When Bulstrode Whitelocke was dispatched as Cromwell’s envoy to Sweden, in 1653, he was much disturbed in mind, as he rested at Harwich the preceding night—which was very stormy—as he thought upon the distracted state of the nation. It happened that a confidential servant slept in an adjacent bed, who, finding that his master could not sleep, at length said,— “Pray, sir, will you give me leave to ask you a question?”
“Certainly.”
“Pray, sir, do you think that God governed the world very well, before you came into it?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“And, pray, sir, do you think that He will govern it quite as well when you are gone out of it?”
“Certainly.”
“Then, pray, sir, excuse me, but do you not think that you may trust Him to govern it quite as well as long as you are in it?”
To this question Whitelocke had nothing to reply; but turning about, soon fell fast asleep, till he was summoned to embark.
1 Pet. 5:7. A man carrying a burden was overtaken by a rich man as he drove along, and invited to get up behind in the carriage, which he thankfully did. After a while, the rich man looked round, and saw the burden still strapped to the traveler’s back. He therefore asked him why he did not lay down his pack on the seat beside him. But he answered, he could not think of doing that; it was quite enough that he himself should be allowed to sit behind the carriage, without putting his burden on the seat also. Thus often do God’s people fear to lay too much upon Him who has bidden us to “cast all our care upon Him,” and assured us that “He careth for us.”