That'ihrldly thingsincre.efe ourlaffreckoning. So theLord bath bellowed vpon men there talents, not that they fhould keepthem hid in a napkin, but that theyfhould put them out toprofit andaduantage ; as when they imploy them to theglorie ofGod, in furthering the meansofhis worlhip and feruice, in relieuing the poore membersofJe- linChrill,and inperforming the workes ofmercie and cha- titic. And therefore inwhat afearefull efface(hall they be at this day, who haue vtterly negle&ed thefe religious and Chriflianvies; andcontrariwife haveabufed their riches, by either fpending them vpon their owne lulls, inbelly cheare, andbratterie, or imploying them ashelpes tohinder Gods worfhip,andto oppreffe and iniure the poore with all crud- tie and tyrannie? Finally, what a fearefull reckoning haue they tomake, who haue (pent the greate(l part oftheir hues involuptuous pleafures,as though they had quite forgotten the end wherefore they came into the world; as infurfer- Ling and drurikennes,chambring and wantonneffe, gaming and reuelling,playing and(porting; not carin'gtotake any wicked courfefor thecompafïìngoftheir pleafures, nor ma- king confcience ofany delight, whether it be lawfull orvn- lawfull,fo it may pleafetheircarnall appetite.O what reward can thefe men expe&i in this day ofthe Lord, when their owne confciences (hall tell them, that theyhaue fpent all their lines in the feruice oft nne and Satan, andin fulfilling the lullsoftheirowne flefh? What account will they the make to their fudge, when being demanded howthey haue fpent theirprecious time, their flrength, and wealth, which inplentiful' manner they had receiuedat the hands ofGod, they fhall be able to make no-other anfwer, but that they haue confumed them all in voluptuous vanities, and vtterly negleéled theCerti ice oftheir Creatorandcontinuall prefer- uer;fpending all their dales either in idlenes, or luxuriouf- nes,and wantonnes,which they fhould haue bellowed in glorifyingGod, and in getting affuranceof the i r ownefal- uation ; wafting theirflrength in obeying theirflefhly lulls, which fhould haue beenimployed indoing feruice to'their Maker and Redeemer;andbellowing all their richesin fu- F f£ a perfluous
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