2. Bona administrantia, subservient helps. Now these are of several sorts.
436 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. XII.
[1.] Either gifts of nature, both of the mind and of the body. Of the mind, as promptness of wit, clearness of the understanding, sound- ness of judgment, or solid wisdom; all these were given you of God, and he expects an improvement of these for his glory ; that every man should be what lie is tor his creator. It was a good saying of Epic- tetus in Arrian, Si essem luscinia, &c. — If I were a nightingale, I would sing as a nightingale : Si essem alauda, &c. — If I were a lark, I would piere as a lark ; but now I am a man I will glorify God as a man. But alas ! how often do men of the best endowments miscarry ! Isa. xlvii. 10, ' For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness, thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge it hath perverted thee ; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none besides me.' Satan made use of the serpent, who was the subtlest of beasts of the field, Gen. iii. 1. The devil loveth to go to work with the sharpest tools. God hath given great abilities to some above others, to enable them for his service. Now the devil, to despite God the more, turneth his own weapons against himself. But it should not be so. We should remember that we have nothing but what we have received, and ' who maketh us to differ?' 1 Cor. iv. 7. So of the body, as health and strength. Surely these bona corporis are talents. God fitteth every man for tlie work wherein he will be honoured by him : Gal. i. 15, ' Separated from his mother's womb,' with a body fit to endure travel and hardship. Strength is not to be wasted in sin and vanity, but employed for God. It is better it should be worn out with labours than eaten out with rust.
[2.] Outward interests, such as wealth, honour, and power ; these are comfortable to the animal life, and lay an obligation upon us, and also they give us many advantages of doing good, which should always be taken hold of, and used by us ; as the greater veins abound with blood to supply the less : Prov. iii. 9, ' Honour the Lord with thy sub- stance, and the first-fruits of all thy increase.' Though many never forget God more than when he hath blessed them, it is their duty to make some improvement of this talent also: Eccles. vii. 11, ' Wisdom with an inheritance is good.' It is good of itself alone, but it is better, more useful and beneficial to ourselves and others, when God giveth us, with the blessings of this life, wisdom. Wealth is an excellent instrument, whereby a man is enabled to do much good, and is a help to piety and charity: Poor men are not heeded and regarded. So honour and great place is an opportunit}' whereby grace may put forth itself with greater advantage : Neh. i. 11, ' The Lord show me favour in the sight of this man ; for I was the king's cup-bearer.' He men- tions his relation as having made an advantage of it.
[3.] The providences we are exercised withal, whether mercies or afllictions, we are to give an account of them : mercies and comforts vouchsafed to us by God. It is a naughty heart that would enjoy anything apart from God, and looketh to his own personal content- ment more than God's glory, Joel ii. 14. In a great famine they desire plenty, that there may be a meat-offering and a drink-offering for the Lord. So for afflictions ; God expecteth some improvement of them. There is mercy in it, that God will put us under his discipline : Job vii. 18, ' What is man that thou shouldest visit him everv morning,
Vers. 16-18.] sermons upon matthew xxv. 437
and try him every moment ?' And we must account for our afflic- tions, Amos iv. 2, 3. God reckoneth up our chastisements.
[4.] Ordinances and instituted helps ; they come under a fourfold notion — duties, privileges, means, talents. As duties enjoined, so they are part of our homage due to God. It is not a matter arbitrary ; there is a tie upon our consciences to keep us to the due observance of them. As privileges: Hosea viii. 12, 'I have written to them the great things of my law.' This keepeth us from weariness, that we may not consider them as a burdensome task : they are a great privilege, dearly bought : it is by the blood of Jesus that we draw near to God. As means for our growth and improvement ; that notion is necessary, that we may not rest in the work wrought, but look after the grace dispensed thereby. There is much difference in doing things as a task and using them as a means ; means are for some end. As talents for which we must give an account, which will quicken us to more earnest diligence in the improvement of them. Some do not look upon them as duties, and so neglect them ; others not as privileges, and so are not so cheerful in the use of them ; others not as means, and so rest in the work wrought ; others not as talents, and so are indifferent whether they get good by them, yea or no.