3 34 The 4brober Imprcvemént S E R M. they who improve them carefully to the pro» XII. per ends for which they were given, are `'^""jintitled to the greater benefits which others forfeit, and render themfelves unworthy of, by negligence and unfaithfulnefs. This is the meaning of the ioth and i ith verfes. He who is faithful in that which is leaft, is faithful alfo in much; and he who is unju/l in the leaf?, is unjuuft alto in much; if therefore, you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your truft the true riches? By unrighteous mammon, or, the mammon of unrighteoufnefs, our Saviour Both not mean ill- gotten wealth, or that which is acquired by injuftice : I know of no ufe which chriftianity alloweth us to make of that, if we have any of it ; it is neither to be employed for the purpofes of charity, nor our own fupport and enjoyment, but to be given all away, that is, by making reftitution, which juflice indifpenfably requireth ; but by unrighteous here is fignified deceifl, which our Saviour elfewhere pronounceth to be the charater of all riches, however acquired; they always have a greater appearance of good than is found in them, they difappiint fuch as trufl in them, and fruftrate the expectation of thofe who earneflly purfue them. And here ax ver. i t the unrighteous mammon is 5 op-
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