A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 204 (Question 75 cont.)
SERMON CCIV.
WE are Conſidering wherein we may be guilty of U…, becauſeſs in the Gaining of the things of this Loſe. Two things have been here obſerved. viz. By down-right Stealing; and by living one of a Lawful Calling. 1. In Likeneſs 2. In an Unlauful Calling.
(2.) BY an Irregular following of a Lawful Calling. It is not ſufficient that the thing be Lawful, but it muſt be done Lawfully, and it this be not regarded the Command is broken?
AND here are forbidden,
[1.] AN over greedy or C…vetous craving after the things of this Life. This indeed is the Root of many Exorbitanties; and where it influenceth an Employment, it will put it out of Order; and every Command is broken in the Heart, as well as in the …ſe, and it begins there; we are therefore told, 1 Tim. 6.10. The love of money is the r…t of all evil. There is a Covetouſneſs forbidden in the Tenth Command, whi…h is another thing; but there is one proper to th…r… Precept; and wherein that differs from this, may be enquired when we come to Diſcourſe of that. That which is here concerned, is an Heart immoderately ſet upon theſe things; which is charged upon him, Jer. 21.17. Thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetouſneſs. And it conſiſts in an over-valuing of the Creature, and Idolizing of it in our Thots and Eſteem; whence it is called ldolatry, Col. 3.5. And this Covetouſneſs diſcovers it ſelf both in the Gaining of theſe things, and the Improvement which Men make of them; and the former of theſe is the Subject of our perſent Contemplation; and it is to be diſcovered when the World is ſet in the Mans Heart, and he muſt have it by Right or Wrong, and thereupon all his Projects and Contrivance are how to Compaſs it; and … never be ſatisfied, or ſet any Bounds to his Infinite C… vings, but the more he graſps in, the moſt doth he graſp after, Eeel. 4.8. Hab. 2.4. Every Man hath in him a natural inſatiable Deſire after Happineſs; he finds that he hath it not in himſelf, but muſt go abroad for it; he accordingly fixeth upon ſome Object, … which he promiſeth to himſelf Satisfaction … the Fenision of it, which carries him reſtleſſly after it; and having unhappily fix'd his thoughts upon the World as ſuch an Objects, he Proſecutes it with the greateſt Earneſtneſs; and becauſe it cannot anſwer his Expertlation he therefore is boundieſs in his Purſuit, ſuppoſing, that by accumulating more of it, he ſhall compaſs his Deſire; and mean while in further off from it, than he was when he firſt ſat out.
[2.] A Brealing of the Rules proſeribed in the follwing of has Employment. God hath not only ſet Bounds to Employments themſelves, but alſo to the Manner of the Proſecation of them; and Men may Tranſgneſs in this, as well as in the other: Hence that, 1 Tim. 1.8. But we known that the law is good, if a man … at lawful. A Man may have ſo much of a natural Conſcience ſtirring in him, as to be afraid of taking up a wiched Trade of Life and yet be may follow that which in it ſelf is God, to as otender … Evil to him; and this is done more ways than one.
…occially,
1. BY uſing of Fraud is their Employment. Every Man in his Calling ought to do his Work ſubtantiady, that it … be ſerviceable for the End for which …t is: When therefore Men ſlubber over their Work, and do it to the halves to that end, that they may make the gr…ater Gain to themſelves, this us Deceitful, and a meet Cheat; and Men are diſappointed in their juſt Expectorations; and this is the too general Complaint againſt Tradeſmen, which is doubtleſs a great Sin and Provocation: Whereas if Men would he convent with honeſt Gain, there would be no need to this; and ſo Man of ſenſe but would be welling to be at rational Charge to have their Work well done.
