-28 And why take ye thought for rai ment? Confider the lilies of the field how they grow; they foil not, neither do they fpin. 29 And yet I fay unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory,was not arayed like one of these. 3 Wherefore if God fo clothe the grafs of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is caft in 28. And as for Clothing, Why fhould ye be fo much concerned about that? The Flowers of the Field take aboCare at all for themfelves, and yet God gives them a continual increase, and clothes them with inimitable Beauty, enquet 290 For this their Clothing is of fuch Beauty and Comelinels, as far exceeds all that the Art of Man 'can invent, or the Coft of the greatest Princes procure; fo that all the Glories even of Solomon's Court, were dull and mean in comparison of these, 30. If then God thus clothes the short lived Flowers, which are but of a few Days continuunreasonable is to the oven, fhall be ance; How faith? it for you to diftruft his Care and Providence, whom he hath fent into the World for fo much nobler Purposes! 31 Therefore take. Be not therefore anno thought, faying, xioufly folicitous for the What thall we eat? things of this prefent Wold', Or what fhall we for for Meat, and Drink, and Clothing. 32. For upon these things do the Gentiles, who know not the greatnefs of God's Power and Goodness, and the excellency of his true Religion, employ their Thoughts: But God, who hath revealed to you far nobler things to be the Objects of your Care and Meditation, knoweth that these things are necessary for your present fubfiftence, and will provide them for you 33. Make it therefore your first and principal Bufinefs, to underftand true Religion, and live according to the Precepts thereof: And all these smaller things fhall be abundantly fupplied to you by the Providence of God. 34. And be not too eagerly concerned to make provifion of these earthly things against the Time to come: For it is time enough to take Care for drink? or where withal fhall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles feek) for your heavenly Fa ther knoweth that ye have need of all these things. these things by a moderate Industry as they are wanted: Sufficient to the present Time are the preTent Troubles of Life; and God would not have you add to them by an unreasonable folicitousness for the future. CHAP. "B stil to adduoT Jak VII. Ehotofevere and cen Judge not, that ye forious in your Judg ment upon others, that ye provoke not God to use feverity towards you. 2. For in what manner ye judge, and deal with others; whether with Candour, Mercy and Charity; or with Severity and Rigour; in the fame manner will God, when he comes to Judgment, deal with you. 3. Be not therefore fo rigid in paffing Judgment upon others, as the hypocritical Pharifees and Jewish Doctors are; But be more ftrict in the examination of your own Lives. For how exceedingly unreasonable is it, to condemn the lighter Offences of others, while you are guilty of greater Crimes your felves! be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye fhall be judged: and with what meafure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 4 Or how wilt thou lay to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and be hold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, firft caft out the beam out of thine fhalt thou fee clearly to caft ont the mote out of thy brothers eye.: 4 own eye; and then 6¶Give not that which is holy unto the dogs,neither caft ye your pearls be fore fwine, left they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent, you, With what ground and confidence can you undertake to reprove others for their smaller Sins, while ye your felves are conscious of more heinous ones? or with what Skill can you inftruct and direct others to correct and amend their Faults, while ye have not Judgment or Integrity enough to be fenfible of your own? 5. Lay afide therefore this foul Hypocryfie. Firft efreform your own Lives: and then you may with Judgment direct, and with Authority urge and prefs others to Reformation. 6. And yet even in this Cafe there is a Difcretion to be used. The wife Inftructions and Admonitions of the Gofpel, are not to be always caft away upon obftinate, and incorrigible qMen, who probably inftead of being corrected and a mended by them, will return you only Scoffs, Reproaches and Contempt. 7.. Thefe |