1. Consider how violent and earnest carnal men are in the ways of sin, and shall they serve Satan better than you serve God ? Oh ! con- sider, you have a better master, better work, and better wages ; their master is the devil, their work is the basest drudgery, being slaves to their own lusts ; and their wages are suitable, their reward is ever- lasting damnation, and a separation from the presence of the Lord. How active are wicked men for the kingdom of darkness ! how zeal- ous and earnest to ruin themselves, as if they could not be damned soon enough ! Isa. v. 19, ' They draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart-rope.' The meaning is, they would sin though it cost them a great deal of pains and sorrow, and though they could not sin at a cheap rate. The prophet doth not say they were drawn into sin as into a gin and snare, but they themselves did draw on sin; it is horrid work, yet they deliglit in it, toiling and tiring themselves as beasts at a plough ; they were sinful, though it cost them sorrow and pain. There is no corruption but it puts you to some self- denial. Luxury is costly, and he that loves wine and oil, .saitli Solomon, will be poor. ■ Pride, we say, will endure the cold, and vain- glory will expose a man to danger and ruin. Worldliness encroacheth upon pleasantness and the comforts of life ; a worldling will ' rise early, sit up late, and eat the bread of sorrows,' Ps. cxxvii. 2. AVith what earnestness and unwearied diligence do carnal men pursue after a few trifles ! How do they lay out all their wisdom and all their sagacity
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about worldly things : Luke xvi. 8, ' The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.' As children are busy about toys and puppets, so they cumber themselves about much serving, and all their life is but care and disquiet, and a constant self- denial : Ps. xsxix. G, ' Surely every man walketh in a vain show, surely they disquiet themselves in vain.' They make a great deal of stir and bustle, and many times, when all is got, what is it ? A sorry comfort, and that which must be left on this side the grave. Thus wicked men are active and restless in their way. So for idolatry ; with what cost and diligence do men promote false worship), and compass sea and land to make a proselyte ; they will give rivers of oil an(J thousands of rams; they do not stand at pains and cost. God bi'ds the prophet look upon this sight (as indeed it is worthy of a christian consideration) : Jer. vii. 17, 18, ' Seest thou what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem ? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the tire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods.' What a busy diligence is here to promote their false worship ! Fathers, children, husbands, wives, they all put their helping hands to the work, and find some employment or other. Where will you have a family so earnest and zealous to set up the work of God ? Oh ! how can you look upon such a spectacle as this without shame, that a lust should have more power with them than the love of God with you ? Is it not a shame that Amnon can be sick for Tamar, and yet you cannot be sick for Christ, as the spouse was for her beloved ? You have high motives, nobler employment ; your work is the perfection of the creature ; the noblest faculties are exercised in the noblest way of operation ; your rewards are more excellent, and you have greater advantages and helps. Shall they take more pains to uudo their souls than you do to save your souls ? We read in ecclesiastical story, when Pambus saw a harlot curiously dressed, he wept, partly to see one take so much pains for her own eternal ruin, and partly because Jie had not been so careful to please Christ, and to dress up his soul for Christ, as she was to please her wanton lover. Christians, when- ever you are cast upon such a sight or spectacle, when you come by a shop, and see men labour and toiling out their hearts, and all this for temporal gain, doth it not make you blush and be ashamed that you are so negligent and careless in the work of God ?
2. Consider 'you yourselves have been violent and earnest in the ways of sin, and will you not do as much for God? How may every one say, When I was a wicked and carnal man, I followed it with all my heart, and shall I do less now in a state of grace ? The apostle hath a notable expression, Kom. vi. 19, 'I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of your tiesh ; for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now 'yield 'your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.' Mark how the apostle brings it in with a preface, avdpwTrtvov Xe^co, ' I speak after the manner of men ; ' that is, men in common sense and reason judge it equal that they should be as diligent to come up to the height of sanctification, and as zealous of good works, as ever you were to come up to the height of sin and were zealous for hell. Should you