142 EXCITEMENT TO SEEK [Chap. 9. bless him for the plentiful success of my endeavors upon others. 0 what fruits, then, might I have seen, if I had been more faithful ! I know we need be very jealous of our deceitful hearts in this point, lest our rejoicing should come from our pride. Naturally we would have the praise of every good work ascribed to ourselves; yet to imitate our Father in goodness and mercy, and to rejoice in the degree of them we attain to, is the duty of every child of God. I therefore tell you my own experience, to persuade you, that, if you did but know what a joyful thing it is, you would follow it night and day through the greatest discou- ragements. Up, then, every man that bath a tongue, and is a servant of Christ, and do something of your Master's work. Why bath he given you a tongue, but to speak in his service ? And how can you serve him more eminently than in labor- ing for the salvation of souls ? He that will pronounce you blessed at the last day, and invite you to " the kingdom prepared for you," because you " fed him, and clothed him, and visited him," in his poor members, will surely pronounce youblessed for so great a work as bringing souls to his kingdom. He that saith, "the poor you have always Nvith you," bath left the ungodly always with you, that you might still have matter to exercise your charity upon. If you have the hearts of Christians or of men, let them yearn toward your ignorant, ungodly neighbors. Say, as the le- pers of Samaria, "We donot well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace." HathGod had so much mercy on you, and will you have no mercy on your poor neighbors ? But as this duty belongs to all Christians, so especially to some, according as God bath called them to it, or qualified them for it. To them, therefore, I will more particularly address the exhortation. 1. God especially expects this duty at your bands, to whom he bath given more learning and knowledge, and endued with better utterance, than your neighbors. The strong are made to help the weak, and those that see must direct the blind. God looketh for this faithful improvement of your parts and gifts, which if you neglect, it were better you had never received them ; for they will but aggravate your condemnation, and be as useless to your own salva- tion as they were to others.
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