2. WHEY Perſons that give Entertainment, will allow Diſorders in their Houſes, to draw Cuſtom and get Gain That ſuch an Employment is Lawful, we have before obſerved, but there is a great Snare and Temptation in it; and if Men take not great heed to themſelves, they will uſe it Unlawfully. Such is the Corruption in Men's Hearts that the moſt will go there, where they may uſe the greateſt Licentiouſneſs, and therefore ſuch Places where …ſave is the moſt unbounded Toleration, ſhall be moſt frequented; and for ſuch in Proſpect of …, to allow Men to Drink to Exceſs, to ſpend … their preciou… Time in…dieneſs & Expence, … Riots, to ſet up unſeaſou…ly, and to the Di…ance of others, and to give Enter…ment to Children and Servants, is a thing …, and to pervert the End and Uſe of ſuch … …phoy…ment, and turn it into an Abuſe.
3. BY p…ſuing their Buſineſs ſo as to … themſelves the neceſſary Re…ation … God hath allowed them. When they are …ger in plotting and purſuing their Affairs, … they give their very Bodien no Eaſe, and … Cares will not ſuffer them to Sleep in their …; ſo that they utterly bereave themſelves … preſent Comfort, except what they ex… from their expected Gain: Thus the Wife … deſcribes them in, Eccl. 2.23. For all his … are ſorr…s, and his travel, grief; yea, … heart taketh not reſt in the night. This is alſo …ry. And what is this but to preſume a make themſelves Happy, by readring of themſelves remarkably Miſerable.
4. BY encroaching upon Holy Time, in ſol… our S…cu or Employments. Every thing …tiful in it's Seaſon: God hath appointed … for out ward Buſineſs; and He hath ſepu…eed and ſanctified, a ſet part of Time for Re… Worſhip; in which He hath forbidden … out own Work, as was oblerved un… … Fourth Command; and far this we …, Iſa. …8.13. If thou turn …dy thy … the ſabbath from doing thy pleaſure on … day, and …all the ſabbath a delight, the … the Lord, bonourable, and ſhall honour … doing thine own wayes, nor ſinding thine … p…aſure, nor ſpeaking thine own words. … therefore Men cannot contain themſelves … their own, but will be treſpaſſting upon … Time, it makes that Buſineſs Unlawful, which …lſe would have been Lawful: And it … belongs hither, that Men do begrudge God … Time; are weary of the Lenght of it becauſe it is an Impediment to their Worldly Bu…ſs, and they count it a tedious Parentheſit, and ſo much time haſt: Hence ſuch a repri…ed, Amos 8.5. Saying, When will the new … be gone, that we may ſell carn? and the …, that we may ſet forth wheat.
5. WHEN the Buſineſs of their Particular Calling thruſts one the Duty of their General Ca…ings. He that purſues the Concerns of this life to the hurt of hin better part, doth not fol… it Lawfully; becauſe this is a Concern that calls for our prime Care, as directed, Matth. 6.32. Seek firſt the kingdom of God, and his r…teouſneſs, and all theſe things ſhall beadded …to you. There are the Duties of Reading the Wold, Meditation and Prayer, both Secret and with our Families, for which it is out Con… to ſet apart ſome part of Time every Day: If then we encumber ourſelves ſo with theſe things, that we leave no room for the other; and thereupon either totally Neglect them, or ſlightily Attend them, or think it enough to Adend theſe on the Sabbath, and count all our own Time l…ſt, which is taken up in Attendance upon them; we Rob God of His due, and hurt out Souls, while we inodulge our outward Mar.
(4.) THIS Command may b… volated by In…uri…ns Tre…ents of one … ther in the … of Tr…ick …r …work…! …o…erce. That ſuch Commerce is neceſſary for the Support of Maukind in this Would, hath been before taken an Account of: But there are the Rules of H… neſly by which this is to be reg…lated and bounded; and every …fect i…, or ſhort coming of thoſe, will ren… us Guilty in this regard.
AND we may …re take an Accor… briefly of the moſt Comprebe…ive of th….
