6. That we may be ready for the judgment, it concerneth us to be- gin betimes to mind this. This is the folly of men, that they put off their necessary work from time to time. The more of our lives is spent, the less is to come ; the judgment is every hour nearer. The judge is at the door ready to judge; are we ready to be judged ? None are ready to be judged but those that make even with God, and reckon with themselves often now. The saints do thus : ' Whose ox or ass have I taken ?' 1 Sam. xii. 3. Paul : Acts xx. 26, ' I am pure from the blood of all men.' Our Lord Christ : John xvii. 4, ' I have glori- fied thee on the earth ; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.'
Doct. 4l. Answerable to men's mercies shall their account be. Much for much, and little for little. For —
First, More shall be required of some than of others.
1. The more means, the more light and knowledge of God you should have : Heb. v. 12, ' For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.' So John xiv. 9, ' Have I been so long time with you and hast thou not known me ? '
2. The more light, the more grace you should have, otherwise our condemnation is just, and will be the m'ore grievous : John iii. 19, ' This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.'
3. The more grace, the greater our christian performances should be, that we should do some eminent thing for God. Ti ireplaaov, what singular thing do ye ? Mat. v. 47, 'What do ye more than others? * You should be such that God may boast of you, as he did of Job : chap. i. 8, ' Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth
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God and escheweth evil ? ' "Where are there such men for holiness, wisdom, sobriety, meekness patience, so full of good fruits, so mindful of God's glory, and profitable to others ? Then you would be ornaments to your holy profession.
4. Every additional mercy increaseth the obligation, be it inward or outward. Inward : ' If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious/ 1 Peter ii. 3. When you have received at God's hands the pardon of sin, the spirit of adoption, and hope of glory, when you have got con- science settled and established by grace, God expecteth you should draw in others : 1 John i. 3, ' That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship w-ith us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.' Outward, when many a prayer is answered, many deliverances are granted : Ezra ix. 13, 14, ' Seeing thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this, should we again break thy commandments?' New favours call for new work, and diligence in it.
5. The more helps and advantages we have, the crime is yet tho greater. They are more responsible to God who enjoy ordinances in their power, plenty, and purity. How have others thriven in less time, and by smaller means by far 1 Christ marvelled twice at the unbelief of his countrymen : Mark vi. 6, ' And he marvelled because of their unbelief,' and at the faith of the centurion : Mat. viii. 10, ' When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said unto them, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.' When others with less means shine before you in knowledge, meekness, patience, and a blameless upright life, and an heavenly conversation, how just is your condemnation !
6. The more abilities you have of nature, still the debt returneth the more upon you. God considereth all men according to their advantages. A factor is more responsible for a thousand tlian an hundred pounds. Therefore they that have received so much from God, men of high place, great interest, excellent gifts, large estates, are more bound to glorify God than others. How should they tremble at this ! Thus for what is required.
Secondly, How far it is required of you.
1. So far that it will cost you dear to abuse or not to improve the gifts of God : Rom. ii. 9, ' Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the gentile. It shall be more tolerable in the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you,' Mat. xi. 22.
2. It is so far required that your salvation is more difficult ; for those that have not such means are saved upon easier terms, and the Lord spareth a people where they know no better. But what is an infirmity in them is an iniquity in you, for all sins receive an aggravation from the degree of light against which they are committed : James iv. 17, 'To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' God is no Pharaoh, to require the full tale of brick where he doth not afford stubble.