Is not the life more
Take no thought of this kind, no uneasy thought even for your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body than clothing? If then God gave you life, the greater gift, will he not give you food to sustain it? If he has given you the body, how can you doubt but he will give you clothing to cover it? More especially if you give yourselves up to him and serve him with your whole heart. Behold, see before your eyes, the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet they lack nothing, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you much better than they, you who are creatures capable of God? Are you not of more account in the eyes of God? Of a higher rank in the scale of beings? And which of you by anxious thought can add one cubit to his stature? What profit have you then from this anxious thought? It is every way fruitless and unavailing. Matthew 6:25-27.
1771 text
18. Take no thought of this kind, no uneasy thought even for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? If then God gave you life, the greater gift, will he not give you food to sustain it? If he hath given you the body, how can ye doubt, but he will give you raiment to cover it? More especially, if you give yourselves up to him, and serve him with your whole heart. Behold, see before your eyes, the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and yet they lack nothing, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye much better than they? Ye that are creatures capable of God? Are ye not of more account in the eyes of God? Of a higher rank in the scale of beings? And which of you by taking thought, can add one cubit to his stature? What profit have you then from this anxious thought? It is every way fruitless and unavailing.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 29 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:24-34.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.