SERMON LII. Christian Diligence, with the Blessings that attend it, in Opposi- tion to Sloth, Security, Backsliding, 4,e. Paov. aüi.4.The soul of the sluggard desired.) andbath nothing ; but the soul of the diligent shall be madefat. SHOULD we apply these words to labour or learning, to tradeor religion, to the concerns of this life, or that which is to come, still we shall find this sentence of Solomon true and use- ful ; it is a remarkwell worthy of our attention, and oar best im- provement. The son of diligence considered either as a man or a christian, is in a fair way to obtain the good things he seeks : His desire shall be satisfied, his soul shall be made fat, or filled 'with them, he shall increase in earthly possessions, he shall abound in knowledge and wisdom, or he shall grow rich in grace and the fruits of righteousness ; but the slothful wretch shall be poor indeed. In vain doth he sit with folded hands, and wish for the blessings of nature or grace, of time or eternity : The idle band shall be empty still, lie shall desire in vain, and shall never possess. Diligence is the appointed theme of my discourse, the dill= gence of a man or a christian. I shall endeavour first, to des- cribe it in all the several parts of it, and then take a short survey Of the blessings temporal and spiritual which attend it ; and by the way, I shall give some occasional hints of the crime and the punishment of the contrary vies. First, Let us enquire what are the several things whichare implied in true diligence, whether it relate to the things of this life, or the life to come. I. as Diligence includes the employment of every part of our time inproper business; and thus it stands in opposition both to sauntering and doing nothing atall, to trifling, or doing what is to no purpose, and to mis-timing the business which is to be done." Every person in the world has some proper business to do daily, for God, for themselves, orfor the good of their fellow - creatures. Mankind, even in the golden age of innocence, was not made for idleness. Adamwasput into the garden of Eden, to dress and keep it; Gen. ii. 8-15. and it is our duty wisely to enquire what is our proper work, and to employ surselves in it.
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