ron-caVENE.SS OF SIN. it. How they are to be watched against and rejected was before declared in our general rules : this quietness in waiting will prevent them. 2. Diligence, in opposition to spiritual sloth, is in. eluded in the duty of waiting on God. Diligence is the activity of the mind in the regular use of means for the pursuit of any end proposed. The end aimed at by the soul is a comforting, refreshing interest in forgiveness with God. For the attaining of. this, God has instituted and blessed various means. A neglect of them, through negligence or sloth, will certainly disappoint the soul from attaining that end. It is con- fessedly so in things natural. He that sowcth not, must not think to reap; he that clothes not himself, will not be warm ; nor will lie enjoy health who ne- glects the means of it. Men understand this as to their outward concerns, and though they have a due respect to the blessing of God, they expect not to be rich without industry. It is so also in things spiritual. God has appointed one thing to be the means of obtain- ing another; in the use of them he blesses us, and from the use of them cloth his glory arise ; because they are his own appointment. This diligence wholly respects practice, or the regular use of Means. Aman is said to be diligent in business, to have a diligent hand : though it be an affection of the mind, yet it simply respects practice and effort. This diligence in his waiting, Da- vid expresses, Psalm 40 : 1. We render it, "I waited patiently ;" that is, (in the Hebrew,) "waiting, I have waited ;" that is, diligently, earnestly, in the use of means. So he describes this duty by an elegant simili- tude: "Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=