A SERMON PREACHED Before the King and Queen AT WHITEHALL, On Sunday, Jan. 8. 1692/ 3.  
By WILLIAM WIGAN, Chaplain to Their MAJESTY'S.  
Published by Their Majesty's Special Command.  
LONDON, Printed by R. Norton for Walter Kettilby, at the Bishop's Head in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1693.   

A SERMON Preached before the King and Queen.  MATTHEW vi. 34. latter part. The morrow shall take thought for the things of itself; sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 
OUR Blessed Saviour, who knew that inordinate thoughtfulness for the things of this Life was a very common and great hindrance of our Salvation; in this Chapter useth many and powerful Arguments against it. He shows, ver. 25. That his Disciples ought not to take thought for their Life what they shall eat, or what they shall drink; nor yet for the body what they shall put on; because the life is more than meat, and the body than raiment: That is, He, who before we had knowledge of wants, gave to Man Being, Sense and Understanding; which are of greater value, and show more power in Him, and goodness towards Us, will not deny us the means of Food and Clothing, which are more easy for him to grant, as He knows they are necessary for us to obtain. Which we may the rather believe, because He hath taken care (as our Lord teacheth, 26, 27, to the 30th.) of the Fowl of the air, and the Grass of the field, and therefore will surely be more mindful of them whom he hath made after his own Image. Christ in the 32. v. shows how fruitless also this thoughtfulness will prove, which cannot add an inch to our Stature, or a minute to our Age. And in the 32. v. that the Gentiles, (They who have no hope but in this Life, and who are concerned there should be no other) They place all their happiness in making provision for their stay here: But this solicitousness ill becomes them who believe they have a Father in Heaven, who knows their wants, and who, if They seek first the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, hath assured them, that All these things shall be added unto them.  
Since then all Christians have a higher object of their care, the Eternal state of their Souls: of which if they are chief mindful, God is engaged to supply what their bodies truly require: No Christian can justly complain that the necessities of his Life are not supplied, unless he have first practised all that which Christ commands: and if any one hath not first sought the Kingdom of God, he hath not yet a title to this Promise: But there is little cause to fear any such complaints. They that have first served God uprightly, have not wanted leisure for their just occasions, and also have had a special blessing on their labours. Godliness hath been profitable for this life: and as it hath engaged men more conscientiously and steadily to follow their callings, so it hath produced excellent fruits to the industrious Christian. For the honesty and fidelity which our Holy Faith teacheth us to observe, in our duty towards man in our respective professions, as part of our Religion, are virtues of such importance that they seldom fail to earn more than daily Bread. For if as the Gospel enjoins, we are sober and temperate; meek and inoffensive, just and charitable; If we are not as Eye-servants in our Callings, but servants of the Living Allseeing God; if we possess our vessels in Sanctification, and our Souls in patience, waiting for the coming of our Lord: Can we believe that we shall want either Bread, or esteem, or protection in this Life? Are these so cheap Virtues, that there is no need of them in any Family or Country? Are the opposite practices of Vice, of Sloth, of Treachery and Injustice, so valued and so truly profitable to Mankind, that they will procure, if universally followed, a far surer livelihood than the duties which Christ enjoins his followers to observe? Or doth it appear that Epicures and sensual Persons, such as have made their belly their God, and have valued neither Right, nor Wrong, Faith nor Promise, Heaven nor Hell, have (generally speaking) been better regarded, and their actions and examples been recommended by Parents and Lawgivers, rather than theirs who, looking for a Life to come, have chief strove to have a Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Man? God indeed is pleased to suffer some wicked persons to prosper by their sins; but how few are they in respect of the vast numbers of such as laying aside all care of their Souls, abandoning themselves to voluptuousness and idleness, to rapine and iniquity, have fallen into poverty, and come to miserable untimely Deaths? And how few are they who by Prayer recommending their virtuous endeavours to God, have not found his Providence a sufficient Inheritance?  
Therefore in order to a more ready dependence on his Promise: As God hath appointed us an uncertain, and it may be a very short stay here; so he hath not made it necessary to have abundance. That we may be the better at leisure for his Worship, and our preparation for Eternity; He hath so ordered it, that our Natures do not require such vast provisions, as Covetousness, or the fashion of the World provoke us to seek after. Therefore Food and Raiment convenient are to be had of the growth of all Countries: But they who will far deliciously and sumptuously, and be clothed to the height of their own or their neighbour's Vanity: They who set not their hearts upon what their health requires, but what others do or wear; They are pierced through with many cares: They must run great dangers, must make shipwreck of their Consciences, must be slaves to other men's Vices, in order to content their own: And after all, find that Luxury and Pride, and an Evil Eye, are never to be satisfied. And these are the Men, who when their expectation is not answered, rave against God's Providence, and question his Love to Mankind, for not giving what they neither truly wanted, nor He ever promised to bestow upon them.  
