9. Do you still ask, but what shall I do for [♦]bread? For food to eat, and raiment to put on? I answer, in the name of the Lord God, (and mark well! His promise shall not fail) seek thou first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto thee.
[♦] “read” replaced with “bread”
Settle it first in your heart, whatever I have or have not, I will not have everlasting burnings. I will not sell my soul and body for bread: better even starve on earth than burn in hell. Then ask help of God. He is not slow to hear. He hath never failed them that seek him. He who feeds the young ravens that call upon him, will not let you perish for lack of sustenance. He will provide, in a way you thought not of, if you seek him with your whole heart. O let your heart be toward him: seek him from the heart. Fear sin, more than want, more than death. And cry mightily to him who bore your sins, till you have bread to eat, that the world knoweth not of; till you have angels food, even the love of God, shed abroad in your heart: till you can say, now I know that my Redeemer liveth, that he hath loved me and given himself for me: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God!
A WORD to a
SMUGGLER.
I. “WHAT is smuggling?” It is the importing, selling, or buying of run goods: that is, those which have not paid the duty appointed by law to be paid to the king.
1. Importing run goods. All smuggling vessels do this with an high hand. It is the chief, if not the whole business of these, to bring goods which have not paid duty.
2. Next to these are all sea captains, officers, sailors, or passengers, who import any thing without paying the duty which the law requires.
3. A third sort of smugglers are all those, who sell any thing which has not paid the duty.
4. A fourth sort, those who buy tea, liquors, linen, handkerchiefs, or any thing else which has not paid duty.