le ¿HRISTIAN DILIGENCE. IsERM.VIII. their'professien, and expose themselves to the just and severe sentence Of the apostlé ; 2 Thess. iii. 10; " He that will not work, let him not eat ; ' that is, let him starve, for christianity is no just pretence for idleness. 6. The diligent christian finishes his work with peace, hópe, and joy. He shall review his conduct and his la- bours with an inward satisfaction; :and a sacred pleasure ofsoul his conscience is a joyful witness ; he bath not only a safe but an abundant entrance generally adrnini= stered to him into the heavenly kingdom, and he obtains a'fairer crown ; for " the Lord the righteous Judge will reward every one according to his works ;" Rom. ii. 6'T 11. Ile who had one talent, and improved it, by gains- ing' ten more, had rule over ten cities : He that gained five talents; had five cities under his government; Luke xïx. 17; 19. But let us dread the curse of the wicked and slothful servant; Observe the slothful servant is pro- nounced wicked by the mouth of Christ himself: Mat. xxv. 26. He is to be " cast into utter darkness there shall be weeping"and gnashing of teeth." The slothful ~wretch at the end of his days, sees his great work undene, his' heart not yet turned to God and godliness, and is overwhelmed with horror when in view of death and judgment. It is the cry of his soul, " O that I might die the death of the righteous;" Num. xxiii. 10. but there is no grown of righteousness for-him, no prize of glory; he bath neither run nor fought, nor laboured so as tb obtain it. He wishes for heaven in vain : his desires are his torment, for they shall never he fulfilled, desire and despair aremisery enough. Happy soul, who bath been faithful, diligent and watchful in every station of life, and has made suitable advances in faith and love, and heli= ness. He waits till his Lord shall come, and he re- joices in hópe, for he shall then receive the:glorious.sen- tence from the lips of his Judge, " Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord ;" Mat. xxvi 21, 23. 'and be thou possessed of blessedness in the upper world, in proportion to the talents I trusted thee with on earth, and to thy diligent and faithful improve- ment of-every talent." Amen.
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