1. THIS is done … For …: When Men ſeek to…er-reach o…e an…er … their Comm…tion…, co…ry to the Precep…, 1 Theſ. 4.6. That … beyond, …d defraud his brother in … …ter: becauſe that the Lord is the evenger of all ſuch. F…r tho' this is applied nextly to the Seve…th Command, yet it is a Precept or Prohi…ition taken from a general Rule in all C…ſef; it compre…en…s under it all ſorts of De…s, which are uſ…d by Men to ever-reach one another, in Buying, Selling, or Frehangings, which are very many, and not eaſily em…e…nted; but ſome of them may be juſt inſtaneed. Here co…es in the Frand that is uſed about Weights and …ſures which the Scripture d…dares to be abominabie to God, Pro… 10 23. When Men Buy by one and Sell by …, …e them ſo as by a turn they may be more …eſs, whereby Men are impoſed on, which contradicts …q…rty. When Men take Advantage of others Igne…ence, and put off one thing for another, or put off a Bad thing for a Good: When they Commend that which they know is Naught, or Depraetiate that which they know is Good: …deavour to cover the Defects of their Wares, by ſetting a fair Gloſs upon that which is Defective: To put off Bad Money for Good; and whatſoever of … Nature, which are Deceitful.
2. BY Extortion or Oppreſſion. There may be ſome critical Difference between theſe two, but they may well be put together: Extortion is in Law, a ſtraining by a Civil Officer, more than is the Due according to Law, for his own private Gain; or a Man taking of an Advantage of his Neighbour, upon his failing either in Day or Specie, to unreaſonable Gain: whereas Oppreſſion peculiarly is in taking the Advantage of a Neighbour's Neceſſity, to make him Pay for a thing more than the Value that we would otherwiſe have ſtood for, but that we know that he muſt have it, and can have it no where elſe: And theſe are Sins which come under the Diſhoneſt Gain forbidden in the Word of God, E…ek. 22.29. & V…r. 12. And to this Head belongs exceſſive Uſury.
3. BY Unſaithfulneſs in the perſorming of lawful Contra…t… according to the honest Agreements. It is the Principle and Practice of too many, that all their Care is to get into Debt to others; and for that end they will Promiſe fair what they will do, and to be true to a Day, when in the mean while they neither intend i…, nor vet have any fair Proſpect of a rational probability of their being able to fulfil their Word; but muſt needs fail, either in kind, or in time, or both; whereas every h…eſt Man's Care is to ſee a fair way how to get our of Debt, before he will run into it; and yet how common a thing is it for Men to violate their Promiſe, and make no bones of it, and frame all Excuſes for it, ſo to wrong their Creditors. And I muſt confeſs that I am aſhamed to heat Religion ſo reflected on, by ſaying ſuch and ſuch a Man, as high a Profeſſion as he makes, yet he takes no…care at all to pay his honeſt Debts: And that the ready way to be undone by ſuch, is to Pay them before hand; and altho' they Promiſe from time to time, yet there is no Performance, but they muſt be Proſecuted at Law, or you muſt loſe your own. Surely this is a forfeiture of Moral Hopeſty, and that preſumes a foregoing of Conſcience, and that Man's Religion is vain. I confeſs, if a Perſon be caſt behind by Providence, and there are thoſe that are able and willing to ſet him up again, and run the adventure of it, it is another Caſe; but then he ought to deal plainly, and not impoſe on Men and not ſeek his help of thoſe that are not able to do it, and thereby to Ruin others as well as himſelf, for the Wiſe Man hath an Obſervation, Prov. 28.3. A poor man that oppreſſeth the poor, is like a ſweeping rain which …verb no food.
… BY Engroſſing of neceſſary Wares, thereby to Advance the Price at their own pleaſure. How far Monopolies may be warrantable, I ſhall not diſpute; only without queſtion it is Lawful that he who hath found out any thing, which is for common Benefit, ought to have ſome Advantage by it, for his own Profit: But for Men who live in a way of Traffick, to make a Scarcity of things by keeping them up, that ſo they may raiſe the Price, is Injurious and Oppreſſive, and an Attempt to govern Providence, when we ought to be governed by it: And if this be in things Neceſſary for the Comfort and Convenience of Man's Life; it is aggravated; becauſe theſe things Men muſt have, whatſoever it Coſts them: Whereas in other things meerly to pleaſe the Fancy, none but Fools will ſuffer themſelves to be Cheated by them. We therefore have that Obſervation, Prov. 11.26. He that with-bold…th corn, the people ſhall curſe him: but bl…ſſing, ſhall be upon the bead of have that ſelleth in.
