much as the kingdom, he will not withhold the little comforts of time. The prince that is sojourning in a strange land, and enduring the hardships frequently attending such a state, is reconciled to all he suffers, when he entertains the prospect of reaching home, and enjoying the honours of the throne; much more may the people of Christ suppress their fears, in the prospect of sitting down with Luke xii. 23. Christ on his throne in the heavenly kingdom, where "they shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; but the Lamb, in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and lead them to living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." ADJUTOR. THE REV. MR. WHITEFIELD'S LAST LETTER TO THE REV. MR. HERVEY. ΑΝ Dec. 19th, 1758 *. ND is my dear friend indeed about to take his last flight! I dare not wish your return into this vale of tears; but our prayers are continually ascending to the Father of our spirits, that you may die in the embraces of a never-failing Jesus, and in all the triumphs of an exalted faith! O, when will my turu come! I groan in this tabernacle, being burdened, and long to be clothed with my house from Heaven. Farewell! my very dear friend, a-r-e-well! yet a little while, and we shall meet "Where sin, and strife, and sorrow cease; Then Jesus Christ will reward you for all the tokens of love which you have shewn, for his blessed name's sake, to Yours, most affectionately, in our common Lord, GEORGE WHITEFIELD. God comfort your mother and relations, and thousands and thousands more, who must bewail your departure. * Mr. Hervey slept in Jesus, Dec. 25, 1758. DIVINE SIMILITUDE No. III. THE SIN-PUNISHING JUSTICE OF GOD REPRESENTED WE BY FIRE. "Our God is a consuming fire *.” E are assured from Revelation that, tho' hand join in haud, sin shall not go unpunished; for God, the Lawgiver and Judge, is just, and able to destroy. So, likewise, we find in Nature the irresistible power of FIRE, which dissipates and destroys whatever it acts upon; and which, VOL. X. * Heb. xii. 29. in in many instances, hath been applied as the instrument of vengeance on wicked men. With this tremendous element of nature God destroyed the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, &c.; shewing the world thereby, that, in a future day, he will rain burning coals, fire, and brimstone, upon all the wicked; which, indeed, will be a horrible tempest. Sacrifices were consumed by fire, to signify that wrath from Heaven is due to Sin, and would fall upon the sinful offerer himself, if the victim did not receive it for him by substitution. When the law was given on mount Sinai, the Heavens flamed with fire, and the mountain burned below, to give the people a sense of the terrors of divine judgment; with allusion to which exhibition, and other displays of his wrath, mentioned in the Scriptures, God is here called a CONSUMING FIRE. As the earth came under the curse by sin, the "earth and the works therein shall be -burnt up." There remaineth, likewise, a fearful vengeance of eternal fire. Happy the people who duly consider the awful character of Jehovah, and flee from his wrath, like Lot from the flaines of Sodom, to Jesus Christ, the covert from the storm. ON THE DUTY OF MUTUAL FORBEARANCE AMONGST THE CHILDREN OF GOD. "Brethren, if any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spirit. ual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."—Gal. vi. 1. IN all our approaches to the throne of grace, there are two considerations which we should never lose sight of, because they are peculiarly calculated to encourage our faith and hope; namely, that our divine Redeemer has an arin almighty to help us, and an heart inexpressibly gracious to sympathize with us in all our afflictions: Without this supporting power who could stand? and, but for this forgiving love, who amongst the fallen race could hope? Surely, then, those who are conscious how much they need forgiveness from their God, should readily extend their friendly aid to restore their fallen, or offending brethren. With a view to stir up our minds to a duty too much neglected by the professors of the gospel, I beg leave to offer a few hints upon the text which is prefixed to this paper. Aud, 1st, it presents an affecting case to our view: A brother |