6 SERMON UPON PROVERBS VI. G-8.
the grasshopper, that have scarce a merr)" life for the present, but involve themselves and their friends in manifold inconveniences, living by borrowing when they have nothing to pay, which is but a specious kind of theft and robbery. Or, if they can support themselves for the present, tempt God to forsake them in their age, when they do not employ themselves as instruments of his providence, for their own pri- vate or the public good. They that be busy in an honest calling may have to supply their own necessities, and to give to him that needeth : Eph. iv. 28, ' Let him that stole, steal no more ; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.' By stealing is meant not only downright theft, but all those fraudulent and deceitful ways whereby a man doth wrong his neighbour in his outward estate. As a remedy, he prescribeth diligence in some good and honest calling, and then he may expect God's blessing, that he will give him a competency, not only to support him in his necessities, but also to enable him to relieve others. But when men will not labour, they are cast upon temptations to use sinful shifts to keep them in their straits. Therefore it is the Lord's will that every one should betake himself to some lawful calling and employment, and serve God therein with a good conscience ; for God usually blesseth this conscientious diligence with such a measure of success, that they have wherewith to sustain themselves and be helpful to others. Whereas others cannot trust in God who neglect to use the means, for he never undertook to provide for us in our sins, or that laziness, carelessness, idleness, luxury, and neglect of our affairs should not be our ruin, for then his providence would run contrary to his word : ' He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand ; but the diligent hand maketli rich,' Pro v. x, 4 ; and ver. 22, ' The blessing of the Lord maketh rich : and he addeth no sorrow with it ; ' implying that God's blessing goetli with man's industry. So that though our great business be to press men to look after eternal life, yet as idleness is a sin, and a great part of sensuality, and disposeth for other sins, we need to read the lecture of the ant to many men to awaken them out of their slug- gishness, and indulgence to the ease of the flesh in temporal affairs, that they neither live without a calling, nor without industrious diligence in their calling ; that they may not tempt God's providence to provide for them, when they take no course to live by ; nor become drones and unprofitable burdens of the earth, and so prove a clog and disgrace to religion, and lie also open as a prey to Satan ; for the devil employeth them whom he findeth not employed by God, or who refuse to be employed by him ; and so they prove a reproach to providence by their want, and a disgrace to religion by their carnal shifts, lies, and devices. [2.] That we should provide for our soul's welfare, the lesson of the ant is also useful to us ; for if diligence and providence be recommended as necessary for christians, surely the best and greatest works call for most of our care : Prov. iv. 7, ' Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom : and with all thy getting get understanding.' And those things which are of most absolute necessity, which must be done or we are undone for ever, must be despatched with the greatest earnest- ness and diligence : Luke x. 42, ' One thing is needful.' And besides, for those that are of most profit, that conduce to eternal life, and bring
. SERMON UPON PKOVERBS VI. 6-8. * 7
a blessing upon onr present affairs, these are to be most minded in their season and opportunity. Such are spiritual affairs : Mat. vi. 33, * Seek fii'st the kingdom of God,' Therefore the contemplation of the ant concerneth these affairs. If we must ' consider her ways, and be wise,' surely we should mind these things ; for the best wisdom is to be wise to salvation. And this doth chielfly become christians ; for God that giveth instinct to the creatures, and reason to all men, hath given faith to those that live in the church : 1 John v. 20, ' He hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true ; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.' The knowledge of the true God directeth us to eternal life as our happiness. So that this life is our opportunity, our summer and harvest as to the means, the time of action, but here- after is the time of retribution and reward. Therefore man, being born to labour, and having not only reason to guide him, but faith, and being to give an account of what he hath done in the body, he is now, while means and mercies last, to provide for the world to come. Therefore ' go to the ant, thou sluggard.' Thou careless christian, consider the manner and course of life of this poor creature, how vigilant, careful, and diligent she is in providing for the time to come, and do something proportionably for thy great hopes.