VIII.

proportion; it is surprising, that envy should SERM. ever have been a prevalent paffion among men, much more that it fhould have prevailed among Chriftians. Where so much is fuffered in common, little room is left for envy. There is more occafion for pity and fympathy, and inclination to affist each other. To our own good endeavours for rectifying our difpofitions, let us not forget to add serious prayers to the Author of our being, that he who made the heart of man, and knows all its infirmities, would theroughly purify our hearts from a paffion fo bafe, and fo criminal, as envy. Create in me, O God, a clean heart; and renew a right fpirit within me. Search me, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlafting*.

1

*Pf. li. 10.; cxxxix. 23. 24.

SER

1

SERMONIX.

On IDLENESS.

SERM.

IX.

Why fand ye here all the day idle?

IT is an obfervation which naturally occurs, and has been often made, that all the representations of the Chriftian life in feripture are taken from active scenes; from carrying on a warfare, running a race, ftriving to enter in at a ftrait gate, and, as in this context, labouring in a vineyard. Hence the conclufion plainly follows, that various active duties are required of the Chriftian; and that floth and indolence are inconfiftent with his hope of heaven.

But

But it has been fometimes fuppofed, that induftry, as far as it is matter of duty, regards our fpiritual concerns and employments only; and that one might be very bufy as a Christian, who was very idle as a man. Hence, among fome denominations of Christians, an opinion has prevailed, that the perfection of religion was to be found in thofe monaftic retreats, where every active function of civil life was totally excluded, and the whole time of men filled up with exercises of devotion. They who hold fuch opinions proceed on the fuppofition, that religion has little or no concern with the ordinary affairs of the world; that its duties ftand apart by themselves; and mingle not in the intercourfe which men have with one another. The perfect Christian was imagined to live a fort of angelic life, fequestered from the business or pleasures of this contemptible ftate. The gofpel, on the contrary, represents the religion of Chrift as intended for the benefit of human fociety, It affumes men as engaged in the bufinefs of active life; and directs its ex

hortations,

SERM. hortations, accordingly, to all ranks and IX. ftations; to the magiftrate and the fubject,

to the mafter and the fervant, to the rich
and the poor, to them that buy and them
that fell, them that use and them that abuse
the world. Some duties, indeed, require
privacy and retreat. But the most import-
ant must be performed in the midft of the
world, where we are commanded to shine
as lights, and by our good works to glorify
our Father which is in heaven. This world,
as the context reprefents it, is God's vine-
yard, where each of us has a task affigned
him to perform. In every station, and at
every period of life, labour is required. At
the third, the fixth, or the eleventh hour,
we are commanded to work, if we would
not incur, from the great lord of the vine-
yard, this reproof, Why ftand ye here all the
day idle?We may, I confefs, be busy,
about
many things, and yet be found ne- :
gligent of the One thing needful. We may
be very active, and, withal, very ill employ-
ed. But though a perfón may be indu
ftrious without being religious, I muft at

the

T

IX:

the fame time admonish you, that no man SERM. can be idle without being finful. This I shall endeavour to fhew in the fequel of the difcourfe; wherein I purpofe to reprove a vice which is too common among all ranks of men. Superiors admonish their inferiors, and parents tell their children, that idleness is the mother of every fin; while, in their own practice, they often fet the example of what they reprobate feverely in others. I fhall study to fhow, that the idle man is, in every view, both foolish, and criminal; that he neither lives to God; nor lives to the world; nor lives to himfelf.

I. He lives not to God. The great and wife creator certainly does nothing in vain. A fmall measure of reflection might con vince every one, that for fome useful pur pose he was fent into the world. The na ture of man bears no mark of infignificancy, or neglect. He is placed at the head of all things here below. He is furnished with a great preparation of faculties and

powers.