exercised as in the presence of the heart-searching God. If we will not exercise the faculties in the way which God has appointed, not only shall we suffer loss of all that we might have attained, but the understanding will become blind, the affections sensual, and the conscience seared. These were the very effects produced by the ministry of the Prophet Isaiah, amongst his hearers b; as also by our blessed Lordc and his Apostles, in their ministrations'1: so that in every age those words of Solomon have been verified, " He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand ; but the hand of the diligent maketh riche."
If it be said, that our entire dependence upon God for every thing may well supersede all labour on our part ; I answer, that, instead of superseding our exertions, it is urged as an encouragement to us to labour with all our might : " Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling ; for it is God who worketh in us both to will and to do of his good plea- suref." Nothing will be added to us but in the use of means; and " whether we be righteous or wicked, the fruit of our doings, and the reward of our hands, shall be given to usg."]
The words of our text may be further considered, II. As a fact realized —
They are realized in the experience of all, and especially amongst the people of the Lord ;
1. In their gifts —
[God has given to his servants somewhat of a spiritual discernment ; perhaps, too, a faculty to impart the knowledge they possess, and an ability to spread their wants before the Lord in prayer. Now these, and such like gifts, are increased by use, and lessened by neglect. Let any one look back to the time when any of these gifts were bestowed upon him, and mark what measure of improvement he has made of them ; and then let him compare his present state in relation to them : and I doubt not but that he will acknowledge the truth of our Lord's assertion, that, whilst a good and diligent use was made of the gifts, they were augmented to him ; and that, when he became remiss in the use of them, they were propor- tionably diminished. Indeed, this is nothing but what we are taught expressly to expect at the hands of God : for we are told, " It is impossible for those that were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away,
b Isai. vi. 9, 10. c Matt. xiii. 13 — 15. d Acts xxviii. 2.3 — 27. e Prov. x. 4. f Phil. ii. 12, 13. s Isai. iii. 10, 11.