it. Should not you then exert yourselves with all diligence ? Are you not convinced, that to prepare for eternity is " a rea- sonable service," yea, that it is, in fact, " the one thing need- ful ? " — Will you then grudge your labour? Will you
not put forth willingly and habitually all the powers of your souls in this blessed work ? ]
3. Her prudent care —
[Is she careful to prevent her labours from ever proving abortive ; and should not you prosecute your work to a suc- cessful issue? Yet Solomon justly observes, that "the slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting^;" yea, that *' his very desire killeth him, because his hands refuse to labour ^" Some kind of pains we all have taken in attending ordinances, and in complying with outward forms ; but there we have rested, without any persevering efforts to render those means effectual for the salvation of our souls. We feel somewhat of a general desire after eternal happiness ; and with that consciousness of desire we are satisfied, without pressing forward for the attain- ment of the things desired : and thus is fulfilled in us another declaration of Solomon, " The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothings?" If good desires would suffice, the slug- gard would get to heaven as well as others : but if great and persevering exertions are necessary, he will rather forego the prize, than use the diligence necessary for the attainment of it. In a word, instead of " looking to himself that lie lose not the things that he has wrought, but that he receive a full re- ward''," he suffers Satan to take out of his heart the seed that has been sown in it, and to keep him, like the foolish virgins, from providing oil for himself, till it is too late. Say, thou sluggard, whether these things be not true of thee, and whether thou hast not need to go and learn wisdom of the diminutive and desj)ised ant?]
We will yet further prosecute our address, II. In a way of solemn warning —
As a man who has no provision independent of his labour, and no disposition to exert himself, must soon feel the pressure of poverty and want, so, sluggard, shalt thou feel these evils in relation to thy soul —
1 . Reflect on the awfulness of thy state — [The consequences of thy sloth are coming upon thee : they are coming graduaJhj indeed, but irresistihhj. " A tra- veller" comes not to his journey's end all at once, hntgradua////, and almost imperceptibly, by many successive steps. So neither wilt thou find the fatal consequence of thy sloth all at once ;
e Prov. xii. 27. ^Prov. xxi. 25. e Prov. xiii. 4. i' 2 John,ver.8.