2 Theff. iii.

II.

SER M. Paul; We hear there are fome, which walk among you XIV. diforderly, not working at all. His fentence and doom will be, according to our Lord 0 thou wicked and "Nothful fervant-Caft the unprofitable fervant into utter darkness; which words are spoken in relation to one, who being a flatterer, or fluggard in his calling, did not improve the special talent entrusted with him for God's fervice.

Matt. xxv.

26, 30.

xiii. 11.

In fine, if we are conscientiously industrious in our vocation, we shall affuredly find the bleffing of God thereon; and that he thereby will convey good fuccefs, comfort, competent wealth, a fair reputation, all defirable good unto us; for as all these things are promised to industry, fo the promise especially doth belong to that industry, which a man doth exercise in an orderly course of action in his own way; or rather in God's way, wherein divine Providence hath fet him.

An irregular or impertinent laboriousness, out of a man's calling or fphere; a being diligent in other men's affairs, invading their office, (as if a prieft will be trading, a layman preaching,) may not claim the benefit of those promifes, or the bleffings of induftry; but a husbandman, who, with confcientious regard Prov. x. 4. to God, and confidence in him, is painful in tilling his ground, may expect a good crop; a merchant, who (upon the fame principle, with the like difpofition) earnestly followeth his trade, may hope for fafe voyages and good markets; a prince carefully minding his affairs may look for peace and profperity to his country; a scholar ftudying hard may be well asfured of getting knowledge, and finding truth; all, who with honeft diligence conftantly do purfue their bufinefs, may confidently and cheerfully hope to reap advantages fuitable to it from the favourable bleffing of God. So that we have all reafon to obferve the Apostle's precept, Not to be flothful in business.

I fhould apply this doctrine to our own cafe, urging its practice by confiderations peculiar to our vocation;

cation; but having already paffed the bounds of SER M. time, I reserve the doing it to another opportunity. XIV.

I

Now the God of peace fanctify you wholly, and make 1 Theff. v. you perfect in every good work to do his will, working Heb. xiii. in you that which is well-pleafing in his fight, through 21. our bleffed Saviour Jefus Chrift; to whom for ever be all glory and praise. Amen.

1

SERMON XV.

Of Industry in our particular Calling, as
Gentlemen.

ROM. xii. 11.

Not flothful in Bufinefs.

I HAVE largely treated upon the duty recom-S E R M.

mended in this precept, and urged the obfervance xv. of it in general, at a distance: I now intend more particularly and closely to apply it, in reference to those persons who seem more especially obliged to it, and whofe obferving it may prove of greateft confequence to public good; the which application may also be moft fuitable and profitable to this audience: those persons are of two forts; the one Gentlemen, the other Scholars.

I. The first place, as civility demandeth, we affign to Gentlemen, or perfons of eminent rank in the world, well allied, graced with honour, and furnished with wealth; the which fort of persons I conceive in a high degree obliged to exercife industry in bufi

nefs.

This at first hearing may feem a little paradoxical and ftrange; for who have lefs bufinefs than Gentlemen? who do need less industry than they? He

BER M. that hath a fair eftate, and can live on his means, what XV. hath he to do, what labour or trouble can be exacted of him, what hath he to think on, or trouble his head with, but how to invent recreations and paftimes to divert himself, and spend his wafte leisure pleasantly? Why fhould not he be allowed to enjoy himself, and the benefits, which nature or fortune have freely dif pensed to him, as he thinketh beft, without offence? Why may he not fay with the rich man in the Gofpel, Soul, thou haft much goods laid up for many years; take thine eafe, eat, drink, and be merry? Is it not often faid by the wife man, that there is nothing better under the fun, than that a man fhould make his foul to enjoy good in a cheerful and comfortable fruition of his eftate? According to the paffable notion and definition, What is a Gentleman but his pleasure?

Luke zii.

19.

Ecclef. ii.

24. iii.

22.

v. 18. viii.

15.

If this be true, if a Gentleman be nothing else but this, then truly he is a fad piece, the moft inconfiderable, the most despicable, the most pitiful and wretched creature in the world: if it is his privilege to do nothing, it is his privilege to be most unhappy, and to be fo will be his fate, if he live according to it; for he that is of no worth or use, who produceth no beneficial fruit, who performeth no fervice to God, or to the world, what title can he have to happiness? What capacity thereof? What reward can he claim? What comfort can he feel? To what temptations is he exposed! What guilts will he incur !

But in truth it is far otherwife: to fuppofe that a Gentleman is loofe from bufinefs, is a great mistake; for indeed no man hath more to do, no man lieth under greater engagements to industry than he.

He is deeply obliged to be continually bufy in more ways than other men, who have but one fimple calling or occupation allotted to them; and that upon a triple account; in refpect to God, to the world, and to himself.

1. He is firft obliged to continual employment in respect to God.

He,