420 SERMON LX. Pralice in Religionneceílàry, in proportion to our Knowledge. LUKE I2. 47, 48. And that Servant which knew his Lord's mill, and prepared not himfelf, neither did according to his will, /hall be bea ten with many /tripes : But he that knelt/ not, and did commit things worthy of firipes, (hall be beaten with fen, (tripes. For unto mhomfoever much is given, of him (hall be much required ; and to whomMen have committed much, of him they will ask the more. IN Profecution of the Argument which I handled in my laft DiCcourfe, name- ly, that the Knowledgeofour Duty, without the Praftice of ir, will not bring us to Happinefs, I (hall proceed to (hew, that if our Pra&ice be not anfwerable to our Knowledge, this will be a great aggravation both of our Sin and Puni(hment. And to this purpofe, I have pitched upon thefe words of our Lord, which are the applicationof two Parables, which he had delivered before, to (tir up Men to a diligent and careful Pra&tice of their Duty, that fo they may be in a conti- nual readinefs and preparation for the coming of their Lord. The fir(t Parable is more general, and concerns all Men, who are reprefented as fo manyServants in a great Family, from which the Lord is abfent, and they being uncertain of the time of his return, (hould always be in a condition and pofture to receive him. Upon the hearing of this Parable, Peter enquires of our Saviour, whether he in- tended this only for his Difciples, or for all ? To which Queftion our Saviour returns an Anfwer in another Parable' which more particularly concerned them; who becaufe they were to be theChief Rulers and Governotirs of his Church, are reprefented by the Stewards of a great Family, Ver. 42. Who then is that faithful and wife Steward, whom his Lord Jhall make Ruler over his hoefhold, to give them their portion of meat in theefeafon ? If he difcharge his Duty, blefd is he but if he (hall take occalion in his Lord's abfence, to domineer over his fellow Ser- vants, and riotoufly to wa(te hisLord's Goods, his Lord, whenhe comes, will puni(h him after a more fevere and exemplary manner. And then follows the application of the whole, in the words of the Text, And that Servant which knew his Lord's will and prepared not himfelf, neither did according to his will, (ball be beaten with many firipes. As if he had Paid, and well may fuch a Servantdeferve fo fevere a Puni(hment, who having fuch a croft com- mitted to him, and knowing his Lord's will fo much better, yet does contrary to it; upon which our Saviour takesoccalion to comparethe Fault and Punifhment of thofe who have greater advantages and opportunities of knowing their Duty, with thofe who are ignorant of it; That Servant which knewhis Lord's will, and prepared not himfelf, neither didaccording to it,fhall be beaten with many (tripes : bat he that knew not, bat did commit things worthy offiripes, (hall be beaten with few firipes. And then he adds the Reafon and the Equity of this proceeding, For unto
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