123 / 652
SERM:.
VIII.1
WITH:THE
BLESSINGS OF
IT.
113
densome
to
their
neighbours,
nor
useless
inhabitants
of-
the earth.;
The. business
of
a
scholar
is
to
improve
his
mind
in
daily knowledge; and
as
for all
the
learned'
professions;
their
business
is.
to
lay
out that
knowledge
for the
ease
and happiness of
mankind. in this world,
or
the
next.
It
is
the
proper
business
of
a sinner to seek
after
con
verting
grace, to
return
to
God
by
repentance,
to
secure
his
salvation
by
faith
in
the
Son
offPod,
and
all
instances
of
new Obedience.
It
is
the proper.
business'
of
'a
true
christian
to grow
in
grace,
to :adorn
his
profession
with-
holiness,
and abound
in good
works.
It
is
the necessary
and
daily
business
of
a
mortal
and an
accountable crea-
ture
to
prepare
for
death
and
judgment,
that
he
_may
die
in
peace,
and
give
up
his
account
with
joy,
if
he
should
be summoned
away
on
a sudden.
Thus
it
appears every
creature
hath
some
proper
business,
both relating
to
this
life,
and the
life
to
come
:
And
therefore
a sauntering
and idle
life
is
a
high
offence to
the
God
of
nature and
grace, time
and
eternity.
2.
" Trifling or wasting time
in
impertinences,
is
ano-
ther
vice
contrary
to this
part
of
diligence."
Doing
no-
thing
to
the purpose,
is
little
better than
doing
nothing
at
all
:
As
if
a
youth designed
for
the study
of
divinity';
should lay aside
his
bible,
and spend
his
whole time
hi
measuring squares and
circles,
and mathematical
figures;
or
if
a
man
of
trade, or an artificer,
who
must provide daily
bread
for himself and
his
household, should
waste
his
days
in
coffee- houses,
still
learning, and
still
discoursing
of
the
rights
of
election
of
the
kings
of
Poland, or
in
adjusting
the
bloody
quarrels between the Turkish and
the
Persian
armies. This
is
such
an impertinence
in the
sight
of
God
and
men,
as
deserves
the
just
reproaches
of
men,
and
punishment
from the
hand of providence.
-To
wear
out
those seasons
in
prating and tattling,
which
are ap-
pointed for
useful
labour
or
business,
is
a wretched
abuse
of
time,
and
merits the
frequent censure
of
Solomon
the
wisest
of
men.
" The
talk
of
the
lips
tendeth, only to
poverty,
and a
prating foot
shall
fall ;"
Prov.
xiv.
25.
and
x.
8.
And too
many
there are
who
pretend to
christianity,
but
they
are
only
talking christians instead
of
being
active in the duties
of
their appointed station,
and their
zeal for
religion
appears
no where
but in
their
VOL,.
II.I,
t