SECTION VI. 65 for eternity ! How richly might time here on earth he improved to lay up treasures in heaven, to gain high degrees of religion and every grace, and to make swift and glorious advances to- wards the state of the blessed ? How much more than others should we practise religion and godliness who are blessed with this treasure of time? -What further advances should we have made in the road to heaven who have any considerable share of time and leisure at our own disposal ? And how many wasted hours and moments have the best of us to account for, which might have been employed to sublimer purposes,"and have raised our souls nearer to God ? VII. You whom the God of nature has distinguished by any natural talents or qualifications above others, what have you done in the service of Gcrl more than others ? Youwho are bles- sed with sprightly parts, with a sagacity of mind, with a solid reason and judgment, with active and vigorous powers of na- ture; have you learned more of God than those who are ofslow understanding, and whose minds are less receptive of know- ledge? Have you gained a deeper insight into the grounds and foundations of the religion which you profess ? Are you better acquainted with the great and important articles of the christian faith and practice than others ? Can you resider a better reason of the /rope that is in you according to the advice of the apostle Peter ; 1 Pet. iii. 15 ? Can you say more for the defence and vindication of the gospel against the bold attacks of the atheist and the infidel? Have you set your ingenuity at work iu any, happy contrivances for the honour of God, or for the welfare of men ? When the great Judge shall make an enquiry, how have you employed your brighter talents of wit and reason.? It will be no sufficient answer to tell him how busy you have been in trade, and how ingenious to enlarge your estates, to build fine dwellings, and to add field to field, and grow richer than all your neighbours, while you"used neither reason nor thought in the service of religion. But it will have a much worse appear- ance still, if it were found that you have turned the edge of your wit against religion, and made Yourselves and your com- panions merry at the expence of the honour of. Christ and his gospel ; that you have been sharp and ingenious for the contri- vance of new vices and the practice of folly and madness ; that you have been swift to improve in every thing besides religion and virtue, and that you have been wise to do evil, but to do good have had neither knowledge nor inclination ; Jer. iv. 22. Such bright and ingenious sinners will expose themselves to the fiercer flames of the indignation of God, and those who have thus abused the sharpnessof their wit shall feel the keener pain_ in their consciences. You who have been endowed with strong and capacious VOL. v. E
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