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Squandred and Wafted his Talent by any Means whatsoever: But he had neglected to improve it, to apply it to Any Purpose, to make any Use of it at All; and upon this fingle Point, because he was Slothful and Unactive, did his Condemnation turn: Though he had Actually committed no Evil, yet because he had not actually done any Good, the dreadful Sentence is given against him, Caft ye the unprofitable Servant into outer Darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth. The unprofitable Servant is the Parallel to the fruitless Tree, which muft not be fuffered to stand at all, because it would ftand to no other purpose but to cumber the Ground.

How fuperficial therefore and imperfect muft our Notions of our own State be, if we do not plainly perceive our felves obliged, in order to Salvation, not only to withstand the Temptations of Sin, but to fulfil the various Duties which are enjoined: Which may still further appear from that more Particular Confideration of this point which is now in the

Second

Second Place to be added to the General One already offer'd: Where I fhall represent our obligation to Good Works, or, to the actual Exercife of Goodness, as fuch Good Works may be confidered,

*

1. In refpect of God, as we are Created and Redeemed by him, and Subject to him, and therefore Obliged to contribute our utmoft to His Honour, For thus St. Paul does at once give us a Rule of Duty, and the Reason of it, Glorify God in your Bodies, and in your Spirits, which are GOD's. And the Method of Answering this high Obligation, and Accomplishing this great End, is affigned by our Bleffed Lord himself; Let your Light fo fhine before Men, that they may fee your good WORKS, and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven. Whilft we deny our felves unlawful Pleafures, and unlawful Advantages, out of a Senfe of Duty, grounded upon the Love of God, we do undoubtedly acquit our felves in an Acceptable manner

I Cor. vi. 20.

† Matt. v. 16.

before

before him; and if the Other parts of our Behaviour are but Agreeable to This, we fhall not fail of the Recompence of Reward: And, as Corrupt Inclinations Within are More Powerful, and Temptations from Without More Engaging, Acts of Self-denial will be ftill More Approved in the Judgment of God, and Crowned with a Higher Reward. But ftill 'tis poffible that we may deny our felves the commiffion of moft agreeable Sins, and yet contribute Little or Nothing to the advancement of God's Glory. The abftaining from finful Actions is indeed the preventing direct Dishonour to God; but our Obligation to promote God's Honour does fignifie a great deal more than our avoiding plain inftances of Dishonour towards Him: It implies Pofitive and Abfolute Duties, whereby we shall give direct occafion of Celebrating His Praife, and propagating the Glory of His Name. And therefore all Thofe who are fo far Innocent and Harmless, that they do not launch out into any Enormities, but yet spend their Lives, and poffefs their Talents, in a Dream

ing, and Ufelefs, and Unactive manner, are Culpable and Inexcusable.

We are inftructed, that we must not live unto our SELVES, but unto the LORD; and that whatsoever we do, we must do all to the Glory of God: And our Saviour teacheth us, How we are to promote God's Glory; * Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much Fruit.

All Holy Men have, in their feveral Proportions, answer'd the Character of the Baptift, who † was a burning and a fhining Light. They have been eminent for their Acts of Piety, teftifying their Conftancy and Fervency in the Worship of God; Eminent in the utmost Dangers, for the open Declaration and Profeffion of their Faith, for the Inftigation and Encouragement and Confirmation of others in it, in Oppofition to Profane and Gainfaying Men; Eminent for their Liberality and Charity,

honouring God with their SUBSTANCE, as Solomon expreffeth it; Eminent for their Earneft Labours in Relieving the

* John xv. 8.

t John v. 3.

+ Prov. iii. 9.

Oppreffed,

Oppreffed, Reducing the Vicious, Instructing the Ignorant, Convincing the Erroneous, Strengthening the Weak, Satisfying the Doubtful, Exciting the Negligent, and Guarding Religion from the Attempts of its Enemies on every Side.

St. Paul's Greatest Glory is, that he Laboured more abundantly than they all, in promoting the Glory of God. When these Vigilant and Active, these Induftrious and Strenuous Inftruments of God's Honour fhall appear in the Judgment, how Beautiful and Joyful, how Refplendent and Glorious will their Appearance be? And how contemptible, and dismal, and dejected must those other Thoughtless Creatures appear, who have fuffer'd their Lives to run down in Sloth and Indolence, Neglecting the Honour of their Maker? Whilft the One inherits the Glory of Good Works; the Other, having been unfruitful, muft fink under Shame and Confufion of Face. But,

The Actual Performance of Good Works will further appear neceffary, when confider'd in Respect of our Neighbour. For, next to the Advance

ment

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