SERMON XXXIX. 653 multitude of good works, as much as by the revolutions of the sun and moon : For lost and wasted time should not comeinto the account of life. But if this were our way of counting, what should we say of thousands, who have lived to no other purpose but to eat and drink, and to make up the number of mankind ? O it isa mean and pitiful thing only to beold in time, and not in duties to God, or benefits to men. And, as an author speaks on this subject, " All the good works of many who are stricken in yearswill lie in a very little compass : To be an ancient man or woman of twoor three years old, sounds like a contradiction, and it is, indeed, a matter of great shame, and ought to awaken deep repentance. Howmany are there that live to no purpose at all, and the world will not miss themwhen they are gone ? How many that live to wicked purpose, and the world is glad to be rid of them ? Some are mere cumberers of the ground, and some are perfect nuisances, and public mischiefs. Such shouldnever pretend to the name of christians. Letus remember it was the characterof our blessedLord, that he went about doinggood; andhe was wit- hag to work those works while it was his day of life ; for the night was comingOn him wherein he should have no suchsort of work to do ; John ix. 4. 0may our Saviour be our pattern, and let us be followers of the holy Jesus ! Alas ! what a noble pattern ! what slow and distant followers. Itwas this desire of service to the world, that put thegreat apostle intoa strait betwixt two, as in Philip. i. 23. He knew not what to ask for ; Shall I pray fin,death and glory, my heart bath a wish that way? It is far better for me to depart, and to be with Christ: Or shall I desire to continue in life? This is for the service of yourfaith, and furtherance of your joy; therefore I am content, saith he, to Izare my crown and glory deferred, that my longer life may be your advantage. O what an illustri- ous spirit of veal and love reigned in the heart of this apostle!" Ye are the light of the world, saith Christ to his disciples ; Mat. v. 13, 14," What a dark dungeon would this world be, if it had never a saint in it ? ,Ye are the salt of the earth; What corruption of manners would overspread the face of the earth ! What vile communications, and odious practices would defile the world in a few years, if every christian were dead ! What Shameful and abominable works had over-run the heathenna- tions, before Christ and his gospel appeared, and the idolaters were made christians ! A saint in a family, is like the ark of God in the house of Obed-edom ; 2 Sam. vi. 12. For the Lord blessed the house r f Obed-edom, andall that pertainedto him, be- cause of the arkof God. A pious soul is a Joseph in the family of Putiphar ; Gen. xxxix. 5. When the Lord blessed the Egyp-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=