Therefore since the Health of the Body, and the Content of the Mind are best promoted, by Simplicity of Diet and Moderation in our Desires: And since the observation of Christ's Precepts tends to the advancement of Peace, Charity and mutual support of Christians in lawful Vocations; justly may our Saviour require all who believe in him, after they have done their duty, to Take no thought for the morrow. And yet after all these Motives, he useth Two farther Arguments,  

I. The morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.  
II. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.   
By these Two Considerations our Lord strengthens his Prohibition given 25 and 31 verses, and repeated in this verse, whereby we are not to understand that we are to be wholly unconcerned for the future, as resolved Beggars are, or they who take upon them the Vow of Poverty and Laziness, (the pests of Commonwealths, and burdens of other Christians.) But we are forbid that pining care which neither acquiesces in any, tho' large, provision already made, nor in God's Providence. Christ doth not forbid Industry, nor laying up any store for another day: (For he himself had a bag, though Judas carried it) But Christ forbids that distraction and unsatisfiable distrust, which never believes there can be enough heaped up, nor that there is any wiser care than its own employed and watching over us. For our Holy Faith requires Christians to Work, that they may have wherewith to supply themselves, and give 
Ephes. iv. 28.  to them that need. It forbids us not to sow or reap, or gather into barns (as 
L. de Opere Monachorum, c. 1.  some vagabond Monks in S. Augustin's time interpreted the 26. ver.) imitating the Fowls of the Air: But it requires us to believe, that having done what lies in us, we should expect the increase from God; knowing that we live not by bread alone, however multiplied, but by every word 
Matt. iv. 4▪  that proceedeth out of his mouth: and therefore we ought not to be thoughtful for the Morrow, otherwise than we see Servants are who work for Masters whom they have found just and bountiful: They question not their Wages▪ and are therefore cheerfully industrious. Much more than ought Christians to banish all carking, gnawing, despairing Fears, since they have already had such experience of God's goodness, who hath so often filled their hearts with food and gladness.  
This being premised, We may consider, that we ought,  
I. To take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow will take thought for the things of itself.  
By the Morrow here our Saviour doth not strictly mean the following day, but that time to come in which we may be concerned. And when he saith that to Morrow shall take thought for the things of itself, He by a figurative expression (as is observed) supposeth the time or day to have a personal knowledge of what belongs to it: Intimating that as certainly as the days come on, and succeed each other, regular in their varieties, and true to their fixed lengths in their several seasons: So certainly there shall appear the same general steady care that hath hitherto watched over the works of the Creation, and more especially over the Church of Christ: and we can have no more reason to doubt of the continuance of the same Providence in governing the World, than we doubt of the return of Darkness or Light, each Day or each Night. If the Day itself were, (as the Heathens imagined the Sun to be) a Deity, or God, it could not more orderly arise; then during its revolution will be visible here an overruling Sovereign Power and Wisdom. And therefore as we expecting the go out of the Morning and Evening perform, or design at least, all the acts that our occasions may require: as we do not in the least question that Summer and Winter, seedtime and harvest 
Gen. viij. 22.  will be according to God's Promise: Though all these Seasons may be sometimes longer or shorter, more favourable, or more unkind than other while: As we see periods of Life and Governments continue: So we ought not to doubt but that the things of to Morrow, (whether they concern our Bodies or our Souls, our Families or our Countries) will succeed as is appointed: They will not happen, as an unsteady blind fortune shall confusedly throw them together. But as hath from everlasting been decreed by a much wiser Mind than any we can substitute in its place.  
