Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, Chapter 6 · Verse 32
v. 32.
For after all these things seeke the Gentiles: for your heauenly Father knoweth that ye hauehave neede of all these things.
This verse containes Christs fifth and sixth reasons, to disswade his hearers from distrustfull care. The fifth is drawne from the practise of the Gentiles, and it standeth thus:
That which the Gentiles doe which know not God, you must not doe,5. Reason against distrustfull care. (they doing amisse:)
But the Gentiles seeke thus distrustfully for things needefull: Therefore you must not doe so.
The words in the originall whereby Christ declareth this behauiour of the Gentiles, be more full and emphaticall then our translation doth expresse: for they import that the Gentiles set themselues to seeke, orforeign. seeke with all their might. Which must be obserued, because it is not a sinne simply to seeke things necessarie, but wholly to giuegive our selues thereto, that is, the sinne; because it proceedes from distrust in God. Quest. Why did the Gentiles thus wholly giuegive themselues to seeke things necessarie? Ans. Because they know not … true God, nor his prouidence; they were not acquainted with his word, as Dauid saith▪ And this was the state of all the world before Christs comming, the Iewes onelyonly excepted, and their forefathers, with some few Proselytes, who by conuersing with Gods people were conuerted to true religion.
This point well obserued; first, ouerthrowes the opinion of vniuersall Vse. 1. Vniuersall grace confuted.grace, as a meere deuise of mans braine: for if the Gentiles knew not the true God, how should they know the way to life? if God gaue them not so much grace, whereby they could depend vponupon his prouidence for the things of this life, much lesse did he giuegive them grace to beleeue and to be saued, if they would.
Secondly, this shewes that they who set their hearts vponupon the world,2 World…ings like Pagans.and giuegive themselues to seeke earthly things, are as Gentiles and Pagans; they hauehave not yet attained to this principle of Christianitie, to depend vponupon Gods prouidence by faith: they see no prouidence, and so rely onelyonly vponupon the meanes, whereby they sacrifice to their owne paynes and industrie, and so make themselues their owne God. This is the state of many among vsus, who beare the name of Christians▪ but indeed and practise are as Turkes, and Pagans: and this reason alone well waighed is sufficient to mooue any christian heart in a moderate care to seeke earthly things.
Thirdly, marke the ground of this reason; Christs disciples had the3 true God for their God, which the Gentiles had not, and thereforeChristians must in all things be vnlike the heathen. they must differ from the Gentiles in their behauiour. This teacheth vsus, that in all things Gods children must be vnlike the heathen, for in euill things we must forsake them, and in all things that be good we must excell them. The sonne of a prince will not shew him selfe like a begger in any thing▪ no more should the child of God, in any thing conforme himselfe vntounto the world. O then how vnworthie doe we walke of ourvocation▪ for the verie sinnes of the heathen are rife among vsus, as vncleannesse, drunkennesse, slandering, and oppression; nay many among vsus exceede the Pagans in mercilesse dealing towards the poore, for they neuer knew that Christ came for reliefe in the person of his poore, and yet many among them were more mercifull, then many now a dayes that beare the name of Christians: for doe not the poore sometime die for want of releefe? and doe not many among vsus make a game of Gods iudgment vponupon the poore, selling their commodities deerest when the poore hauehave greatest want and neede? wel, if we wil approoue our selues to be Gods peculiar ones, let vsus be ashamed to be like the heathen in any euill, or not to goe beyond them in that which is good.
For your heauenly father knoweth that you hauehave neede of all these things.
These wordes containe Christs sixth reason to his Disciples against6. Reason against distrustfull care. distrustfull care, drawen from Gods speciall prouidence ouer them: and it also includes an answer to a secret obiection against Christs command: for some man might say; If we may not be carefull for things needfull, who shall prouide them? Christ here answers; you must not be distrustfully carefull, for you hauehave a father in heauen, who knowes whereof you hauehave need, and careth for you. Now looke whereof God takes care in your behalfe, you need not trouble your selues further then the sober vse of lawfull meanes: But God your heauenly father takes notice of your estate, and will prouide that which is best for you: and therefore you need not to vexe your minds there-about.
A most worthie reason, and alone sufficient to driue vsus from distrustfull care: for this acquainteth vsus with Gods particular and speciall prouidence ouer vsus, taking notice of our estate whatsoeuerA notable ground of contentation. it is, and disposing it to the best. In regard whereof we must learne contentation in all estates of this life, in sickenesse, as in health; in trouble, as in peace; and in want, as well as in aboundance; for whatsoeuer our estate be, it is according to the good pleasure of our heauenly father, who is infinite in power and wisdome, both knowing what is best, and able to turne all to our good, as we shall surely finde by comfortable experience, if by faith we depend vponupon him. This Dauid knew well, and therefore saith, aPsal. 2…. 4.he will not feare though he walke through the valley of the shadowe of death; why? for thou art with me, thy rod and staffe; that is, thy spirit, thy word, and prouidence comfort me. If our hearts were setled in thi, point, we should not be impatient in distresse, nor dead hearted in want; nay it would make vsus cheerefull in the houre of death▪ for hereby we should be assured that these estates were better for vsus, then peace, wealth, or life it selfe, because they come by the will of our heauenly father, who knoweth whereof we hauehave neede: and therefore let vsus labour by faith to be assured of our adoption, that we may know God to be our father, and then by the same faith we shall be easily assured, that he will turne all things that befall vsus, to our good.