The Life of Faith. 487 endure in them : For why fhould they be more careful and dili- gent in the work whichyou command them, thanyou in the work which God commandeth you? Are you the better Ma- tters ? or, will you find them better work? or, will you pay them better wages ? I know God needetb not your fervice, as you do theirs But he commandetb it, for other ends, though he need it not. And thould any be more careful to pleafeyou, that are but worms and dun, than you fhould be to pleafe your Maker ? If an idle life b: heft, why do you blame it in yourfervants ? If it be not, why do you live fuch lives your (elves ? 4. By Idlenefs you thew that whenyou do labour, it is but firyaks, carnal [elves, and that it is not God whom you ferve in your daily callings. He that will labour when he is poor, and feeleth the neceiity of it, and will give over all, and live idly, and playfully when he is rich, cloth thew that he labour- cth not in obedience to God (or elfe he would continue it) but meetly to fupply his bodilywants. You have your reward then from your (elves, and you cannot in 'caftan expel any from God. But true Believers have another rule, by which they live, Col. 3. 23, 24, Whatfoever ye da, do it heartily, as to the Lord, andnot to men ; knowing that of the Lord ye (hall re- ceive the rewardofthe inheritance, forye ferve the Lord Cbriff. 15. Idlene fs is aforfeiture ofyour proration, and of your daily bread. God is not bound to keep you to play, and loiter, and do nothing. You have not a plenary right to your meat, if you live in wilful idlenefs. I (hewed you Gods Commandsbe- fore. Gods Promife ofprofperity, is, Thin (halt eat the labourof tbybands, PIal. t 28. a. (And it many in England that have mot+, (hould eat no other than the labour of their hands, it would cure theirfulnefs.) Thediligent woman, Prav, 31. 27. Both not eat the bread ofidlenrfs.A id Paul maketh it a Church- Canon, 2 Thef. ;. 6. to, 12 and commandeth and exhorteth us, in the Name of the Lord Jefus Cbri¡f, that all awrkwith quiet. nefs, and eat their own bread; and that the Church withdraw tbcntfeives front every Brothertbtt walketh diforderly; and that ifany wouldnot work, reirherfhauidhe eat. 16. The idle rob thertjelvrs andothers: You rob your felvet of the fruit ofyour own.tabours ; and you rob you Matters, or 3
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