5. BY F…bood in the diſcharge of a Truſt committed to them. It is true, Civil Governments have provided good Laws, to prevent ſuch Abuſes, by written Bonds, Receipts, and doing things before ſufficent Witneſſes. But theſe are not next Rule of Conſcience, nor will the want of theſe things acquit the Man from his Obligation, becauſe it cannot legally be Proved upon him. If a Man do Lend to his Neighbour any thing upon his Word, if he Depoſit any thing into his hand to keep; and becauſe it cannot be legally Proved againſt him, before Civil Authority he keeps in back, in whole, or in part, be therein notoriouſly breaks this Command, Nor is the unjuſt Steward commended for his Honeſty, tho' his carnal Policy is noted in the Parable, when be made up Falſe Acco… with his Lord's Debtors, for his own Advantage, Luk. 16.
6. BY vexations Law-ſuits. Doubtleſs Civil Laws are Good and Neceſſary; and Men are ſometimes forced to recover their own by Law, or elſe they would wrong themſelves and Families: And this ariſeth from the Iniquity of Mankind, whereas if all Men were Honeſt, it might be prevented: This Forwardneſs to bring every thing to Civil Courts, which might be ended in a more Charitable way, is what the Apoſtle ſharply reproves in them, 1 Cor. 6. begin. For Men to take the Advantage of the Law againſt their Neighbours, when their Cauſe in Honeſty and Conſcience is Juſt and Good, is Oppreſſion and Robbery under a pretext of Juſtice; For Men to draw out Suits, by unreaſonable Non ſuies, and any other Tricks of a like Nature, to impoveriſh their Neighbours, is of the ſame ſtamp: For Attorneys to uſe Tricks to perſwade their Clients to Contention, and protract, and blind, or entangle Cauſes for their own Advantage, is a Scandal, which ſuch as ſo do, can never wipe off: For Perſons, by Bribes and Friends, to draw ſuch as …, concerned in Judgment, to have Reſpoc… of Perſons ſo to favour their Cauſe, which in Equity would go againſt them, is alſo a plain violation of this Precept. Thus may Me… Si… againſt this Precept in their Gettings of the things of this Life.
II. THERE are alſo thoſe Sins here forbidden, which have a reſpect to the Improvement of an Eſtate gotten. Men may come by theſe things Lawfully, and yet Improve them Unlawfully; and that alſo comes under this Prohibition; and that in regard of both thoſe things, wherein we obſerved, in the …ffermative part of the Precept, this Improvement is concerned. And the reaſon is, becauſe if we do not uſe theſe things ſerviceably to the End for which they are beſtowed upon us, we do not anſwer the deſign of the Precept.
AND this may be confidered,
(1.) IN the way & manner of Preſerving an Eſtate well gotten, and keeping it in a thriving way. The need of this we have before obſerved: We are therefore told of a Righteous Man, Pſal. 112.5. He will guide his Affairs with diſcretion. Tho' it be true, that all our Care and Conduct in this Affair will nothing avail, except God afford us his Providential Care over what we have. And there are unaccountable & unpreventable Caſualties, which all we have here are liable to, and therefore it is a Diſgrace put upon them Match. 6.19. Lay not up for your ſelves treaſure, upon earth, where moth and ruſt doth corrupt, and where thieves break thro' and ſteal. All theſe things have wings, and we cannot ſo clip them, as wholly to prevent their flight. Prov. 23.5. Riches certainly make themſelves wings, they ſly away as an eagle towards heaven. But ſtill there the Duties lying on us, in order to this, and the Tranſgreſſing of them is S…n.