Some Poet's fancy that when Man first saw the Sun, he was mightily pleased at the sight of so glorious an Object, and at its Light so charming: But that when he beheld the Sun setting, he followed, looking after him as long as was possible, and at the disappearing of the Light, despaired of day again. Though this be but a fiction, it too truly represents the practice of too many. The beauty of Order, and the blessings of Peace are so pleasing and desirable, that some Christians can no sooner see them overcast or withdrawn, but they believe them gone for ever; and lament, as if they could never be restored. But as the first Man to his unspeakable Joy saw the Sun rising again where he did not look for him, and afterwards perceived that after darkness he would return; after Eclipses he would Shine out again: So Christians who submit their wills to the Will of God, will to their comfort find that Joy will come after Sadness; and that as all the inanimate Being's and Creatures move and act according to the simple Eternal Laws which God at first set down: So Men, with all their folly, and Devils with all their rage can go no farther than was foreseen, and is permitted: are acted by their own malice, yet execute God's decree, and reign but for a fixed time. Generations shall go, and Generations shall come, Trouble and Sorrow shall be very great; disorder shall seem to have got the full power over the World: But though the Earth be never so unquiet, the Lord ruleth over all: And the fiercer and violenter confusions are, the sooner they waste themselves. Storms may arise so furious that young Mariners, who never saw the like, may imagine Heaven and Earth are quite lost, and nothing be looked for but another Chaos. But when He that sits above, the Ancient of Days, speaks the Word, Let there be Light, there shall be Light: Let there be Peace, there shall be Peace.  
They therefore whose Faith is founded on this persuasion, are best secured against fears and anxieties about the future: Since they are sure that he who order the present, hath the same care of that which is to come, and the same power over it: in which belief they are confirmed, by having been disappointed in former amazements: God having by ways unthought of by Man, restored safety, when all humane help was despaired of. Therefore they cast their burdens upon him, committing their Souls to him in well doing; not doubting but he who framed them, will watch over the work of his hands: He who preserved them during their helpless infancy, and heedless youth, if they keep in his ways, will be merciful to them, when their strength fails, and when the days come in which they have no pleasure.  
Moreover, God hath so ordered it, that the Day may be said, in an especial manner, to take thought for the things of itself. For the Day brings with it a disposition of mind suitable to its occasions. Men need not distract themselves with thoughts of what they shall do, if such or such Calamities befall them: for time and place and immediate distress, often suggest properer Counsels than any could otherwhile have been conceived. Sickness of itself inclines the Spirit to a temper fit for that Trial: it makes it affect that privacy and silence which conduce to recovery; and it causeth that seriousness and submissiveness to advice, which is agreeable to the dangers that attend it. So Necessity infuseth into the Soul that decency of behaviour, that watching of fit opportunities, that courtesy and eloquence of Speech, which no pre-meditation could furnish, and proves a kind of Inspiration.  
Besides, There is so great variety in the affairs which any day may produce, that the wisest of men cannot foresee, nor if they could, can they provide against the evils thereof: and therefore, it is observed, that they miscarry frequently in weighty concerns of Peace and War, who are strictly tied up by Commission, and may not act as is plainly best, but as they are directed by absent, though Wise, Superiors.  
For there are Critical moments, as in diseases, so, in all concerns of Life: and the wisdom of Man consists not so much in deep forecast, as in being watchful and ready to lay hold on the present advantages. And accordingly God gives his blessing, (not to them who by profound thought pretend to foretell the designs of the Eternal Mind; But) to▪ them who diligently observe and improve the opportunities his Providence offers. And therefore the Wise are confounded in their Plots, the Achitophel's are disappointed in their Counsels, are still baffled by somewhat which with all their skill they could not foresee: God thereby showing that, not the shallow and bounded capacity of Man; but an infinite Spirit, only, can comprehend what is to come. For our Body is contained in a very narrow space, and our Spirit moves in a very narrow sphere. The entrances whereby we admit knowledge are straight, suited to our minds, which can perceive but by degrees easy, orderly and simple; and are overpowered with variety, when not leisurely offered. And therefore as our Eyes are very serviceable, if their objects are presented successively, and in a determined distance (beyond which all is obscure and uncertain.) So that Spirit which God hath placed in Man, perceives with much clearness what it considers singly, and what nearly concerns it: But is amazed and in confusion when it grasps at many things; especially what regards futurities. If therefore Christians will distract themselves with the apprehensions of what may and what may not happen: if they will extend their solicitousness to after Years, and to what as yet lies hid in its Causes; They will be convinced in time, that their thoughtfulness increased their Sin, and no way prevented what they feared: and that therefore it is Wisdom to let the Day take thought for the things of itself; and that the rather, because as our Saviour urgeth for a Second Argument,  
II. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.  
By Evil here is meant, that Vaxation and Sorrow, which every day may bring upon us: not that Evil of guilt for which we must answer▪ Is there any evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it? Saith the Prophet Amos. 
