of Temporal Peons. 341 to be the means and inftruments of virtue, S E R M. they fhould be defignedly difpofed of and XII. ufed by us for the fame purpofe. Riches are given to men (it should be al- ways remembered, that they are given by the dire Lion of Divine Providence, and the acquifition not to be attributed to their own wifdom ; for, the race is not the fwift, not the battle to the Prong, nor riches to men of tinder/landing) not to be the inftruments of pride and luxury, but of charity and benefi- cence, to feed the hungry, and cloath the naked, and to do other good works for ne- ce/J ry ufes which are profitable to men; which is fo much the more evident to every atten- tive perfon, becaufe he muff be convinced that the fatisfaftion of his own mind, and the enjoyment of life doth not depend upon the abundance of his poflleflions ; for what end then can he fo reafonably fuppofe it to be alotted to him, as that it may be employ- ed by him in doing good to others, and that he may abound in the fruits of righteoz fnefs ? Power and honour are then abufed, when they are employed to the purpofes of ambi- tion, to fill the deluded pofleffor with an high conceit of his pre- eminence and procure the forced applaufe of flatterers and flaves ; but they are faithful ftewards who ufe them Z 3 in
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