VIII. how much the bleffings which each of us SERM, enjoy, are beyond what we deferve. Let us nourish reverence and fubmiffion to that Divine Government, which has appointed to every one such a condition in the world as is fitteft for him to poffefs. Let us recollect how oppofite the Chriftian spirit is to envy; and what facred obligations it lays upon us, to walk in love and charity towards one another. Indeed, when we reflect on the many miferies which abound in human life; on the fcanty proportion of happiness which any man is here allowed to enjoy; on the small difference which the diversity of fortune makes on that scanty proportion; it is surprising that envy fhould ever have been a prevalent paffion among men, much more that it fhould have prevailed among Chriftians. Where fo much is fuffered in common, little room is left for envy. There is more occafion for pity and fympathy, and inclination to affift each other. To our own good endeavours for rectifying our difpofitions, let us not forget to add serious prayers to the Author of our being, that he who made the heart of man and knows all its infirmi VIII. SERM. ties, would thoroughly purify our hearts from a paflion fo bafe and fo criminal, Create in me, O God, a clean heart; and renew a right fpirit within me. Search me, and know my heart. Try me, as envy. and know my thoughts. See if there be any me, * Pf. li. 10. cxxxix. 23, 24. SERMON IX. On IDLENESS. IT MATTHEW, Xx. 6. -Why ftand ye here all the day idle? IX. T is an observation which naturally oc- SERM. curs, and has been often made, that all the reprefentations of the Christian life in Scripture are taken from active scenes; from carrying on a warfare, running a race, ftriving to enter in at a strait gate; and, as in this context, labouring in a vineyard. Hence the conclufion plainly follows, that various active duties are required of the Christian; and that floth and indolence are inconfiftent with his hope of heaven. But it has been fometimes fuppofed, that industry, as far as it is matter of duty, reVOL. III. gards M SERM. gards our spiritual concerns and employIX. ments only; and that one might be very bufy as a Chriftian, who was very idle as a man. Hence, among fome denominations of Chriftians, an opinion has prevailed, that the perfection of religion was to be found in thofe monaftic retreats where every active function of civil life was totally excluded, and the whole time of men filled up with exercises of devotion. They who hold fuch opinions proceed on the fuppofition, that religion has little or no concern with the ordinary affairs of the world; that its duties ftand apart by themselves, and mingle not in the intercourfe which men have with one another. The perfect Chriftian was imagined to live a fort of angelic life, fequeftered from the bufinefs or pleasures of this contemptible ftate. The gospel, on the contrary, reprefents the religion of Chrift as intended for the benefit of human fociety. It affumes men as engaged in the bufinefs of active life; and directs its exhortations, accordingly, to all ranks and ftations; to the magiftrate and the fubject, to the mafter and the fervant, to the rich and the poor, to them that buy and them that IX. that fell, them that use and them that abufe SERM. the world. Some duties, indeed, require But the most import→ privacy and retreat; ant must be performed in the midst of the world, where we are commanded to shine as lights, and by our good works to glorify our Father which is heaven. This world, as the context reprefents it, is God's vineyard, where each of us has a task affigned him to perform. In every ftation, and at every period of life labour is required. At the third, the fixth, or the eleventh hour, we are commanded to work, if we would not incur, from the great Lord of the vineyard, this reproof, Why ftand ye here all the day idle?We may, I confefs, be bufy about many things, and yet be found negligent of the One thing needful. We may be very active, and, withal, very ill employed. But though a perfon may be induftrious without being religious, I must at the fame time admonish you that no man can be idle without being finful. This F shall endeavour to fhew in the fequel of the difcourfe; wherein I purpose to reprove a vice which is too common among all ranks of men. Superiors admonish their inferiors, M 2 |