Mofes and Aaron could not enter into the land of promife because of their unbelief, Num.20 12. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, becaufe ye believe me not, to SenEtific me in the eies of the children of Ifrael, therefore ye ball not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. Zachary was ftruck dumb for not believing what God had revealed. Chrift did never chide his Difciples for any thing fo much as their un belief, Luke 24.25. O ye fooles, and flow of heart to believe. And, why doubt ye Oye of little Faith, Mat.8.26.

4. 'Tis a Pagan fh fin, as our Saviour intimates, Mat.6. For Heathens to be full of carking and caring, is not so much to be wondred at, but for us that profefle to believe in God, that do acknowledge aparticu Lay Providence, and believe the happineffe of another world, to be under the tyranny of diftracting cares, anxiety of mind, and thoughtfulneffe, (as if God had no care of us) this is an exceeding unworthy carriage towards God. Take heed therefore of diftru fting God, and overcharging thy felf with the cares of this life. Let not thy heart be 100 much fixed on any thing here below. Lay not thefe outward things too much to heart. And remember that then cares are inordinate, when they caufe fuch a tumultuousness,

and

and unquietneffe in our thoughts, and affections, that reafon is difturbed, and cannot allay or compose them: or when they exceed. ingly hinder, or quite put us by the duties we ought to perform to God; or laftly, when they caufe a finking, or dying in the heart, (as Nabals heart is faid to die within him) when we are disappointed in that we were fo eagerly folicitous about. And therefore our Saviour in Mat.6, bids us take no thought, and repeats it three feveral times, as v.25. Therefore I fay unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. V.31. Therefore take notbought, faying, What shall we eat or what shall we driuk, or wherewithall fhall we be cloathed? V.34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of it self, fufficient unto the day is the evil there

of.

Directions. Take heed of limiting God, 1. Either to the time of fulfilling his promiles, Ora. To the way, Faith doth not limit the holy One of Ifrael, to any fet time, or any fet means. Do thy duty therefore, and refigne thy felf to God, Commit thy felf, and all concernments to his Fatherly care: and be not over-folicitous or perplexed about events. What ftrange diAtrustful language do the children of Ifrael ufe

in Pfal.78.20. Can the Lord prepare a table in the wilderneß, can he give bread also? Canhe provide flesh for his people? And therefore at .41. What a black character is given of them, They turned back, and tempted God, and limited the holy One of Ifrael. We must not prefcribe to God, we muft not go about to fubject his Providence to our direction, and prefcribe what

he fhall do for our fatisfaction.

Direction 6. Reflect upon the Lords paft kindneffe, and gracious dealings with thee. Confider how much God hath done for thee, and for others, that have trufted in him and that will tend very much to encourage thee fiill to trust in him. The more experience and mánifeftation of Gods power and prefence thou haft had, the greater reason thou haft, to caft away all unbelief from thee. It exceedingly provoked God against Ifrael, that notwithstanding fo many experiences of his power, yet still they diftrufted him, Num. 14.11. And the Lord faid, unto Mofes, how long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere they believe me? for all the fignes I have shewed among them. By every experience we fhould grow up into a grea ter courage, and strength of Faith, as David drew inferences of hope against the present danger, from the lion and the bear, 1 Sam.17.36. Thy fervant flew both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcifed Philistine fhall be as one of them,

feeing he hath defied the Armies of the living God. Or as Paul faid, 2 Cor.1.10. He bath, and doth, and therefore will deliver. Who delivered us from fo great a death; and doth deliver, in whom we truft that he will yet deliver us. Christ was angry with his Difciples for not remembring the miracle of the loaves, when they were in a like ftrait again, Mat 16.9. Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thou fand, and how many baskets ye took up? God is more angry with the unbelief of his children than of others, because they have more experience of his love and care, and therefore that they should distrust him that never fail'd them, is ye◄ ry ungratefull.

2 Cor. 5.7. For we walk by Faith, not by fight. Hab.2.4. Behold his foul which is lifted up is not upright in him, but the just shall live by bis Faith. Gal 2.20 I am crucified with Chrift, nevertheLeffe I live, yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Job.13.15. Though he flay me yet will i truft in

him.

Pfal.55.22. Caft thy burden upon the Lord, and be fhall fuftain thee, he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

1 Cor.7.32. But I would have you without carefulneß,&c.

Phil 4.6. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by praier and fupplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 1 Pet.5.7. Cafting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

1 Cor.7.35. This I speak for your own profit-that attend upon the Lord without distracti

you may

Pfal.119.49. Remember the word unto thy fervant, upon which thou haft caufed me to hope Pfal.25.10. All the paths of the Lord are re mercy and truth to fuch as keep hy Covenant and his Teftimonies. Pfal.112.7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord.

Pfal.89.33. Nevertheleffe my loving kindneß will I not utterly take from him nor fuffer my faithfulneß to fail.

Pfal.62.9. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie, to be laid in the ballance they are altogether lighter than vanity. 2 Chron.14.8. And Afa had an army of men, that bare targets, and speares, out of Fudah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin that bare shields, and drew bowes, two hunared and fourfcore thosfand, all these were mighty men of valour.