and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST; and his APOSTLES, ec. 247 and action. Indeed, fince the fall, this faculty has been much obfcured ; but í1i11 it remains an univerfal gift of God to men; and though not equal to all yet it is given to every man in fuch meafure, as is fufficient for their direélion. In the knowledgeof ourduty, and the purfuit of our happinefs, God has, by the gofpel, fo gracioufly fupplied the defeéts of reafon, that the meaneft underftanding may know how to be happy : fuch affiftancesofdivine grace attend every Chriflian, if he will apply to God for it, as may enable him todireét his inclinations, govern his paf- lions, and fubdue his corrupt affeftions. Thefe talents are, in force degree, common to all men; and, by the im- provements of that grace which is con- ferred on every one, all have fufficient to conduét them through the feveral flages of life; if they will ufe but proper diligence and application. But regard muft be had to all the means for cultivating thofe gifts of nature and grace, fuch as all opportunities of in- ftrufion, the miniftry, and ordinances ofreligion, the reproofs and examples of good men, the occafions offered, and the abilities given for the exercife of virtue : all thefe are talents, or gifts of God, depofited with us, to be diligently made ufe of, and for which we are accountable to him. I Ihall, therefore, proceed to Phew what duty is required from us, in the improvement of thefe talents. It is here fuppofed, that thefe talents are improve- able, or otherwife they would be of no ufe or value ; and, indeed, we are bound by the command of God to improve them, who has threatened to infliét fevere penalties if we negleét it : and, if they are not improved, they will not continue long with us, but be loft ; the fineft: parts and capacities, without proper culture, will make but a mean and contemptible figure. No knowledge can be preferved without ufe and exercife, and the fame holds with regard to moral accomplifh- ments. It requires great care and atten-. No. to. tiòn to form a virtuous habit, and much more to preferve it in it's vigour: unlefs we co-operatewith the goodnefs of God's grace, and cultivate it by ufe and appli- cation, it's impreffions will gradually wear out and be loft: The Spirit of God will not always ftrive with man. He givesus a flock to manage, equal to the fervice he expefts from us ; but if we are floth- ful and negligent, and will not apply it to the purpofes for which it was given, he will recall the ufelefs gift : Take from hies, fays he, the talent, and give it to him that bath ten talents. Let us, there- fore, diligently improve every talent com- mitted to us, becaufe this will be required of us in the day of account, and, if not improved, will be immediately taken from us : what this improvement implies, and how we may difcharge this duty, is an inquiry of the neareft concern to us. The proper improvement of all God's gifts, is the employing them, fo as may belt promote his glory : this is the end the Almighty has propofed in our crea_ tion, in all the powers he has endued us with, and in all the aids of grace lie has vouchfafedto us. Whatever other improve- ments we make ofthem, theywill not profit us, nor be admitted as any proof of our fidelity in the day of reckoning: we may cultivate our underftanding by learning and Rudy, and extend our knowledge through all the fubjects of human in- quiry ; but if our end be only to gratify our curiofity or our vanity, we are not ferving God, but ourfelves we may in- creafe our portion of God's outward gifts, but if we only apply them to enlarge our own conveniencies, we are not making the improvements our Mailer expels : we may take pleafure in our knowledge and fortune, rejoice in them as our por- tion and inftruments in our prefent pot: feflion; but we molt, dill remember, that in our reckoning with God, all thefe im- provements of our capacities and abilities, will be added to our account : and the only ufe God will admit us to fet in 3 G balance
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