Amos iii. 6.  He doth not mean any Blasphemy or Uncleanness, any Rapine or Murder: Far be it from God to be the Author of, tho' he for a time permits, such Crimes. But the execution of Vengeance the Viols of Wrath poured out on Nations in Pestilence or War, These are appointed by that God, who declares I make peace and create evil, I the Lord 
Isai▪ xlv. 7▪  do all these things. Forasmuch then as the heart of Man is on that Evil of Sin continually, which God will certainly visit with the Evil of Affliction; therefore as sure as wickedness increaseth, so surely will Tribulation and sore Distress. For as God hath declared he will send it: So Vice of its Nature begets misery and anguish of Mind; as it doth sickness of Body, variance with Men, and confusion in Affairs. For this cause, since we cannot foresee That truly Holy Day in which no Sin against God shall be committed, and by it his vengeance provoked; who can promise himself that any day shall pass without some Visitation?  
The ancient Heathens imagined that every one who entered this Life had a Cup of Good and Evil mingled, given to him: and that though some had a larger measure of Sorrow than others, yet none escaped without a Dose of Evil, enough to embitter all their enjoyments: We know from better Authority that, Man that is born of a woman hath but a short 
Job xiv. 1, 5, 7.  time to live, and is full of misery; and that He is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. And we may judge by past experience, that no particle of our Life can pass, but may have in it vexation sufficient to discompose the quiet, and poison the comforts of so frail and perishable Creatures as we are▪ And therefore since we are so weak and so transitory and nothing consumes our strength more than anxious care for the future: It is very unadvisedly done of us to anticipate our Sorrows, which will be grievous enough in their proper time. They who must drink up a very nauseous potion, are not counselled to taste of it often beforehand, and be disgusted at many parts of that draught which they need but once take, and but once know its offensiyeness. Therefore as we esteem them very indiscreet, who▪ having plenty for many years, waste all they have in one riotous entertainment: or any moment any voluptuousness: So we may look on them as extremely unhappy, who having allotted them a portion of trouble in this World, which is to be taken by degrees and at several times, through Fears and jealousies and over inquisitiveness bring all their Evil on themselves at once, and are overwhelmed with a burden, which divided might have been easily supported. If by much thinking and repining beforehand, the sorrow that is feared may be prevented: if by taking the cares that belong to the Morrow on this Day, they are ended; then solicitousness for the future will be singular Prudence. But (saith S. chrysostom) if you are never so thoughtful for the Morrow, you must nevertheless bear its weight when it is laid on you, and have also the grief of having bore it in vain▪ Why then do you so greedily gain so great a loss? Why do you give way to Fears, which like untimely preventive Physic, makes you actually ill, lest it may be hereafter you should be so? Be content with what is at present laid on you: that is enough for a Creature who is but of vesterday, and, it may be, will not be here till tomorrow▪ We know that there is no sort of affliction which befalleth one man, but may befall another: None have any exemption, privilege or prerogative, whereby they are secured against Sickness however painful or loathsome▪ against disgraces in their persons or relations, or the slanders or violence of wicked Men: No one knows but he may be the next object of pity by sudden death: For it is appointed for all men to die, 
Heb. ix. 27.  and no one can tell how soon. But how few in health disquiet themselves with the apprehensions of what is most certain: and how wretched would they be who should go about seriously to provide against all the casualties of Life? will they not be distracted, who should fear all the Evil they see or hear overtakes others unexpectedly: as loss of Limbs, Senses, Estates, Friends, good Name or Life? And yet we know almost all sort of Afflictions fell upon righteous Job in one day in perfection: The Sabaean, Chaldaean and the Devil, seized upon and destroyed his Flocks and his Herds: his Sons and his Daughters: and he had only time between, to hear distinctly his Losses; and then to be smitten with Sores from head to foot: and to have all his Sufferings inflamed by miserable Comforters. Who is insured that he shall not be oppressed or visited in like manner? And yet scarce any are so unwise as to torment themselves with the dread of the like. S. James reproves them who say to Morrow We will go into such a City 
James iv. 13.  and buy and sell and get gain, whereas ye knew not what shall be on the morrow: For what is your Life? It is even a Vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. If then we ought not to presume on the morrow for the contingent enjoyment of what we believe profitable; neither ought we to presume on it for a contingent evil: As it is sinful to imitate the rich man in the Gospel, in promising ourselves long to live, and enjoy 
