Thou, it may be, art not a _prophet_; God has not honoured thee with this post in his service; yet needest thou not fall short of this happiness: for our Saviour hath said, _He that receiveth a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward_. Now this shews us, that though all men have not the same part to act in the common salvation, yet none will be losers by that state they are in, if they be but true to the particular duties of it. If they do all the good they can in their _particular state_, they will be looked upon with such acceptance as the _poor widow_ that gave all that she had.
IX. *Hence we may learn the greatness of their folly, who, neglecting the exact performance of such duties as fall within their power, are pleasing themselves with the great things they would do, were they but in another state.
_Clemens_ has his head full of imaginary piety. He is often proposing to himself what he would do if he had a great estate. He would outdo all charitable men that are gone before him: he would retire from the world; he would have no equipage; he would allow himself only necessaries, that widows and orphans, the sick and distressed, might find relief out of his estate. He tells you, that all other ways of spending an estate is folly and madness.
Now _Clemens_ has at present a moderate estate, which he spends upon himself, in the same vanities and indulgences as other people do. He might live upon one third of his fortune, and make the rest the support of the poor; but he does nothing of all this that is in his power, but pleases himself with what he would do if his power was greater. Come to thy senses, _Clemens_; do not talk what thou wouldest do, if thou wast an _angel_, but consider what thou canst do, as thou art a _man_. Make the best use of thy _present state_; do now as thou thinkest thou wouldest do with a great estate; be _sparing_, _deny_ thyself, abstain from all vanities, that the poor may be better maintained, and then thou art as charitable as thou canst be in any estate. Remember the poor _widow’s mite_.
_Fervidus_ is exact in the duties of religion; but then the greatness of his zeal to be doing things that he cannot, makes him overlook those little ways of doing good which are every day in his power. _Fervidus_ is only sorry that he is not in holy orders, and that his life is not spent in a business the most desirable of all things in the world. He is often thinking what reformation he would make in the world, if he was a _priest_ or a _bishop_; he would have devoted himself wholly to God and religion, and have had no other care but how to save souls. But do not believe yourself, _Fervidus_; for if you desired in earnest to be a _clergyman_, that you might devote yourself entirely to the salvation of others, why are you not doing all you can in the state you are now in? Would you take extraordinary care of a _parish_, or a _diocese_, why then are you not as extraordinary in the care of a family? If you think the care of other peoples salvation to be the happiest business in the world, why do you neglect the care of those that are fallen into your hands? Why do you shew no concern for the souls of your servants? If they do their business for which you hired them, you never trouble your head about their Christianity. Nay, _Fervidus_, you are so far from labouring to make those that are about you truly devout and holy, that you almost put it out of their power to be so. You hire a _coachman_ to carry you to church, and to sit in the street with your _horses_, whilst you are attending divine service. You never ask him how he supplies the loss of divine service, or what means he takes to preserve himself in a state of piety. You imagine that if you was a _clergyman_, you would be ready to lay down your life for your flock; yet you cannot lay aside a _little state_ to promote the salvation of your servants. It is not desired of you, _Fervidus_, to die a _martyr_ for your brethren; you are only required to go to _church_ on foot, to spare some _state_ and _attendance_, to bear sometimes with a little _rain_ and _dirt_, rather than keep those souls which are as dear to God and Christ as yours is, from their _full share_ in the common worship of Christians. Do but deny yourself such small matters as these; let us but see that you can take the least trouble to make all your servants and dependants true servants of God, then you shall be allowed to imagine what good you would have done had you been devoted to the altar.