3 3 2 The proper Improvement S E R M. trivance, and their hands in fo much labour, XII. riling early and fitting up late in purfuit of perifhing vanities ? And fhall chriflians take little thought for eternity ; and be negligent of the proper means of fecuring to themfelves durable riches and righteoufzzefs, that good part which cannot be taken away from them? Our Saviour's reproof plainly fheweth, that the fa& is fo, for that is evidently the meaning of thefe words, the children of this world are in their generation wifer than the children of light; but how fhali it be accounted for ? We cannot imagine that chriflians are more unattentive to their intereft, than other men, or more de- ficient in underftanding, efpecially being fo well inflruaed as they are by their great mailer. We mull therefore fuppofe, that the defecl lieth in their perfuafion concerning the things which they profefs, as the great foun- dations of the religious life, or in the weaknefs of their affeEtions to them. And this is the truth of the cafe : What he often faith to his own apoftles, may be juftly applied to all his followers, they are too flow of heart to believe what is /poken in the fcriptures; and their de- fires, abated by remaining affeftion to things on earth, culpable in the degree of it, are not as earneft as they fhould be to attain the per- fe6lion of righteoufnefs, and to be with Cbriji which
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