AND the more eſpec…a… of theſe are,
1. BY Fooliſh Suretiſhip. It may ſometimes be a Duty to be Surety or a Friens; but …aſily and readily to bind ourſelves for another, is that which is Cautioned againſt in the Word of God; ſee Prov. 6. begin. My ſon, if thou be ſurety f…r thy friend, if thou haſt …ricken thy hand with a ſtr…nger. Thou are ſnared with the …rds of thy mouth. And. 11.15. He that is ſurety for a ſtranger, ſhall ſmart for it: and be that …t…th ſuretiſhip is ſure. How many are thus Ruined? The greateſt Compaſſion they find, to be branded for Fools: We are therefore adviſed, Chap. 20.16. Take his g…ent that t… ſurety for a ſtranger: and take a pledge of him for a ſtrange woman.
2. BY unwary Crediting of Men. Lending is a Duty, and in ſome Caſes without expecting to be reimburſed; but to Lend to others without Caution, ſuch a part of o…r Eſtate as we have no good Security for, and the Loſs will tend to Improveriſh us, is a ſinful Imprudence: To Lend to Riotous Perſons, and to Perſons who are in no likely way to Reſtore to us again, what we Credit them withal, is to Tempt Providence, and forfeit that Diſcretion which is required of Men in their Temporal Affairs.
3. BY Letting our Improveable Eſtate to ly I…e; or ſuffering it to go to Ruin for want of ſeaſonable Reparation. If theſe things be not Improved, they will of themſelves go to Ruin; if they ly ſtill they will not Increaſe: If Fie…ds be not manured, they will grow over with Thorns: All manner of Negligence and diſregard of this Nature, is Folly and Sin to Men: We are therefore commanded in, Prov. 21.23.24. Be thou diligent to know the ſtate of thy ſtocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every general on?
4. BY ſinful Thought taking. This is a Sin here in Exceſs, and Cautioned againſt by our Saviour, Ma…th. 6.31. Take no thought, ſaying, What ſhall we eat? or what ſhall we drink? or wherewithal ſhall we be cloathed? When our ſollicitude of keeping, and fear of l…ſi…g theſe things, perplexeth our Minds, fills us with diſquietments, and hinders us from that ſedate Commending all our Concerns to the Providence of God in the way of Duty, it is a Breach upon the Rules of Morality, and a diſcredit to the Profeſſion of Chriſtianity: hence that, Prov. 16.3. Commit thy works unto the Lord; and thy thoughts ſhall be eſtabliſhed. And to ſink in our Spirits, when we ſuffer Loſſes in our Concerns, is an Argument that our hearts are too much ſet on theſe things, which is an Indication of Covetouſneſs, which is here forbidden.
(2.) THERE may be Unrighteouſneſs practiſed in the w… of Expending of theſe things. There is an Improvement in this way, as well as the former; and that we may be a…le f…r this, we ought to be careful in that. Theſe things are given for the Uſe a…d Comfort of the preſent Life; and there muſt be a laying out, as well as a laying up, elſe the end is loſt, and the are an unprofitable Furden; and we are told, 1 Tim. 6.7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Pſal. 49.17. For when he dieth he ſhall carry nothing away: his glory ſhall not deſ…end after him. But there may be Errors committed in bot theſe reſpects
[1.] WHEN Parſimony or Frugality, degenera…es into Covetouſneſs. As there is a Covetouſneſs which app…ts in ſcraping by right or wrong, ſo alſo in pinching Penur…; or an over great ſparingneſs. When Men live beneath their Eſtates, and cannot find in their hearts to uſe them for the Glory of God, and the Benefit of Mankind. And this,
1. WHEN they Deny to themſelves and their Families, that which is …roper for their Support. If God bring Men to Poverty and S…ra…ts, it is a Duty for them pariently to endure it; but to deny it to themſelves and theirs, when God allows it to them, is ſordid Covetouſneſs: We have the Wiſe Man's Remark, Eccl. …8. There is one alone, and there is not a ſecond; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye ſati…fied with riches, neither ſaith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my ſoul of good? This is alſo vanity, yea, it is a ſore travel. When they can neither allow to themſelves nor theirs ſuitable Maintenance, nor afford their Children a Credible Education, but begrudge every thing that is thus expended, it ſaith that the World is their God.