Luke xi● 19  the Goods that are laid up for many Years; since the following Night, or sooner, our Souls may be taken from us: So it is sinful for any so to concern themselves for what distress God may bring upon them, as not thankfully to use what they are in possession of, and bless his holy Name for its continuance. We are not indeed to put off the evil day, and flatter ourselves that no harm can fall on us: We are not to promise ourselves peace, while God gives signs of his near approaching Judgements: But yet we are still to be mindful, that God is the same; and that we sin, by fancying that the Sons of Anak are invincible; or by distrusting that He can feed us in the Wilderness; no less than we sin by surfeiting in it of Manna. For still whatsoever the Lord appoints 
Psal. exxv▪ 6.  shall be in Heaven and Earth, and in the Sea, and all deep places▪ He, expects we should do what He commands, and leave secret things to Him: He loves to be trusted; and we most effectually engage him to watch over us, when, having done what lies in our power; we entirely recommend the Event to Him; firmly believing that it is best for us not to know whatever He pleaseth to conceal from us. For, since every day may be unconceivably fruitful of Calamities, which by foreseeing, or but foreboding, are highly aggravated; it is compassion in God to keep hid from us what we are to undergo, and cannot avoid. One of the Ancients saith, That he who allowed a day's space as sufficient to overthrow the greatest Empires, gave too large time, and much more than was necessary: In as much as a few Hours, nay Minutes, often determine the happiness: of Nations; and as from slight and very contemptible beginnings, grievous divisions have arisen; so out of the Brambles hath fire broke, that hath devoured the Cedare of Lebanon; and there hath been but a moment between the life and death of the greatest▪ between Adoration and Oblivion. Since than God doth not give man power to remove the Evil that may befall him, if he could foresee it; we ought to bless him for fitting us to bear each day's affliction in its due time; by keeping us ignorant of it▪ till it must be undergone. For, if any do search into His purposes, and attempt to know Euturities, their sin becomes their punishment▪ They who consult Astrologers and Diviners, are either deluded with false, or ill-grounded hopes, or are tormented with a dread of those miseries, which they▪ have not the least direction how to escape, but are told will inevitably befall them: Like Saul at Endor, who was confirmed in the belief of all the evil he feared, and had the guilt of his accursed curiosity added to a fuller knowledge of his dismal doom. Mind we then▪ what we are called to, leaving the Issue of Affairs with Wisdom that is infinite, and with Goodness that never fails: and so much the rather, because our joys will be higher, when not palled by a long foretaste; and our afflictions when not foreseen, will not embitter our present comforts. Moreover, as we know that our days, as they may be evil, so they may be few; and that each day's trouble may be abundantly heavy; in the midst of such possibilities of dangers, and such calamities which others, as righteous as we, groan under; we have cause to praise that Providence which keeps off the Evil which by reason of our sins, we may justly fear, For to this purpose we may be allowed to be thoughtful of Judgements, that may be poured out on us; that by the apprehension of them, we may be more livelily stirred up to glorify the Mercy which suspends them; and may also, by a holy life, move God to continue the blessings we enjoy, instead of provoking Him by our distrustful thoughts to hasten the calamities we may dread. But if on any other account we take Thought for the Morrow, we may justly fear a reproach like that which God made to Ahaziah, by the Prophet Elijah. Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire▪ of 
2 Kings i 3.  Baalzebub the God of Ekron? Is it not because there is no God in the World, that you are so solicitous for what shall happen in it? Is it because God hath abandoned the Helm, that you take His place? Or, because that you want full Employment, therefore you overload the present day with the supernumerary troubles of aftertimes? Rather believe, That as there was a Providence before you was born, so it will not die with you; cast the burden of to Morrow upon Him, who only can, and will take care of it and you: And in some measure resemble you the Israelites, who went out of their Camp and gathered Manna sufficient for each day, as was commanded, not doubting but they should, as was promised, find it there the next. Not but that the Scripture requires diligence, in subordination to God's Sovereign care; and encourageth the industrious Hand and provident Mind. For Joseph laid up stores in the City of Egypt against the years of famine: and the 
Gen. xli.  Disciples hearing of the dearth that should be in the World, did not so interpret 
Acts xi. 29.  Christ's doctrine, as not to think themselves bound to send relief to the Saints or Brethren at Jerusalem. But too often, as riches increase, the heart is more set upon them, and less upon the Living God: And it is hard to persuade the wealthy, that The Life of a man consists not in the abundance 
Luke xii. 15.  of what he possesseth. Therefore they provide as if they should live for ever: although they see how little truly sufficeth, and know not how soon far less may.  
