way." The negligent and the vicious, the waster and the slothful, differ but as one brother from another. As the self-murder of the wilful ungodly, so also the desire of the slothful killeth him, because his hands refuse to labour. "The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." "Be not slothful in business, but be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

6. Do it with constancy, and not with destructive pauses and intermissions, or with weariness and turning back. "The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that is of clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." "Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." "Be not weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not."

But, that misunderstanding hinder not the performance, I shall acquaint you further with the sense, by these few explicatory cautions.

1. The might and diligence here required, exclude not the necessity of deliberation and prudent conduct. Otherwise, the faster you go, the further you may go out of the way; and misguided zeal may spoil all the work, and make it but an injury to others or yourselves. A little imprudence in the season, and order, and manner of a duty, sometimes may spoil it, and hinder the success, and make it do more hurt than good. How many a sermon, or prayer, or reproof, is made the matter of derision and contempt, for some imprudent passages or deportment! God sendeth not his servants to be jesters of the world, or to play the madman as David in his fears; we must be wise and innocent, as well as resolute and valiant: though fleshly and worldly wisdom be not desirable, as being but foolishness with God; yet the wisdom which is from above, and is first pure and then peaceable, and is acquainted with the high and hidden mysteries, and is justified of her children, must be the guide of all

our holy actions. Holiness is not blind: illumination is the first part of sanctification. Believers are children of the light. Nothing requireth so much wisdom as the matters of God, and of our salvation. Folly is most unsuitable to such excellent employments, and most unbeseeming the sons of the Most High. It is a spirit of wisdom that animateth all the saints. "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." It is the treasures of wisdom that dwell in Christ, and are communicated to his members. We must "walk in wisdom toward them that are without." And our works must be "shown out of a good conversation, with meekness of wisdom."

2. Though you must work with your might, yet with a diversity agreeable to the quality of your seyeral works. Some works must be preferred before others: all cannot be done at once. That is a sin out of season, which in season is a duty. The greatest, and the most urgent work must be preferred. And some works must be done with double fervour and resolution, and some with less. Buying, and selling, and possessing, and using the world, must be done with a fear of overdoing, and in a manner as if we did them not, though they also must have a necessary diligence. God's "kingdom and its righteousness must be first sought." And our labour for the meat that perisheth, must be comparatively as none: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."

3. Lastly, it is not an irregular, nor a self-disturbing vexatious violence that is required of us; but a sweet well settled resolution, and a delightful expeditious diligence, that make the wheels more easily

get over those difficulties that clog and stop a slothful soul.

And now will you lend me the assistance of your consciences, for the transcribing of this command of God upon your hearts, and taking out a copy of this order, for the regulating of your lives? Whatsoever is not a work so comprehensive as to include any vanity or sin; but so comprehensive as to include all our duty.

1. To begin with the lowest: the very works of your bodily callings must have diligence. "In the sweat of your brows you must eat your bread." "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do." "He that will not work, let him not eat." Disorderly walkers, busybodies, that will not work with quietness, and eat their own bread, are to be avoided and shamed by the church. "For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." Lazy servants are unfaithful to men and disobedient to God, who commandeth them to "obey their masters according to the flesh, (unbelieving, ungodly masters) in all things, (that concern their service) and that not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, and in the fear of God, do whatsoever they do as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord (even for this) they shall receive the reward of the inheritance." "But he that doth wrong (by slothfulness, or unfaithfulness) shall receive for the wrong which he hath done."

Success is God's ordinary temporal reward of diligence: "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious." And diseases, poverty, shame, disappointment, or self-tormenting melancholy, are his usual

punishments of sloth. Hard labour redeemeth time: you will have the more to lay out on greater works: the slothful is still behindhand, and therefore must leave much of his work undone.

2. Are you parents or governors of families? You have work to do for God, and for your children and servants' souls. Do it with your might: deal wisely, but seriously and frequently with them about their sin, their duty, and their hopes of heaven; tell them whither they are going, and which way they must go. Make them understand that they have a higher Father and Master that must be first served, and greater work than yours. Waken them from their natural insensibility and sloth: turn not all your family duties into lifeless customary forms; whether extemporary, or by rote; speak about God, and heaven, and hell, and holiness, with that seriousness which beseems men that believe what they say, and would have those believe it to whom they speak. Talk not either drowsily, or lightly, or jestingly of such dreadful, or joyful, inexpressible things. Remember, that your families and you are going to the grave, and to the world where there is no more room for your exhortations. There is no catechising, examining, or serious instructing them in the grave, whither they and you are going.-It must be now or never: and therefore do it with your might. "The words of God must be in your hearts, and you must diligently teach them to your children, talking of them when you sit in your houses, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

3. Have you ignorant or ungodly neighbours, whose misery calls for your compassion and relief? Speak to them, and help them with prudent diligence. Lose not your opportunities: stay not till death hath stopped your mouths, or stopped their ears. Stay not till they are out of hearing, or till heaven be lost, before you have seriously called on them to remember it. Go to their houses: take all

opportunities: stoop to their infirmities: bear with unthankful frowardness; it is for men's salvation. Remember there is no place for your instructions or exhortations in the grave or hell. Your dust cannot speak, and their dust cannot hear. Up, therefore, and be doing with all your might.

4. Hath God intrusted you with the riches of the world; with many talents or with few, by which he looketh you should relieve the needy, and especially should promote those works of piety which are the greatest charity? Give prudently, but willingly and liberally, while you have to give. It is your gain: the time of laying up a treasure in heaven, and furthering your salvation by that which hindereth other men's, and occasioneth their perdition. "As you have opportunity, do good to all men, but especially to them of the household faith." "Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven and to eight; for thou knowest not what evil may be upon the earth." "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it. Say not to thy neighbour, go and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee." Lay up a foundation for the time to come. Do good before thy heart be hardened, thy riches blasted and consumed, thy opportunities taken away; part with it before it part with thee. Remember it must be now or never. There is no working in the grave.

5. Hath God intrusted you with power or interest, by which you may promote his honour in the world, and relieve the oppressed, and restrain the rage of impious malice? Hath he made you governors, and put the sword of justice into your hands? Up then and be doing with your might. Defend the innocent, protect the servants of the Lord, cher