2. WHEN They with hold doing their Proportion to Publick Supports. Either they do it not at all, if they can avoid it, or do it grutchingly, when they are conſtrained to it; and all that goes out that way, is as ſo much Blood from their Hearts. There is a Maintenance which God requires for ſuch as do Service in Church or Common-wealth; and none but B…ggars and Im…otent Perſons are diſcharged from it: Hence that, Rom. 13.7. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, cuſtom to whom cuſtom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. Gal. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that tea…heth, in all good things. And when Men uſe all means to avoid this, and think all that is thus held back is ſo much ſaved, they put a great Cheat upon themſelves.
3. WHEN they can allow nothing for Charitabl… Uſe when cal…ed to …t. The Hebrews call Juſtice and Alms by one Word, to let us underſtand that deeds of Charity are not Arbitrary, but belong to Righteouſneſs, and cannot be neglecte without Sin. God will have ſuch Objects to be among Men always. Mat. 26.11. For ye have the …oor always with you. And hath made it the Dut… of ſuch as are able no Relieve them. When therefore ſuch carry it ſo Churlithly, harden their Bowels againſt them, Rail at them inſtead of Relieving them; ſend them away and bid them come to Morrow; when it is in the power of their hands, ſee them ſtarve rather than ſuccour them; and if they do any thing for them, it is ſparingly: Theſe break this Command, refuſe to Lend to the Lord, or p…y Him His Quit Rent, which He hath requ…r…d of them; theſe hurt themſelves, put themſelves from under the Bleſſing promiſed to ſuch, Pſal. 42.11. And are Enemies to their own Proſperity, Eccl. 11. begin. Prov. 11.24, 25.2 Cor. 9 6.
[2.] WHEN Liberal…ty degenerates into Prodiga…ity. Men are too apt to put wrong Names upon things and to reckon their Vices for Virtues; and thereby to put a Cheat on themſelves, and baffle their own Confe…ences. T…us they are apt to write good Husbandry upon ſordid Covetouſneſs, and to give the noble Title of a Generous Spirit to Profaneſs: But they will not ſo cover them from the ſignt of God, or be able to make them to paſs under ſuch a Diſguiſe; and theſe things are repugnant to this Precept.
1. BY Living Above their Eſtate. God hath not ſeen meet to give every one a like Portion of theſe things, and by that He hath told us, that every one is not to aſpire to Live in the ſame Expence. Ordinarily, for Men to make their Expence Exc…ed or Equal their Income, is Profuſeneſs, and argues them Diſcontent with God's Allowance. When all are Ambitious in their coſtly Building, rich Furniture, fine and coſtly Apparel, and expenſive Houſe keeping; and think it a Diſgrace to come behind the Beſt in theſe things, tho' by it they bring themſelves to Poverty, and run themſelves behind in the World, they certainly are guilty of Profuſeneſs; and Abuſe inſtead of Uſing the Favours of God, and prove fooliſh Stewards of the Good things which He beſtows upon them: When alſo Men are over lavi…h in their Entertainments, and Charitable Deeds; for in theſe alſo there is Moderation to be uſed, and a Rule of Proportion to be attended, otherwiſe it will not be Hoſpitality and Charitableneſs but Profuſeneſs; and an honeſt pain Dinner will ſhew as much of true Liberality, in one, as a rich Feaſt in another; and two Mites are a greater Charity in one than ſo many Pounds in another. It was a cloſe S…rc…ſm in the Philoſopher, when asked, What made him ſo Prodigal as to B…g a Ta…ent at once of ſu…h a Perſon? He anſwered, This it was becauſe he expected not another Opportunity; but muſt take in while it was Going.