If therefore Christians were fully convinced, That their Lives would not last for ever; and if they believed That an endless state is to follow, they would proportion their thoughts to their Interests: a temporary concern should have a transitory Care; and an Eternal concern should have their constant Care.  
And therefore they would be mindful of the Present. For though we are forbid to take thought for the Morrow, we are not forbid to take thought for the immediate Day. At first view this may seem too narrow a compass for the large and active Spirit of Man. But if it be seriously considered, it will appear, That as the Evil, so the Duty of the Day is sufficient for it. For who is there that can say, as in the presence of God, that He hath, during that short space, ordered a-right his Thoughts, his Words, and his Deeds? Who hath not offended in so few hours? If an ancient Christian found it hard to practise one short lesson 
Socrat. l. 4. c. 23.  that was read to him, out of the Psal. 39 1. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue. If he was a long time before he could fulfil that Precept: Surely then the guiding well the Lips and the Heart and its Imaginations, that are set on Evil, will not be an easy task to perform, though but for so short a time. Our Saviour reproached his Disciples that they could not watch with him one hour: and even, one hour well watched, the Eleventh hour spent in God's Vineyard, will not be without a reward: The penitent Thief who employed well the last Moment's of, his Death rather than, Life, was that day with Christ in Paradise. For God regards the sincerity of Conversion and Perseverance after it, and not only the length of time wherein he is served. And therefore they are sure to be blessed, who are faithful One Day if it be their Last. A Heathen could cry out, that One Day led according to the Precepts of Wisdom, was to be preferred before a sinning Immortality. How highly then ought Christians to value and employ well One, the Present, Day, which shall be rewarded with a holy and happy Immortality. And if after humble Adoration of God, and praising Him who brings them to the beginning of another day, (which they could not promise themselves,) they seriously resolved by the assistance of His Grace religiously to serve Him that day in their Vocations; and if in the Evening they examined themselves how they had past that day, (which may be their last,) and found they had walked before God in His fear, and as looking to give an account to Him of their deeds; with what comfort might they lay down their heads each night, and wish they might wake in Eternity? But when they review but one day's actions, too many will find much cause of shame and grief; many failings to be confessed, and much pardon to be asked. And yet, through God's blessing on this their inquiry, as they would be more Strict in their Lives, Faithful in their Callings, Charitable in their Censures, and Regular in their Devotions: so they would find that they had little time to spare for unnecessary Thoughts of the Morrow. Nay, they would then be convinced, That this World, in which our stay is so doubtful, and so full of disappointments, (whose joys are so false and so short▪ and whose sorrows so true and so lasting,) is not worth their utmost seriousest concern for it; and no way deserves their being mighty solicitous for what shall befall them in it: And therefore they would, as Travellers, look transiently on what passed here; having their hearts set chief on their Country which is above, and on that blessed state of Glory that hereafter shall be revealed. Since then, we know that we dwell in Tabernacles of Clay, carrying in our Bodies the Sentence of God, and liable to all the Evils that any day hath brought on any distressed Person, Family, or Nation; What is it that they who pretend so much to be concerned for the future, aught to mind, but that Future which shall never end; and to provide what will survive the great evil day? All the good things of this Life, however eagerly sought, hardly obtained, and carefully kept here, must be left behind: Only our good Works; Only the Fruits of Faith in God, and Conformity to the blessed Jesus; Only our Charity and participation of the Divine Nature, will accompany us to, and be of use at, the Tribunal of Christ. Hear we then our Lord teaching us, while it is called to day, to seek the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness: and to look on this Life only as a portion of Time assigned us to work out in it our Eternal Salvation. And if mindful of this happy end of a Christian Race, we are sober and just, humble and heavenly-minded; if we constantly do each day the duty of the day, as if at night we were to answer for it; and live each day as not knowing that any more may be allowed us; but in it our Lord may come upon us; We shall then with mighty assurance, (though the Earth be never so unquiet, and the Powers of it tremble,) commit to God's guidance our Bodies, Souls, and Spirits, our Country, and His Church; and shall find that God will govern all to His Glory, and for our Everlasting Salvation. To Him Father, Son and Holy Ghost▪ Three Persons, and One God, be Glory and Honour for ever, Amen.  
FINIS.