17. *As they are not _men_ or _angels_, because they had a mind to be so, but because the will of God formed them to be what they are; so they cannot enjoy this or that happiness of men or angels, because they have a mind to it, but because it is the will of God, that such things be the happiness of men, and such things the happiness of angels. But now, if God be thus all in all; if his will is thus the measure of all things and all natures; if nothing can be done, but by his power; if nothing can be seen, but by a light from him; if we have nothing to fear, but from his justice; if we have nothing to hope for, but from his goodness; if this is the nature of man, thus helpless in himself; if this is the state of all creatures, as well those in _heaven_, as those on _earth_; if they are nothing, can do nothing, can suffer no pain, nor feel any happiness, but so far, and in such degrees, as the power of God does all this: if this be the state of things, then how can we have the least glimpse of joy or comfort? How can we have any peaceful enjoyment of ourselves, but by living wholly unto God, using and doing every thing conformably to his will? A life thus devoted unto God, looking wholly unto him in all our actions, and doing all things suitable to his glory, is so far from being dull, and uncomfortable, that it creates new comforts in every thing that we do.
18. On the contrary, would you see how _happy_ they are who live according to their own wills, who cannot submit to the _dull_ and _melancholy_ business of a life devoted to God? Look at the man in the _parable_, to whom his Lord had given one talent.
He could not bear the thoughts of using his talent according to the will of him from whom he had it, and therefore he chose to make himself happier in another way of his own. _Lord_, says he, _I knew thee, that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hadst not sown, and gathering where thou hadst not strawed. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo there thou hast that is thine._ Matt. xxv. 24.
Here you see how happy this man made himself by not acting _wholly_ according to his Lord’s will. It was, according to his own account, an happiness of _murmuring_ and _discontent_; _I knew thee_, says he, _that thou wast an hard man_: it was an happiness of _fears_ and _apprehensions_; _I was_, says he, _afraid_: it was an happiness of _vain labours_ and _fruitless travels_: _I went_, says he, _and hid thy talent_; and after having been awhile the sport of foolish passion, tormenting fears, and fruitless labours, he is rewarded with darkness, eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth.
19. Now this is the happiness of all those, who look upon _strict_ piety, that is, a right use of their talent, to be a dull and melancholy thing.
They may live awhile free from the restraints and directions of religion; but instead thereof, they must be under the absurd government of their passions: they must, like the man in the _parable_, live in _murmurings_ and _discontents_, in _fears_ and _apprehensions_. They may avoid the labour of doing good, of spending their time devoutly, of laying up treasures in heaven, of cloathing the naked, of visiting the sick; but then they must, like this man, have _labours_ and _pains_ in vain, that tend to no use or advantage, that do no good either to themselves, or others; they must _travel_, and _labour_, and _work_, and _dig_, to hide their talent in the earth. They must, like him, at their Lord’s coming, be convicted out of their own mouths, be accused by their own hearts, and have every thing that they have said and thought of religion, be made to shew the justice of their condemnation to eternal darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is the purchase that they make, who avoid the strictness of religion, in order to live happily.
20. On the other hand, would you see a short description of the happiness of a life rightly employed, wholly devoted to God, you must look at the man in the _parable_, to whom his Lord had given five talents. _Lord_, says he, _thou deliveredst unto five talents: behold, I have gained besides them five talents more. His Lord said unto him, well done thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord._
Here you see a life that is wholly intent upon the improvement of the talents, that is devoted wholly unto God, is a state of happiness, prosperous labours, and glorious success. Here are not, as in the former case, any _uneasy passions_, _murmurings_, _vain fears_ and _fruitless labours_. The man is not toiling, and digging in the earth for no end or advantage; but his labours prosper in his hands, his happiness increases upon him, the blessing of five becomes the blessing of ten talents; and he is received with a _Well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord_.