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e7iRIST1AN DILrGBNCE,
[SMR7d.
VI27.
Solomon,
there
is
profit
;"
Prov.
xiv.
23.
"
He
that
tilleth
his
land
shall be satisfied with
'bread
;"
Prov.
11.
and
"
the hand
of
the
diligent maketh rich
;"
Prov.
x.
4.
But
as
for
"
the
'field
of
the
slothful,
it
is
Overgrown with
thorns
;
nettles and briars cover it
;"
Prov.
xxiv. 31.
"
And drowsiness shall
clothe
a
man
with rags
;"
Prov.
xxiii.
21.
It
is the
same in
spiritual
things, as in
the things
of
nature. Diligence
in
seeking the
knowledge
of
God,
shall
be
crowned with an increase
of
sacred knowledge
;
Hos.
vi. 3.
"
Then
shall
we
know
the Lord,
if
we
follow
on to know him.
Give
attendance
to
reading, saith
Paul
to
Timothy,
that
thy
profiting
may
appear
to
all
;"
3
Tim.
iv. 13.
Diligence
and
labour with our
own
hearts
in weaning them from the world, and
a
fervent constancy
in the pursuits
of
godliness,
is
the
proper
and
rational
Way
to
obtain
the
blessings
of
grace
and
glory.
But
I
add,
2.
Diligence hath the
rich
arid
siecial
promises
of
a
faithful God
to
encourage
its
hope.
What
David said to
his
Son Solómon,
with
regard
to
building the temple,
the
gospel saith the same to every
Christian
;
1
Chron.
xxii.
16.
"
Arise
and
be
doing,
and the
Lord
shall
be
with
thee
;"
And Solomon
gave
the
same advice
to
his son,
and
the
same
promise
;
Prov.
ii. 3,
4.
,
"
If
thou seekest
after
wisdom as silver,
and searchest
for
her
as
for hid
treasures, then
shalt thou obtain
saving knowledge,
'and
learn
the fear of the Lord." Give
all diligence,
said,
Peter
in
the
name
of Christ
;
2
Pet.
i.
5
--10.'
give
all
'diligence, and
add
ono
christian grace
to
another, add to
your faith
virtue, to your virtue temperance,
patience,
godliness and charity.
Give diligence again to
make
your calling and your election sure
;
for
if
ye
do
these
things
ye
shall never
fall,
but an
entrance
shall
bee
mini-
stered to
you
abundantly
into
the
everlasting kingdom
of
our
Lord and Saviour
Jesus
Christ."
3.
Diligence
and
industry are
a'happy
guard against
snares and temptations
of
every kind.
When
the
devil
finds
you
idle, he
bath a proper moment
to
assault
you
with
some
powerful temptation
:
He
will
employ
you
in
his work, when
he finds
your hands
and
hearts,
entirely
at
leisure and
unemployed
;
he
that
is
not
awake to
his'
duty,
is
not
awake to
his
danger,
and is
easily
suprized
into
'Mischief
the
viJakeful.diligentchristian
is
like Nehe-