292 TIIE ABSOLUTE De:hIINION possess them with the fear of the Lord, that they may devote themselves to him. Think not the preaching of the gospel a work too low for the sons of the noblest person in the land. It would be an excellent furtherance to the work of the gospel if noblemen and gentlemen would addict those sons to the ministry that are fit for it, and can be spared from die magistracy. They might have more respect from their people, and easier rule them, and might better win them with bounty than poor men can do. They need not to contend with them for tithes or maintenance. 4. If you are not your own, your whole families are not your own. Use them, therefore, as families that are dedicated to God. 5. If you are not your own, then your wealth is not your own. Honor God, therefore, with your substance, and with the first- fruits of your increase ; Prov. iii. 9. Do you ask how? Are there no poor people that want the preaching of the gospel for want ofmeans, or other furtherance ? Are thereno godly scholars that want means to maintain them at the universities, to fit them for this work? Are there no poor neighbors about you that are ignorant, that ifyou buy them Bibles and catechisms, and litre them to learn them, might come to knowledge and to life? Are there no poor children that you might put apprentices'to godly masters, where soul and body might both have helps ? The poor you have always with you. It is not for want of objects for your charity : if you hide your talents, or consume them on yourselves, the time is coming when it would do you more good to have laid them out to your Master's use than inpampering your flesh. Some grudge that God should have the tenths, that is, that they should be consecrated to the maintenance of his service. But little do these consider that all is his, and must all be accounted for. Some question whether now there be such a sin as sacrilege in being, but little do they consider that every sin is a kind of sacri- lege. When you dedicated yourself to God, you dedicated all you had, and it wasGod's before ; do not take it from him again. Re- member the halving of Ananias, and give God all. 0bj. But must we not provide for our families? Anstu. Yea, because God requires it, and, in so doing, you ren- der it to him. That is given to him which is expended in obedi- ence to him, so be it you still prefer his most eminent interest. Lastly, if you are not your own, then must not your works be principally for yourselves, but for him that 'owneth you. As the scope of your lives must be to the honor of your Lord, so be sure that you hourly renew these intentions. When you set your foot out ofyour doors, askwhetheryour business you go upon be forGod. Whenyou go to your rest, examine yourselves whatyou have done that dayfor God ; especially let noopportunity overslipyou wherein
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