John Trapp on Matthew 6:31

Verse 31. Therefore take no carefull thought, &c.] From the fore-named grounds. Our Saviour here resumeth and enforceth theCic. Tusc. 4. former exhortation. Sollicitudo est aegritudo cum cogitatione, saith the Oratour. Carefulnesse is a tormentfull plodding upon businesses. It is, say Divines, [illegible: 1 word] act of fear and distrust, taking up not only the head, but chiefly the heart, to the very dividing and disturbing thereof: causing a man inordinately and over-eagerly to pursue his desires, and to perplex himself like wise with [illegible: 1 word] and [illegible: 1 word] thoughts about successe. Now our Lord Christ would have none of his servants to care inordinately about any thing, but that, when they have done what they can in obedience to him, they should leave the whole matter of good or evil successe to his care. To care about the issue of our lawfull endeavours, is to usurp upon God, to trench farre into his prerogative divine, to take upon us that which is proper to him. And it is no lesse a fault to invade Gods part, then to neglect our own. Adde hereunto, that God out of his wise justice, ceaseth caring for such an one, and because he will not be beholden to God to bear his burthen, he shall bear it alone, to the [illegible: 1 word] of his back, or it least, till he is much bowed and [illegible: 1 word] under it. If we [illegible: 1 word] such as will put no trust in us, but love to stand upon their own ground, we give them good leave: as contrarily, the more we see our selves trusted to, [illegible: 1 word] more [illegible: 2 words] is carefull for them that stay upon us. Thus it is with [illegible: 1 word] heavenly Father. Saying, what [illegible: 1 word] we eat? [illegible: 1 word]] Our Saviour by these distrustful. Questions, graphically expresseth the condition of [illegible: 2 words], their endlesse projects and discourses in the air. They are full of words, and many questions, what they [illegible: 1 word] doe, and how they and theirs shall be provided for? They haven ver done, either [illegible: 1 word] themselves, or consulting to no purpose, in things that either cannot be done at all, or not otherwise. And so some [non-Latin text not transcribed] understand that of our Saviour, Luk. 12 29. Hang not in doubtfull suspences; after he had brought in the rich fool, vers. 17. reasoning and saying, What shall I doe, &c. And Solomon brings in such [illegible: 2 words] [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 2 words], [illegible: 2 words] See M Harris on Mat. 5 7. And M. Pen. [illegible: 1 word] on Eccl. [illegible: 1 word]. 1. another fool, full of words, and he recites his words, A [illegible: 1 word] cannot tell [illegible: 1 word] shall be, and what shall be after him, who can tell? Eccles. 10. 14. And in the next Chapter, ver. 1. and so forward, he makes answer to many of these mens [illegible: 1 word] queries and [illegible: 1 word], when moved to works of mercy. Old men specially are [illegible: 1 word] of this weaknesse, who are apt to cark, because they [illegible: 1 word], saith Plutarch, [non-Latin text not transcribed]; that they shall not have enough to keep them, and bring them well home, as they call it; whence some conceive that covetousnesse is called, The root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6. 10. because as there is life in the root, when no sap in the branches: so covetousnesse oft liveth, when other vices die and decay. It groweth, as they say, the Crocodile doth, as long as he liveth.