10't NECESSITY CF SEEKING [Chap. 7. Are these doctrines seen in our practice ? or rather, do not our works deny what our words confess ? But, however our assistances and principles excite us to our work, we are sure we can never do too much. Could we " do all, we are unprofitable servants ;" much more when we are sure to fail in all. No man can obey or serve God too much. Though all superstition, or service of our own devising, may be called a " being righteous over much ;" yet, as long as we keep to the rule of the word, we can never be righ- teous too much. The world is mad with malice, when they think that faithful diligence in the service of Christ is foolish singularity. The time is near, when they will easily confess that God could not be loved or served too much, and that no man can be too busy to save his soul. We may easily do too much for the world, but we cannot for God. 4. Let us further consider, that it is the nature of every grace to promote diligence, that trifling in the way to heaven is lost labor, that muchprecious time is already misspent, and that in proportion to our labor will be our recompense. See the nature and tendency of every grace. If you loved God, you would think nothing too much that you could possibly do to serve him, and please him still more. Love is quick and impatient, active and observant. If you love Christ, you would keep his commandments, nor accuse them of too much strictness. If you had faith, it would quicken and encourage you. If you had the hope of glory, it would, as the spring in the watch, set all the wheels of your souls a-going. If you had the fear of God, it would rouse you out of your slothfulness. If you had zeal, it would inflame, and eat you up. In what degree soever thou art sanctified, in the same degree thou wilt be serious and laborious in the work of God. They that trifle lose their labor. Many, who, like Agrippa, are but almost Christians, will find, in the end, they shall be but almost saved. If two be run- ning in a race, he that runs slowest loses both prize and labor. A man that is lifting at a weight, if he put not suf- ficient strength to it, had as good put none at all. How many duties have Christians lost, for want of doing them thoroughly ! " Many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able," who, if they had striven, might have been able. Therefore, put to a little more diligence and strength, that all you have done already be not in vain. Besides, is not
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