the things of this life. This, God requires of us. "And
seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, _neither be ye of
doubtful_ mind." "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?
or what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed?" "Be careful
for nothing." And nothing can be more reasonable than this requirement,
when he has given us such full and repeated assurances that he will
supply all our wants. The silver and the gold, and the cattle upon a
thousand hills, belong to our heavenly Father. When, therefore, he sees
that we need any earthly blessing, he can easily order the means by
which it shall be brought to us.

From the precious truths and promises which we have been considering, we
infer the _duty of contentment_ in every situation of life. If God
directs all our ways, and has promised to give us just what he sees we
need, we surely ought to rest satisfied with what we have; for we know
it is just what the Lord, in his infinite wisdom, and unbounded
goodness, sees fit to give us. But the apostle Paul enforces this duty
with direct precepts. "But godliness _with contentment_, is great gain."
"Having food and raiment, let us be therewith _content_." "_Be content
with such things as ye have_; for he hath said, I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee." Here he gives the promise of God, as a reason for
contentment. It is, then, evidently the duty of every Christian to
maintain a contented and cheerful spirit, under all circumstances. This,
however, does not forbid the use of all lawful and proper means to
improve our condition. But the means must be used with entire submission
to the will of God. The child of God should cast all his care and burden
upon him; and when he has made all suitable efforts to accomplish what
he considers a good object, he must commit the whole to the Lord, with a
perfect willingness that his will should be done, even to the utter
disappointment of his own hopes.

Your affectionate Brother.

LETTER XX.

_Self-Examination._

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own
selves."--2 COR. 13:6.

MY DEAR SISTER,

In view of the positive injunction of Scripture, above quoted, no
argument is necessary to show that self-examination is a duty. But if
the word of God had been silent upon the subject, the importance of
self-knowledge would have been a sufficient motive for searching into
the