Use 1. To press us to this negotiation ; for if these things be so, we should all rouse up ourselves, and say, What honour hath God by my wealth, my parts, my honour and greatness, my place and office? what protection to his cause, what relief and comfort to his people ?
1. Consider, it is our business in the world. Now every one should ask for what end he was born, and continued in the world so long. Our Lord Jesus, John xviii. 37, saith, ' To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.' Every one is sent into the world for some end ; for surely God would not make a creature in vain. We did not come into the world merely to fill up the number of things, as stones and rubbish, nor to grow in bulk and stature, as the plants, nor to enjoy pleasure without remorse, as the beasts : God would never then have given us those higher faculties of reason and conscience. For what end did I come into the world but to glorify God in my place, to act that part in the world which the great Master of the scenes appointed to me ? Why do I live here ? What have I done in pursuance of my great end ? Most men live as beasts ; eat, and drink, and sleep, and die, and there is an end of them ; they never asked in good earnest for what purpose they came hither.
"2. Every one is trading for somebody, the devil or the flesh, regard-
Vers. 16-18.] sermons upon matthew xxv. 441
ing his maker's glory or his own satisfaction : there is no medium. Now which are you doing, trading for heaven or hell ?
3. Consider how much you are intrusted with. Look within you, without you, round about you, and see how much you have to account for ; the faculties of the mind, the members of the body, your time, health, honour, estate, lifted up to heaven in ordinances, Mat. xi. 23 ; much given, Mat. xii. 48, and. Neh. i. 11. Now improve all for God.
4. Talents are increased the more employed. We double our gifts by the faithful use of them : ' He that had five talents gained other rive ; and he that had two, other two.' The more grace here, the more glory hereafter. If they be not employed they are lost. How many poor, blasted, withered Christians may we find, by slacking their zeal, and for want of diligent exercise ! But on the contrary, as the widow's oil increased in the spending, and the loaves multiplied in the break- ing, in Christ's miracle, and the right arm is bigger and fuller of spirits than the left, so grace, that decayeth by disuse, groweth by exercise. The corn sown bringeth in the increase.
5. We must give an account at last to God, Luke xix. 23 ; he will ' demand his own with usury.' What honour hath God had by us as ministers, magistrates, masters of families, husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants ? Beasts are not called to an account, for they have no reason and conscience, as man hath. What will you say when God shall reckon with you, what you have done with your time, strength, and estates? If an ambassador that is sent abroad to serve his king and country should return no other account of his negotiation than I was busy at cards and dice, and could not mind the employment I was sent about ; or a factor, I spent riot- ously that which I should have spent in the mart or fair, will this pass for an excuse ?
6. What a sad thing is it to have gifts for this end, to leave us without excuse, as the Gentiles have the ' light of nature,' Rom. i. 20, and Christians the ' light of the gospel :' John xv. 22, ' If I had not come, and spoken to them, they had not had sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin.' Others have the word preached to them : Mat. xxiv. 14, ' And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations;' compared with Mat. xiii. 9, 'Know that a prophet hath been among them ; ' have advantages and oppor- tunities, but no heart to use them ; only that God may be clear when he judge th.
7. We improve the stock of corruption left us by Adam, why not the gifts given us by Jesus Christ ? This fire needeth no blowing ; of itself it breaketh out into a flame; and shall not we stir up ourselves, that we may be more useful ? In employing our gifts three things are necessary — prudence, fidelity, and industry.
[1.] Prudence. This is necessary for a steward or factor : Luke xii. 42, 'Who then is a wise and faithful steward, whom the Lord shall make ruler over his household ? ' Now, there is a twofold wisdom — a wisdom that is not from above, and a wisdom that is from above, James iii. 16, 17. The first is earthly, sensual, devilish ; it either serveth for earthly profits, or to give content to the flesh, or to affect dominion and greatness. He that hath this wisdom sets up for him-