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of fpirit? What returns do you make? Much is required of thofe on whom much is bestowed. If no proper use be made of the abundant bleffings of providence, if they are not improved to a proper end, the reckoning will be awful at last, in the great day of accounts. It appears to have been our Lord's intention to make us fenfible of this, in the parable of the talents. Those who made no proper use of their lord's money, with which they were intrufted, are denominated flothful and wicked fervants, and dealt with accordingly.

The prophet's obfervation is verified in many inftances; "Let favour be fhewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness." To be unmoved and unhumbled amidst innumerable inftances of providential kindness, is a fad indication that we are of the number of those whom the divine word denominates wicked men. That perfon is in a dangerous condition, upon whom the most likely means to produce repentance have no effect. That ground must be bad which the common methods of cultivation, and the fhowers of Heaven do not make fruitful. Awful are the words of the apofle to the Hebrews; they fhould be read with fear and trembling by fuch perfons as we are now addreffing; "The earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs

meet

meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth bleffing from God; but that which beareth thorns and briers, is rejected, and is nigh unto curfing; whose end is to be burned."

But there is another clafs of men ftill more im. pious than thofe to whom we have been fpeaking; those, we mean, who pervert the favours of providence to a wrong ufe and end. Their conduct somewhat resembles that of thofe ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into lafciviousness. They make use of the bleffings of God's goodnefs, as provifion for the flesh to fulfil the lufts thereof, in gluttony, drunkenness, pride, and impurity. In their hands, the bounties of Heaven become weapons of unrighteousness, incentives to fin, and inftruments whereby they may serve Satan, and the more fuccessfully promote his diabolical caufe a mong men.

He whose goodness they thus wretchedly pervert and abuse, will most assuredly resent their conduct. The whole creation groans under the weight of their guilt.

The Lord fays concerning rebellious Ifrael, by the prophet Hofea, "She did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her filver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof,

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and will recover my wool and my flax." What pity is it that God's indulgence fhould be abused to his difhonour! The more his bounty fhines on perverfe and rebellious men, the more luxuriant is the growth of their vicious habits. But it will appear by and by, that as God hath favours to beflow, he hath alfo justice to execute his threatened displeasure. Though fentence against evil works. be not executed speedily, let not the hearts of the children of men be fully set in them to do evil; for the day is coming when abused goodness will no longer forbear. Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish shall be awarded to every foul of man who continueth to do evil.

grace can

Where
The Lamb refents his injured love,
Awakes his wrath without delay,
And Judah's Lion tears the prey.

neither melt nor move,

The fubject will furnish us with a word of conviction alfo for those who put no value upon God's fpecial favour. Among thefe, fome there are who are more defirous of friendship with the great men of this world, than of friendship with God. An ambitious pursuit after the honour which cometh from men is one of the grand obftructions to true faith, and real piety. "How can ye believe who

re

》《ངར་་་

receive honour one of another, and feek not the honour which cometh from God only ?" The apoftle tells us, that the friendship of this world is enmity with God, and, confequently, that if any man will be, at all events, the friend of the world, he is the enemy of God. Mofes put a proper value on the divine favour, when he esteemed even the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.

It is an high attainment to be able to say, with truth and fincerity, Lord, let me have thy favour, though, in my adherence to thee, I fhould forfeit the regard of every man upon earth.' Reader, confider within yourself, what good the favour of the great can do you in the hour of death, or at the day of judgment. Can they give bail for you, when you are arrested by the king of terrors? Can they stand forth in your defence at the awful bar of God? Nay, can their friendship even free you either from pangs of conscience, or pains of body? In these cases, they can afford no help, when help is moft of all needed. The favour of God alone can answer these purposes. Yet upon this few men put any proper value.

But there are others of difpofitions still more base and fordid, who prefer impure and sensual gratifications to the favour of the Moft High. They have no concern about friendship with their Maker;

the pleasures of fin, though but for a season, are all they crave. The apostle Paul speaks of these with grief and indignation, "Whofe God is their belly, and whofe glory is in their shame." They make the gratification of carnal views and pleasures their principal aim; the pampering of their own brutal appetites, in rioting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonnefs, is their chief good. They even boaft of thofe things, which, inftead of being to their honour, are scandalous and disgraceful to human nature. The end of fuch men, without repentance, we are affured, is deftruction. The world paffeth away, and the luft thereof, but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever. The divine favour which real chriftians enjoy, will make them perfectly and everlastingly happy, when the fons of fenfuality are lifting up their eyes in hell, being in torments.

These men have their good things here; they have fuch a measure of the bounty of providence, as perhaps fome of God's dear children are denied; whofe lot it is to be poor in this world, but rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God has prepared for them that love him; who entreat the divine favour with their whole hearts; who earnestly. long and daily pray for the affured tokens of it;

and