Heb. vi. 12. Be not slothful, hut followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
IN the general course of God's providence, we perceive that blessings are dispensed in proportion to
men's exertions in the pursuit of them : and though the Disposer of all events sees fit, on some occasions, to vary his dispensations, loading the slothful with opulence, and suffering the industrious to be in w^ant, yet for the most part v^e behold diligence rewarded, and indolence put to shame. In spiritual things none are disappointed ; labour is invariably attended with success : no one asks without receiving, or seeks without finding : God uniformly shews himself a re- warder of such as dihgently seek him. " To him that studies to improve his talent, more is uniformly given ; and he is made to possess abundance." The experience of the saints in all ages fully corresponds with this. No one ever suffered loss, but in conse- quence of his own remissness : nor did ever any one devote himself unfeignedly to God, without receiving grace sufficient in the time of need. The author of this epistle confirms these observations : for, having spoken of those who apostatize from the truth, he tells the Hebrews, that he was persuaded better things of them, and things that accompany salvation ; for that they were active in every labour of love ; which was to him a convincing evidence of their con- version to God. He then takes occasion to exhort them all to use the same diligence ; and recom- mends them, if they would possess an assurance of hope, and enjoy it to the end, to press forward in the way which the patriarchal saints had trodden with such success. In his words we see.
What we must guard against in our Christian
course,
I. A caution —
There is scarcely any evil more universally pre- valent than spiritual sloth —
[In worldly concerns, sloth is often overcome by the force and influence of other propensities: the predominant affection of the mind, whatever it be, will often gain such an ascendency, as to subdue the workings of less powerful corruptions : yea, to such a degree will interest or ambition lead us to mortify our love of ease, that we shall scarcely be sensible of the existence of sloth in our hearts. But, when once we turn our attention