Of Chrian Fortitude. 91 accommodating to it theway of conferring the SERm. greateft bleßïngs upon us. The bleffed Au- IV. thor of our beings has a regard to their frame while he carries on his merciful defigns towards us. He does not deal by us as unin- telligent machines, but rational creatures. He does not make us happy without our own knowledge, choice and concurrence, which would indeed be a còntradifion ; but pre- pares our fouls for the enjoyment of him- felf, and for the perfect ion of righteoufnefs, by forming in them ftrong defires, and ex- citing them to vigorous endeavours; and the more earneft the purfuit is, the greater is the felicity. In the affairs of common life, if a man has bufinefs to tranfa t which he regards as of importance to his intereft or reputation, he will be upon his guard that he do not mifcarry in it ; and we fee that ordinarily, it is the hand of the diligent that maketh rich, as Solo- mon obferves, * And he becomes poor that deals with a flack hand. And if we have at heart the attaining of the ends of religion, the like care and induftrywe will ufe in attending the means; improving all opportunities, and ex- erting all our abilities for it, which is in this * Prov. X. 4, cafe
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