Christians may find reafon enough to lament and accufe themfelves for their remifsnefs, upon comparing the inequa lity of their labours with those of worldly men, and withal the disproportion of the rewards for which they feverally ftrive. With what care and circumfpection, with what fteadiness and refo lution, do far the greater part of mans kind provide, maintain, and further their temporal interests? How do they "rife up early, and late take reft, and eat the bread of carefulness," for the accomplishing their end, and fatisfying their expectations? And alas! what is their end, what their expectations? but to add a little to the comforts of a short life, which perhaps after all is not in their power. I am here only fpeaking of fuch as are honestly industrious, and endeavour to better their circumstances by a warrantable application to business. But, it must be confeffed, there are, and

they

they no inconfiderable number, who (like the unjuft Steward) are wonderfully circumfpect, and take an infinite deal of pains to promote their covetous or ambitious schemes at any rate; at the expence of honour, integrity, and confcience. And what the mighty end of fo much wisdom and diligence, but, instead of peace at the laft, the laying up for themselves a certain ftore of horror, of tribulation and anguish ? In the mean while what motives can be wanting to fuch as own Religion for their guide, in order to quicken their endeavours, and fupport their perfeverance? They have the promises of this life, that God will never leave nor forfake them; they have the promises of the next, that He himself will be their exceeding great reward. Happiness, eternal happiness is before them, and what is ftill more, the terrors of everlasting torments are be hind, to urge them on in the purfuit of

it. Yet in the midst of fo powerful, almost irresistible excitements, how few are there who imitate the forefight and attention of worldly men, in endeavouring to advance themselves in the kingdom of Chrift which is not of this world, and wherein we are informed there are many manfions, different degrees of glory prepared for different degrees of virtue. The generality of Chriftians reft themselves fatisfied in those religious obfervances, which cost them least trouble, or leaft expence: To give a denial to the importunities of sensual appetite, keep out of the way of temptation, difdain unwarrantable fashions, and bad examples, requires fuch a degree of virtuous refolution as, however neceffary, not many think themfolves concerned to acquire; and it is but here and there one is found, who has courage, or rather wisdom and policy enough, to trust Heaven with any confiderable part

of

of his poffeffions. So little inclined are we to lay out our labour upon that which will most profit us; and fo little faith have we in that fund of divine goodness, which will infallibly restore us an hundred-fold. But furely, would men lay the truth to their hearts; would they examine the tendency and design of those heavenly precepts, which our Bleffed Lord delivered for our inftruction and guidance; would they compare, as far at least as Reafon and Revelation will permit them to compare, the things prefent with the things eternal; they must needs be convinced that they have fomething else to do in this world, befides merely providing for their subsistence in it; that it is their duty and intereft to lay hold on every opportunity of improving their immortal fouls in true knowledge and virtue, and of doing good to their fellow-creatures; though the one be attended with felf-denial, the other

D 3

other with coft; that these are the main tests of our obedience in this probationary state, and that according as we have obferved or neglected these, we shall be fentenced to our everlafting habitations.

In a word—The example of this unjustly wife Steward, wife only in respect of this world, may very naturally, and in good reason should teach every confidering perfon to be wife unto falvation. For how eafy the inference? If a man of this world, who has no farther views than what the prefent life offers, thall employ fo much iniquitous art and forefight in order to fecure to himself a temporal fubfiftence; furely it is worth my greatest care and circumfpection, who have hope in another life, to provide for eternity. Shall He lie and cheat to make the Devil his friend? and fhall not I be juft and charitable to make God mine? Shall He so zealously worship the Mam

mon