regeneration; and thus, while indirectly supplying them with food for the body, he is at the same time inwardly nourishing them with the more precious food of the soul,—love and wisdom, and so preparing them to become angels of heaven. This, then, is the reason, why man must, as before said, not only pray for his daily bread, but labor for it at the same time. And if they do their duty faithfully, their wants will, under the Lord's providence, be certainly supplied.
But there are times in life,—it may be said—in which one has done and is doing all he can, and yet he has not a sufficient support for himself and his family; and there are times, when, in the derangement of general business one cannot get employment. This is no doubt true, and it is an effect direct or indirect of the present disordered state of society, occasioned by man's selfishness. But there is no case that can be mentioned or imagined, in which we are to despair, or in which we may not look up trustingly to the Lord, saying, "Give us our daily bread." If you are doing the best you can, using every exertion, trying in every way, then you may be sure a support will be provided for you in one way or another,—perhaps in a manner and at a time in which you least expected it, and when your surprise and delight will cause you to fall down on your knees in thankfulness. I say to you, the Lord would create bread for you directly, as he did to feed the five thousand, or shower down manna from heaven, as he did for the Israelites, or send ravens to feed you, as he did to Elijah—rather than permit any one to suffer, who trusts in him
