DISCOURSE XVII.

FAST.

MATTHEW VI. 34.

TAKE THEREFORE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW.

A better rendering of the Saviour's language would have been: Take no over-anxious thought for the morrow. Or, as Milton paraphrases it, "Be not overexquisite to cast the fashion of future uncertain ills." It was not his aim to make his hearers indifferent with reference to the future, but to teach them that they should not look forward with apprehensions. It was enough to bear the burdens, to feel the sorrows, of the present, and to take their meaning to heart. There would be time enough to consider the evils of the future, after their arrival. A morbid anxiety about them would be wrong. It would prove a lack of trust in God, a doubt of his providence and protecting care.

The Saviour saw the faithlessness of the people in his time. He saw that their reliance on the overruling One was weak. So he taught them of his parental character, and assured them that he would just as particularly provide for their necessities, as he

would clothe the flowers of the field, or feed the fowls of the air.

We cannot tell how many received his word with confidence. We can only say that it was a true word, and that it ought to have been accepted and particularly heeded by all who heard him.

And it ought to be accepted and particularly heeded God is the same in

by all those who hear him now. all ages. His providence is still over all. He is yet the infinite Father, and under his care his children ought now to live in trust, and press forward with courage and hope. It is our duty to look at the wisdom, justice, and benevolence of his ways, and to pursue the path of life in the belief that he is doing more for us than we ask him to do in our most earnest prayers. It is our duty to give ourselves up in faith and submission to his government, to turn all things of to-day, even the most sad and bitter in connection with our lives, to the best account, and to subdue all thoughts of fear or despondency, as to what may take place in the future.

I do not imagine that any one here is disposed to gainsay what I have just said. Everybody, in every Christian community, accepts this view of God, and our duty.

But how much more is it to the Christians of the present time than a theory? We all put it forth in our speech, in fair weather, and while on smooth roads, as a grand and encouraging idea. But how do we regard it when the skies are cloudy, when storms and tempests rage, when troubles are thronging in our path?

Are there not many of us, who, notwithstanding our condition is very comfortable, our lines are cast in pleasant places, and we possess an unusual share of temporal and spiritual favors, permit, at times, our souls to be overshadowed by a single cloud? Do we not often, for very slight causes, keep ourselves in a fever of alarm, and even annoy others with our complaints of trial and hardship, and our prophecies of coming evil? Do we not, with astonishing frequency, instead of taking pleasure in this great and beautiful world in which we live, and making our life here noble and happy, as we are commanded to do, forget that we occupy so grand a sphere, that we are walled in by so many blessings, that we are watched over and guided by so wise and good a Being, and worry and fret, murmur and chafe over our commonest trials, and increase our misery by our sad presentiments, and dark forebodings?

This lack of Christian trust, wherever seen or felt, is a bad thing. In consequence of it, many an one is continually shrouding his own path, and the paths of his companions, with darkness; -is perpetually seeing an army of phantoms, gloomy or fierce, hanging on his front and flank, and weakly, fearfully protesting, that he can neither face, nor flee from them. A mạn of Christian trust, is not apt to see such a beleaguering host; or, if he do, he banishes them from his presence by a single effort of his will. He knows how unhealthy it is for one to allow himself to brood over the dark events of life, as though they made up the whole or the greater part of his existence; how idle, how

ungrateful, how wicked it is, to imagine vain things, or to be apprehending and predicting always some ruin or disaster; some terror or curse.

It seems to me, that our idea of the Divine Providence is worth but very little, unless we abide by it through all seasons, through fair weather, and through foul, through ways of safety, and through ways of peril, through good, and through evil. Indeed, I can see, and you can, that if we are ever to slight it, we should do so when it is least needed, rather than in those periods of darkness, or danger, or sorrow, when it is the strongest and surest support within our reach. However eloquently we may talk of this idea, however warmly we may profess to admire it, if we forsake it, whenever we meet with threatening obstacles, or unpleasant interruptions in our course, or whenever we see the shadow, or feel the coolness, occasioned by a cloud passing over our heads, we shall know that it was never a reality to our hearts.

To thousands and thousands of hearts, it is not a reality. They have pretended to live by it, but when tried by the weakest tests, their faith in it was nothing.

This infidelity among the followers of Christ, to one of the greatest ideas of his religion, appears singularly mean, when we contrast it with the confidence with which the men of science hold and apply their theories. These men do not shun their principles in the hour of trial. They will risk their own lives in the application of their principles, to prove to the world that they are sound and humane. In order to convince his fellow-men that he holds in his hand the

power to modify, and bring within the control of medicine, a deadly and contagious disease, a physician does not hesitate to vaccinate himself, or the members of his own family. In fidelity to science, and to humanity, he does this though his house is surrounded by a superstitious and furious mob. A mariner teaches the world that his theory of navigation is a true theory, by courageously sailing to far-off lands, and returning again, bringing the golden proofs of his achievement. And yet, how many a man, calling himself a disciple of Jesus, notwithstanding his Master has come down from heaven to teach him of God,— notwithstanding his Master has told him that the Father above numbers the very hairs of his head, and that while he puts upon the lilies their beautiful attire, and feeds the birds with suitable food, he will much more minister to his necessities - how many such a man, I say, in the very seasons when he most needs it, will ignore this idea of the Providence of God, and complain that he is a forgotten, or an ill-used child. A scholar in the highest science, turning his back to the sublimest lessons of his Teacher! A follower of the noblest Examplar, afraid to go where his Leader guides! A son of the Highest, refusing in his heart the very help for which he asks in his speech; weak and sad, yet bolting the doors of his soul against the very thoughts of strength and consolation for which he prays, in words of deep and solemn earnestness!

We lean too much toward the world and its objects. I do not mean by this that we cannot make the world,