SERMON so base and so criminal, as envy.

VIII.

Create in me, O God, a clean heart; and renew a right spirit within me. Search me, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me, and way everlasting.

lead me in the

*Ps. li. 10.-cxxxix. 23, 24.

SERMON IX.

On IDLENESS.

MATTHEW, XX. 6.

-Why stand

ye here all the day idle?

IT

IX.

T is an observation which naturally oc- SERMON curs, and has been often made, that all the representations of the Christian life in Scripture are taken from active scenes ; from carrying on a warfare, running a race, striving to enter in at a strait gate; and, as in this context, labouring in a vineyard. Hence the conclusion plainly follows, that various active duties are required of the Christian; and that sloth and indolence are inconsistent with his hope, of heaven.

But it has been sometimes supposed, that industry, as far as it is matter of duty, reVOL. III. M gards

IX.

man.

SERMON gards our spiritual concerns and employments only; and that one might be very busy as a Christian, who was very idle as a Hence, among some denominations of Christians, an opinion has prevailed, that the perfection of religion was to be found in those monastic retreats where every active function of civil life was totally excluded, and the whole time of men filled up with exercises of devotion. They who hold such opinions proceed on the supposition, that religion has little or no concern with the ordinary affairs of the world; that its duties stand apart by themselves, and mingle not in the intercourse which men have with one another. The perfect Christian was imagined to live a sort of angelic life, sequestered from the business or pleasures of this contemptible state. The gospel, on the contrary, represents the religion of Christ, as intended for the benefit of human society. It assumes men as engaged in the business of active life; and directs its exhortations, accordingly, to all ranks and stations; to the magistrate and the subject, to the master and the servant, to the rich and the poor, to them that buy and them

that

IX.

that sell, them that use and them that abuse SERMON the world. Some duties, indeed, require privacy and retreat. But the most important must be performed in the midst of the world, where we are commanded to shine as lights, and by our good works to glorify our Father which is in heaven. This world, as the context represents it, is God's vineyard, where each of us has a task assigned him to perform. In every station, and at every period of life, labour is required. At the third, the sixth, or the eleventh hour, we are commanded to work, if we would not incur, from the great Lord of the vineyard, this reproof, Why stand bere all the day idle? We may, I confess, be busy about many things, and yet be found negligent of the One thing needful. We may be very active, and, withal, very ill employed. But though a person may be industrious without being religious, I must at the same time admonish you that no man can be idle without being sinful. This I shall endeavour to shew in the sequel of the discourse; wherein I purpose to reprove a vice which is too common among all ranks of men. Superiors admonish their infe

M 2

ye

riors,

SERMON riors, and parents tell their children, that IX. idleness is the mother of every ́sin; while,

in their own practice, they often set the example of what they reprobate severely in others. I shall study to shew, that the idle man is, in every view, both foolish and criminal; that he neither lives to God; nor lives to the world; nor lives to himself.

I. He lives not to God. The great and wise Creator certainly does nothing in vain. A small measure of reflection might convince every one that for some useful purpose he was sent into the world. The nature of man bears no mark of insignificancy, or neglect. He is placed at the head of all things here below. He is furnished with a great preparation of faculties and powers. He is enlightened by reason with many important discoveries; even taught by revelation to consider himself as ransomed, by the death of Christ, from misery; and intended to rise, by gradual advances, to a still higher rank in the universe of God. In such a situation, thus distinguished, thus favoured and assisted by his

Creator,