2. BY exceeding the bounds of Sobriety, to gratify ſome inordinate Luſt It is a common Plea of ſome to juſtify their Prodigality, that it is their Own, and they can Allow it, and therefore they will take the Comfort of it: But a Man may Abuſe the Good things of God, and make the Goodneſs of God to be Fuel to his exorbitant Concupiſcence. There is Riot to Exceſs, which is forbidden; and ſuch do not Honour but D…ſhonour God with their Subſtance, who indulge it with theſe things: Hence that, Rom. 13.13.14 Let us walk h…neſt…y as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenneſs, not in chamberring and w…ng…nneſs, not in …iſe and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and make not pr…viſion for the fleſh to fu…ſ…i the luſts there…f. And a Wo is denounced upon ſuch, Amos 6.4, 5, 6 That lie upon beds of every, and ſtretch themſelves upon their conches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midſt of the ſtad; That event to the ſound of the viol, and invent to themſe…ves inſtruments of muſick, like-Davil; That drink wine in bo…a…s, and anoint themſelves with the chief vint men … but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joſeph. He was la…d to the Charge of that Rich Man, whoſe incomes could bear it we…l enough, Luke 16.19. He was clothed in purp…e, and fine un…n, and fared ſumptuouſt, every day. When Men will waſte their Incomes in pampering their Bodies, and …eeding themſelves us for the Day Slaughter; when they will expend it to nouriſh Pride and Profuſeneſs, in Gaming, C…mpany-keeping and Drunkenneſs, and thereby nouriſh themſelves in carnal …ecurity, Scorn and Contempt of God, and Deſpiſing of their Neighbours, who will not, or cannot do as they do; and their uſual …irge is that of the Epicur…an, 1 Cor. 15 32. Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we die. And ſo they put away the evil Day from them. And it is an uſual Obſervation, That ſuch Perſons as are thus Profuſe in theſe irregular Courſes, are as ſordid and baſe in thoſe things wherein they might glorify God, and do good in their Generation; are as back …d to Publich Service, and as hard-hearted againſt the Poor, as they are Profuſe in their Irregular Exp…nces: And it cannot well he expected to be otherwiſe, ſince they, to gra…fy their Luſts, do out themſelves ſhort, of doing that which is their Duty in other things. Thus many Families are almoſt ſtarved, when the Heads ſpend all in Drunkenneſs and Lewdneſs; thus are Children Beggared, and l…ft to the wide World, whilſt their Parents ſpend all to maintains vain and fooliſh Port in this World: And many other miſchiefs enſue.
USE. LET us then be adviſed to uſe Diſcretion and Piety in avoiding theſe Sins, and con…ta…t practiſing of the contrary Duties. Let us therefore conſider, that we are Accountable to God for theſe things, they are of the Talents which He hath betruſted us withal, and will reckon with us about them. It we have gotten theſe things Diſhoneſtly, they will be a Worm at the Root that will corrode us one Day, and leave a Bluſt on all our Diſhoneſt Gains. Ilab 3 10. And if we Abuſe them inſtead of rightly improving of them, it wi…l be Bitterneſs in the latter End.
CONSIDER, There is a way to make theſe things ſerviceable to God…s Glory, and our true Comfort hereafter, to make ourſelves Friends of this Unrighteous Mammon, and prevent the riſing up of theſe things againſt us, in the Day of Judgment; which is a gracious Contentation in the Providence of God, and a careful Endeavour to Improve theſe things ſo as not to hinder us, …t further us in the great and moſt neceſſary Work that lies upon our hands: When we uſe the World, not abuſing it, whether we have little or much of theſe things, we ſhall have the true Comfort of them here, and the Commendation of our Lord another Day, Well done, thou good and faithful ſervant; thou haſt been faithful over a ſew things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
[SEPTEMBER 18. 1705.]