126 / 652
t1Ó
CIHRISTIAN
DILIGENCE,
ts$RM.
Viii.
.s-
haste to the
practice of
it.
-Upon
the
first conviction
of
sin
let
us
apply ourselves
inntnediately
to
God
for
par
-
dòuing and sanctifying grace
:
Let
us
return
to
Our
duty
With
early
diligence' like
David,
"
As
soon
as
thou
saidst, Seek
ye my face, my
heart
replied;
Thy
face
will
I
seek.
I
made haste and delayed
not
to
keep thy
com-
niandments;"
Ps.
xxvii.
8.
and
cxix. 60.
3.
"
Diligence implies activity and vigour, in opposi-
tion
to sloth and
laziness;
langóur
and
indifference."
It
is
not
lazy wishes
that
will
perform
work
or obtain
a
bles-
sing.
The
sluggard desireth and
bath
nothing;
Prov>.
xüí.
4.
therefore
the
wise
man advises
;
Ec.
ix.
10.
"
Whatsoever
thy
hand
findeth
to dö, do
it
with all
thy
might:" Then it
is
likely to be finished in
proper
Season;
but
the slothful
s-vretch
makes no riddance
Of
his
work,
he moves heavily in
his
business,
just
as
he
cloth
upon
his
bed,
"
like a
door upon
its hinges," and never gets
forwards
;
Prov.
xxvi.
14.
A
beautiful
simile
indeed,
nor
is the
description
of
the sluggard
less-
elegant;
versé
15.
"
When
he
hath
hid his
hand
in his
bosom,
it
grieves
him
to
bring
it.
to
his
mouth."
And what
poor
work
Both
a
Christian
make
Who
i4
Cold,
indifferent; slothful and
lazy
in
the things which
concern
his
soul and salvation
?
He
makes a
pretence to
religion,
but
how
poorly
dotli
he
proceed
in
it
who
hath
no activity, no vigour, no fervency
therein? Where he
was
last
year,
there
he
is now,
or else gone
farther back-
ward:
I-lis
sins
are
still as
unmortified,
his
temptations
still
as
powerful and prevailing,
his
hopes still
as lòw,
and his holiness
as
much interrupted-
as
in years
past
:
He
was
not
to
appear
before
God
then, and
he
is
no
fitter
now
:
He
was
then
in
terror at
the
thoughts
of-
dying,
and
he is still
in the same
terror.
The
slothful
Christian
upon examination finds
his
faith
hath
scarce
Unproved one grain,
he
is
no
nearer
salvation than
when
at
first
he believed.
Is
this
the obedience
we
owe
to
the command
of
Christ
?
Luke
xiii.
24.
"
Strive to
enter
in
at
the
strait
gate,
labour
for the
meat
that
en-
dures to everlasting life;"
John
vi.
27.
Regard
the ad
vice
of the
blessed
apostle;
Rom.
xii.
11.
"
I3e
ye
not
£lothfhl in business,
but
fervent
in spirit;
serving the
Lord." Permit
me to ask
the
lazy Christians
of
our
pre
-
dent age,
`!
Is
this an
imitation
of
ancient
saints,
who