SERMON LII. -123 But howmany idle creatures are there in the world that act quite contrary to thisrule ? 1. How many do we find who saunter their lives away, and . let their days, and months, and years run to waste in tieing no- thing at all, as though they were brought into the world to eat, drink and sleep, to gaze away life, and then to lie down in death ? O wretched abuse of these precious blessings, lifeand time ! " must work, saith our Lord, while it is day, I must do the particu- lar work, for which myFather sent me hither : the night is coining when noman can work : John ix. 4. Let us all be imitators of 'our blessed Jesus. The business of the rich is to render their wealth useful to the good of the world, and to the interests of religion : The business of the poor is to labour to obtain their daily bread, and not be burdensome to their neighbours, nor useless inhabi- tants of the earth. The business of a scholar is to improve Ilia mind in dailyknowledge; and as for all the learned professions, their business is to lay out that knowledge for the ease and happi- ness of mankind in this world, or the next. It is the proper business of a sinner to-seek after converting grace, to return to God by repentance, to secure his salvation by faith in the Son of God, 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 anórtal and an account- able creature to prepare for deathand judgment, that he may die in peace, and give up his account with joy, if he should be sum- moned away on a sudden. Thus it appears every creature bath 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 another vice contrary to this part of diligence." Doing nothing 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 spendhis whole time in measuring squares and circles in mathe- matical 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, asde- serves the just reproaches ofmen, and punishment from the hand of providence. To wear out those seasons in prating and tatt- ling, which are appointed for useful labour or business, is a wretched abuse of time, and merits the frequent censure of So- lomon thewisest of men. The talk of the lips tendeth only to
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