nicely arranged and adjusted, that it is impossible not to perceive the superintending hand by which all their movements are guided. But when we look to the history of human existence, a very different scene presents itself. We here behold a being entering upon action, endowed with much higher capacities. We see him enabled to form his own plans of conduct, and to act from the guidance of his own intelligence. Whatever man performs, he seems to do from his own design, or from the direction of his fellowcreatures, and thus, in the very pre-eminence of his nature above the animal creation, the seeds are laid of the forgetfulness of that Divine bounty, from which this pre-eminence itself, and the opportunities of exerting it, are derived.When, however, we inquire a little more closely, we shall find both that there is a general Providence superintending

the course of human affairs, and that every individual is likewise regarded in this great plan of Heaven.

The

I. When we examine the history of any particular man, it may not, perhaps, be easy to perceive the hand of superior intelligence conducting him. principles of his conduct are often so capricious, that they seem to lead to no object, or to be guided by no plan; or, when they are steady and determinate, the wisdom which directs him seems to be his own. But, when we look to the general course of human affairs, we then perceive clearly the wisdom of Heaven in their direction. We see certain leading principles of our nature prevailing over the wide extent of the world, and shaping the general outlines of the course of man. Wherever we throw our eyes, we see this busy creature" sowing and

"reaping, and gathering into barns." We every where see the principles of the social union laying the foundation of the same, or similar forms of polity; and amidst all the irregularity of individuals, the weakness of some, and the ability of others, we see the great fabric of society wisely and harmoniously framed. It is impossible, my brethren, to enter, in this place, widely into such observations; but the general result of all extensive examinations of human affairs, must be a perception of the Supreme wisdom, to which their order and arrangement is to be ascribed; a wisdom which is much more admirable in their conduct, than in the guidance of the lower animals, in as much as they are modelled upon a loftier design, and are yet of a nature more independent and untractable.

II. But it is with man, in his indivi

dual capacity, that we are chiefly concerned in this argument; and the leading difficulty which it presents, is to raise in the minds of individuals, the belief that they are the objects of Divine care, and are provided for in the impartial administration of Heaven.—With this view, it is, in the first place, evident, that the Providence of God cannot be expected to counteract the nature and the capacities which he has given us. He has given to every man, more or less, the powers of thought and of exertion; and it is evidently his intention that these capacities should be exercised. It would not, then, be providential, with respect to man, to feed him before" he sowed and "reaped, and gathered into his barn." Thought and design are the peculiar distinctions which elevate him above all other beings; and, surely, it would be a preposterous constitution of nature, which

should endow him with those lofty faculties, and, at the same time, should supersede the necessity of his using them. The Providence of God, to every individual of the human race, is shewn in rewarding the right employment of his powers,—in fixing it as the general rule upon which human life is to be conducted, that, in like manner as we sow we shall

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reap,”—and by affording to every man some means of occupation suited to his faculties, which, in the common course of nature, will bring their reward. It is upon this view, that our Saviour founds the beautiful instruction conveyed in the text. He wishes to convince us that there are laws established in nature, in the confidence of which it becomes us to act, without any anxiety respecting the result. These laws are established by wisdom and benevolence, and all that we have to do is to be dili