Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your
life,
&c.] Since ye cannot serve both God and "mammon", obey one,
and neglect the other. Christ does not forbid labour to maintain,
support, and preserve, this animal life; nor does he forbid all
thought and care about it, but all anxious, immoderate,
perplexing, and distressing thoughts and cares; such as arise
from diffidence and unbelief, and tend to despair; which are
dishonourable to God, as the God of nature and providence, and
uncomfortable to men:
what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your
body,
what ye shall put on.
The several and the only things, which are necessary for the
support and comfort of human life, are mentioned; as meat, drink,
and clothing; Eating and drinking are necessary to preserve life;
and raiment, to cover and defend the body, from the injuries of
the heavens: and having these, men have everything necessary, and
ought herewith to be content; nor should they be anxiously
thoughtful about these: for
is not the life more than meat, and the body than
raiment?
And yet, God has given these without man's thought: and since
these are better, and much more excellent, than food and raiment,
as all must and will acknowledge; and God has given these the
greater gifts, it may be depended upon, that he will give the
lesser; that he will give meat and drink; to uphold that valuable
life, which he is the author of; and raiment to clothe that body,
which he, with so much wisdom and power, has accurately and
wonderfully made.
