3 84 OfDiligence in our general Vol. II. And are Men at all this pains for compaffing of their low and mean, of their vile and wicked defigns, to do themfelves no good ; nay, for the molt part, to hurt and defiroy themfelves; and are the prefent pleafures and fatisfac4ion of our minds, and eternal life and happinefs in another World, things of no value and efteemwith us? IsSalvation it felf fo flight and inconfiderable a thing, that it deferves none of this care and diligence to be ufed for theobtaining of it'? IV. Confider that when we come to die, nothing will yield more true and fo- lid confolation to us, than the remembrance of an ufeful and well-fpent life, a life of great labour and diligence, of great zeal and faithfulnefs in the fervice of God; and on thecontrary, with what grief and regretfhall we look back upon all thofe precious hours which we have fo fondlymifplac'd in fin andvanity ? How (ball we then with that we could retal them, and live them over again, that we might fpend them better; all that time which now lies upon ourhands, and we know not how to bellow it and pafs it away, will then molt affuredly lieheavy upon our Confci:- ences. What anguifh and confufion have I feen in the looks and fpeeches of a dying Man, caufed only by the grievous remembranceof an unprofitable and ill- (pent .life ! So foolifh are many Men, as never ferioufly to think for what end they carne into the world, till theyare juft ready to goout of it. V. Confider that the degrees of our happinefs in another world, will certainly bear a proportion to the degrees of our diligence and induftry, in ferving God and doing good. And it is an argument of a mean Spirit, not to afpire after the belt and happieft Condition, which is to be attained by us; to be contented barely to live, whenby our pains and induftry, we may become confiderable, and raife our (elves above the common level of Men, is a fign ofa poor and degenerate mind; fo is it in the bufinefs of Religion, to be contentedwith any low degrees of Virtue and Goodnefs, and confequently of Glory and Happinefs, when by a great dili- gence and induftry in ferving our generation according to the will of God, we may be of the number of thofe, whofe rewardfhall begreat in heaven, andhave a place there, among thofe righteous perfons, who (hall thine as the ,Sun in the kingdom of their Father. Befides, that it may prove a thing of dangerous confequence to us, to deal thus ítri&ly with God, and to drive fo near and hard a bargain with him;, we may eafily mifs of Happinefs and come Ihort of Heaven, if we only defign juft to get thither; we may be mifiaken in the degree of Holinnfs and Virtue, which is ne- ceffary to recommend us to the divine favour and acceptance, and tomake us capa- ble of the glorious reward of eternal life: For unto whom foever much is given, faithour Saviour, of him much (ball be requir'd ; to him that hath only one talent committed to him, it may be fufficient to have gained One; but he that hathmany talents entrufted with him, may gain One, and yet be a wicked andflothful Ser- vant; proportionably to our advantages and opportunities, our duty encreafeth upon our Rands, and better and greater things may jufily be expelled from us. The confideration whereof; fhould make us unwearied in our endeavours of do- ing good, and fledfafl and unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as we know that our labour (hall not be in'vain in the Lord. VI. and lafily, Let us confider the Argument here in theText, There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wifdom in the grave, whither we are going. Longe quiefcendi tempora fata dabunt, we (hall then refi from our labours, and our work: will follow us. This life is the time of our a&ivity and working, the next is the feafon of retribution and recompense; we fhall then have nothing to do, but either to reap and enjoy the comfort of well-doing, or to repent the folly of an ill- fpent life, and the irreparable mifchief which thereby we have brought upon our felves. There is no work nor wifdom in thegrave, whither thougeefi; intimating that our life is a continual journey towards the Grave, fhorter or longer as God pleafeth ; and many times when we think our felves far from it, we may be juft on it, and ready to ftumble into it. So that our time of working may be very fhort, to be lure it is very uncertain. And
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