[The children of this world have at all times an eye to their own advantage. Though their thoughts be not imme- diately engaged about business, they can turn them into that channel the very instant that prospects of gain arise. But the children of light are often wholly indisposed for spiritual exercises f. Too often do they find occasion to adopt the lan- guage of St. Paulg — and frequently are they ready to compare themselves with the very beasts that perish h.]
They contrive for them more ingeniously —
[If a worldly man have prospects of advancement he will devise a thousand means to attain his end. If he have reason to fear a loss, he will try many expedients to avert, to mitigate, or to remedy the evil. He will rarely lose any thing which his cunning will enable him to secure. But how often does the Christian suffer loss purely through his own folly ! How often does he see infallible means of gain, and yet neglect to use them ! and infallible means of injury, which he is not careful to shun ! Many times is he forced to adopt that most humiliating confession1 — ]
To prevent misapprehension, we subjoin a word of caution —
[Let not any one suppose that one fraud may be com- mitted in order to prevent the consequences of another. This is too often practised : but it plunges the offender in deeper guilt and shame. God has warned us in many places what will be the reward of dishonesty k. It is impossible that they who defraud an earthly master can be accepted of God. However their ingenuity may be admired, it will prove folly in the issue. Let every one then, who professes to be a child of light, remember the Apostle's words l — ]
To enforce the subject we conclude with suitable advice — 1. Be faithful to your Lord and Master —
[If ye be Christians indeed, Christ is the Master whom ye serve. Be faithful to him, then, whether ye have little or muchm. Especially honour him in the distribution of the unrighteous mammon". He is a kind and liberal Master, that does not grudge you any thing that is good. Nevertheless he expects that you improve for him the talents he has committed to you.]
f Gal. v. 17. s Rom. vii. 13, 15, IS, 19, 21—23.
h Isai. i. 3. » Ps. lxxiii. 22. Prov. xxx. 2.
k 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. l 1 John i. 6. m Prov. xxiii. 26.
11 ver. 13.