April 18

sional, the latter simultaneous. The painter or the sculptor, while advancing one part of the picture or the statue, leaves for the time the rest: but in a flower and a tree the whole goes on at once towards maturity. The child is not a man, but he has all the lineaments and faculties, and though they are imperfect, they grow together to manhood in due time—So it is with the Christian.

How defective are they in their religious views and concerns who do not look to the Lord Jesus as the Sanctifier as well as the Redeemer! If I wash thee not, says he, thou hast no part in me. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

APRIL 19.—“Casting all your care upon him.”—1 Peter 5:7.

To understand this injunction two remarks will be necessary.

First, The Apostle refers to cares pertaining to the life that now is. As to the affairs of the life to come, we are not only permitted but required to be careful. Yea, we are commanded to “seek first,” that is, before all other things, “the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” And it is to enable us to pursue these objects in a manner becoming their importance, that other cares are forbidden. Yet,

Secondly, The Apostle does not design, even in temporal interests, to dispense with a wise use of means and a strict attention to duty. For these are encouraged in other parts of Scripture, and every word of God is pure. “The hand of the diligent maketh fat.” “The prudent man foreseeth evil and hideth himself; but the simple pass on and is punished.” “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” Hence also the general caution. “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” If professors of religion, therefore, under a notion of casting all their care upon the Lord, neglect exertion, refuse opportunities of improving their condition, and in their expenses exceed their income, they are tempting God, but not trusting in him. And Paul, a very compassionate man, made no scruple to enjoin, “If any will not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies. Now them that are such, we command and exhort, by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.” Jacob had to meet his brother Esau, who was coming towards him in the fury of revenge. But what does he? He does all that his means would admit, or his prudence could dictate. He divides his company, sends forward a present, studies a soft answer which turneth away wrath; and then retires and casts all his care on him who cared for him, and made even his enemy to be at peace with him. Why did not his father and mother throw Moses into the river at once? God could have easily preserved him, and the deliverance would have been the more remarkable. But as if every thing depended upon their diligence and precaution, they hide him as long as possible, and then build a little ark, and pitch it within and without, and when the vehicle is