548 HOW :TO DO GOOD 2o MARY. men take not themselves to be his subjects ar.'d stewards, nor can take his promise for good r: reoand. iii. Another is the ihre- - oncd sin. of selfishne which makes a man's self to be his chiefest loveand care, and more to him than Christ's interest, or the church or kingdom. iv. Another is a false conceit that a man is so obliged to provide for his children and kindred, that all that he can get, liow rich soever he be, must be left to make them rich, except some incon- siderable pittance. y. Another is a great neglect of parents to prepare their children tobe profitable to the commonwealth, but only to live in pros- perity to themselves. 1. Children should' be taught as much as may be to become persons of understanding, and such wisdom as may make them useful. 2. And especially to be truly religious for then they will be devoted to do good, in love and obedience to God. 3. They should be taught what it is to be members of societies, and what duty they owe to church and state, and how great a part of their duty lieth in .caring for the'common good, and how sinful and damnable it is to live only to themselves, and how much this selfishness is the sum of all iniquity. 4. Those callings should be chosen for them which they are fittest for, and which they may do most public good. vi. And a timorous, cowardly disposition is a great hindrance to public good ; for such will be still for theself-saving way, and afraid of the dangers that attend the greatest duties. If they are called to liberality, they will fear io,t they should want themselves. In all costly or hazardous duty there will.still be a lion in their way. They cannot trust God; and nó wonder, then, if they are not to be trusted themselves. vii. Lastly, sloth and idleness are 'constant enemies to well- doing. There are two sorts especially guilty of this; one, and the better, is some religious people, who think that their business is only with God and their own hearts, and, that if theycould spend all their time in mediation, prayer, and such like exercises, it would be the best kind of life on earth. Among the Papists, mul- titudes, by this conceit, turn friars and nuns. Among .us, such spend all their time in hearing sermons, and in reading, and medi- tating, and prayer, and such like exercises of. religión'towards God, if they are but rich enough to live without bodily labor ; and the example of Mary and Martha, they think, will make this good. I know that this is no'common error. The wicked are of a far different mind. And I know.no man can do too much to save his soul ; but we may do one-sort of our work too much to theneglect of other parts. We have souls in flesh, and both parts have their
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