Take no Thought for the Morrow. SERM. The Meaning of our Saviour, in X. these Words, cannot be, that we are to live at Random, fecure and careless of whatever may befall us; that we are not to look into the Confequences of our own, or other Mens Actions, nor endeavour any ways to forefee, and prevent approaching Dangers: That we are to make no manner of Provifion for future Events, to lay up nothing, and concern our felves about nothing, but what is prefent, and immediately before us: For this is no Part of the Character either of a wife, or good Man, nor agreeable to many o̟ther Rules and Directions given us in holy Scripture. Doubtlefs, Sagacity in difcerning, and a prudent Forecaft to wards declining Evils, are not only allowable, but commendable Qualities; Frugality and Diligence are certainly Virtues: And therefore the prudent Man is thus defcribed by Solomon, that he Prov. xxii. forefeeth the Evil and hideth himself: And3· the Ant is recommended to us, as a Pattern SER M. Pattern of Providence and Parfimony; our had a Bag, wherein there was probably a Supply for more than one Day; as he allows us to foresee Perfecutions at a Distance, and to escape them by an early Flight; fo he himself took that Method of declining them, and cannot therefore be supposed to condemn what he frequently practifed. But his Meaning plainly is, to forbid fuch a Care and Concern for future Accidents, as is attended with Uneasiness, Distrust, and Defpondency; fuch a Degree of Thoughtfulness, as takes up, and dejects, and diftracts the Mind. We are not too curiously to pry into the remote Iffues of Things, nor to perplex and afflict our selves with the Forethought of imagined Dangers: We are not to guard against Want by an eager anxious Pursuit of Wealth, nor be fo careful in providing Supplies for the Neceffities of this Life, as to forget that we are defign'd for another. In this Senfe we are obliged to take take no Thought for the Morrow. AndSERM. indeed this is the Sense which the Ori- X. ginal naturally carries: For what our Verfion renders by taking Thought, is in the Greek, a Word of much greater Force and Compass, fignifying a restless Sollicitude, and Distraction of Thought; and by the Morrow, is not meant the very next Day only, but, according to the Import of the Eaftern Phrafe, all the Time to come, any future Event, at what Distance foever. The Design of the Text therefore is, to prohibit all anxious and perplexing Cares; whether as to the good Things of Life, the Necessaries and first Conveniences of it, how we fhall be furnished with them; or, whether as to the ill Things, the poffible Dangers, and diftant Evils of Life, how we shall bear them. A Disease very incident to good and virtuous Minds, when they happen to be a little tinctured with Melancholy; and very apt, where it gets Poffeffion, to poyfon all the Enjoyments of Life, and even to make SERM. Life it felf fometimes a Burthen to the X. Owner. It has been known, when an exceffive Love of fome earthly Good [as perhaps of a near and dear Relation, or Friend] has in tender Tempers raised such a Dread of lofing that Happiness, as hath been more than equal to the Pleasure they took in enjoying it. And there have been Inftances of those who, under all the Affluence and Plenty in the World, have fancied to themfelves fome Accident, that might rob them at once of all they poffeffed; and have by fuch an imaginary Scene made themselves as truly miferable, as if it were real. Nor is it an unusual Thing for Men to be influenced fo far, by Reflections on fuch poffible Accidents as thefe, as to fhut up their Hands and their Bowels to the Poor, and to think themselves excufed from relieving other Mens Wants, left they themselves fhould one Day want what they are invited to bestow. However should fome of these be thought rare Cafes, yet nothing is more common, than to fee see Men, who are at Eafe, difquieting SER M. themselves with remote Profpects, and X. with the vain Fear of future Evils. Efpecially if they live in doubtful and distracted Times when the Spirit of Diffenfion reigns openly, and Parties of Men are loud and violent against each other: Then they fink under the fad View of Things, and are ever scaring themselves with the Forethought of the very worst that can befall themselves, or others, particular Families, or Cities, Churches or Kingdoms. To thefe, (and to all fuch as thefe) we may prefume that our blef fed Lord directs the Precept of the Text Take no Thought for the Morrow. It fhall be my Business to fhew, both the Evil, and the Unreasonableness of such anxious Thoughts; and how little they are to be justified, either in Point of Piety or Prudence. The Evil of them lyes in these Particulars; that they are oppofite to feveral plain Precepts of holy Writ; that they often invade the peculiar Pro 8 vince |