The Two opposite Humours of a Chearful Trust in Providence, and a
Suspicious Diffidence of it, with the ordinary Effects and Consequences
of the one and the other, are very well set forth here for our
Instruction and Comfort. The Divine Goodness never fails those that
Depend upon it, provided, that according to the Advice of _Hercules_ to
the _Carter_, they put their own Shoulders to the Work.
The most wretched sort of People under the Sun, are your _Dreamers_ upon
Events; your _Foreboders_, _Supposers_, and _Putters of Cases_: They are
still Calculating within themselves, What if this, or that Calamity,
Judgment or Disaster should befall them; and so they form it in their own
Imagination, for fear it should come another way. It is most certain,
that what we _Fear_, we _Feel_; beside that, Fancy breeds Misery as
Naturally as it does the Small Pox. Set a Whimsical Head agog once upon
Sprights and Goblins, and he’ll be ready to Squirt his Wits at his own
Shadow. I’ll suppose my self _Blind_, (says one of the Travellers,) and
try what will come on’t: And what is this more then the Experiment many
and many a Man makes in the World? Well, I shut my Eyes, I Stumble, I
Lose my Way, Break a Leg or an Arm perhaps; step over a Bag of Money, for
him to find that comes after me with his Eyes open: In one Word, I flip
my Fortune in a Fantastical Freak, to no manner of Purpose but for my
own Ruin. There is no surer Remedy for this Superstitious and Desponding
Weakness, then first to Govern our Selves by the best Improvement of that
Reason which Providence has given us for a Guide; and then when we have
done our own parts, to commit all chearfully for the rest, to the good
Pleasure of Heaven, with _Trust_ and _Resignation_. Why should not I as
well Comfort my self with the Hope of what may be, as Torment my self
with the fear on’t? He that distrusts God’s Providence, does effectually
put himself out of his Protection.