130. CHRISTIAN DILÍOENCE. ful and drowsy, his vessel will make noprogress, but be carried backward continually: So if a labourer hearkens to the entice- ments of drowsy nature, and learns this slothful language, A little more sleep, a little more slumber, poverty will come upon him as an armedman; Prov. xxiv. 33, 34. and rob him of all his gains. Negligent and unwatchful and lazy christians, will for the most part lose what they have gained in the things of reli- gion too : The. apostle John in his second epistle, verse 8. guards againstit. Take heed that ye lose not the things which ye have wrought, but that ye receive afull reward. Howmany have lost their first zeal, their first love, and their early joys in religion, by a sinful security ofsoul, and for want of a due concern togrow in grace. It is growth in religion that evidences the truth of it, and secures the comforts of it. 5. The diligent christian is a most useful person in the world, he does the most good himself, and becomes an excellent exam- ple to all that are round about him. He lays the sluggard under continual conviction, and puts him to daily shame, ifhe have any of his senses awake to see, or feel, or take notice. Such a christian animates and encourages all that are near him to the same diligence, as fire kindles fire, and spreads the blaze far and near. Active and lively christians make one another's hearts warm in religion, and help to diffuse the sacredfire round about. The zealous servants of the blessed God, give credit and honour to their profession ; but what a shameful thing is it to see some christians idlè and careless in the duties of their daily calling, and slothful and Iazy in their practice of religion too ? The truth is, they do not make' religion their practice, but a mere matter of talkand sound ; and while they refuse to labour in the station where God has placed them, they disgrace their profession, and expose themselves to the just and severe sentence of the apostle ; 2 Thess. iii. 10. He that will not work, let him not eat ; that is let him starve, for christianity is no just pretence for idleness. 6. The diligent christianfinishes his work with peace, hope, andjoy. fie shall review his conduct and his labourswith an in- wardsatisfaction, and a sacred pleasure of soul : his conscience is a joyful witness ; he hath not onlya safe but an abundant entrance generally administered to him into theheavenly kingdom, and he obtains a fairer crown ; for the Lord the righteous Judgewill re- ward every oneaccording to his works ; Rom. ii. 6-11. He who had one talent, and improved it by gaining ten more, had rule over ten cities : He that gained five talents, had five citiesunder his government; Luke xix. 17-19. But let us dread the curse of the wicked and slothful servant ; Observe the slothful servant is pronounced wicked by the mouth of Christ himself; Mat. atxv. 26. He is to be " cast into utter darkness, there shall be,
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