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receive no advantage by the service of his creatures, because he is perfect and all-fufficient in himfelf; yet he receives glory and praise by it, and a complacency in beholding a conformity in the creature, to his own most perfect will.

To the due execution of this trust committed to the children of men, and for their encouragement in it, he hath annexed a reward by his promise, and the free appointment of his own good pleasure; this reward therefore is not meritorioufly due to the employment of the talent; for as the talent is the Lord's, fo is the ftrength and ability whereby it is employed; but by his own good pleasure and free promife, the reward is knit to the work. In this cafe therefore the reward is not demandable, fo much upon the account of the divine justice, as upon the account of the divine truth and fidelity. On the other fide, to the male-administration of this truft, there is annexed a retribution of punishment; and this moft naturally and meritoriously, for the law of common justice and reafon doth moft juftly fubject the creature, that depends in his being upon his Creator, to the law and will of that Creator, and therefore having received a talent from his Lord, and, together with his being, an ability to employ it according to the will of his Lord, a non-employment, or mif-employment thereof doth moft juftly oblige him to guilt and punishment, as the natural and juft confequent of his demerit.

Of the Persons that do receive these talents, some do employ them well, though in various degrees; fome to more advantage, fome to lefs; and although the best husbands come fhort of what they should do, and at best are in this refpect unprofitable fervants; yet if there be a faithful, confcientious and fincere endeavour to employ that talent to their master's honour, they are accounted good stewards, and the merits of Christ fupply by faith that wherein they come fhort.

On the other fide, fome perfons are unfaithful ftewards of their talents, and thefe are of three kinds: 1, Such as wholly mifemploy their talents, turning them

to

to the dishonour and differvice of their, Lord, which they should have employed to his fervice; and these have a double account to make, viz. of their talents and of their misemployment. 2.Such as do not at all employ their talent; but as they do no harm, fo they do no good with it; thefe are negligent fervants, and have the fingle, but full account of their talents to make. 3. Such as do make fome ufe of their talents, but do not produce an increase proportionable to their stock: and fo though they are not debtors for their whole talents, yet are in arrear and grown behind hand; and fo upon the foot of their account are found debtors to their Lord, which without faith in Christ, and his merits coming in to make up the fum, will be enough to caft them in prison, and there keep them to eternity.

And according to these varieties of degrees, of good or bad administration, are the degrees of reward or punishment. He that hath administered his truft well, fo that there is a great access of his improvement, hath the greater accefs of glory; and he that hath lefs furplufage upon his account, fhall have the lefs degree of glory; and on the other fide, he that hath many talents, and made no improvement, his debt and punishment shall be the greater: He that hath fewer talents, his non-improvement leaves him a debtor in a less fum, and confequently fubject to a less punishment.

The great Day of Account will be the great day of judg ment when the Lord of the families of the whole earth will call every man to his account of his stewardship here on earth. Wherein we may with reverence, and for the better faftening it upon our affections, fuppofe the Lord thus to be fpeaking to all, and every particular perfons of the world.

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THE CHARGE.

Come ye children of men, as I have formerly • made you ftewards of my bleffings upon earth, and 'committed to every one of you that come to the use ' of your understanding, feveral talents to employ and

• improve

improve to the honour and fervice of me your Lord • and Mafter, fo now I come to call you to render an account of your stewardship; and because you shall fee the particular charge of your several receipts, • whereunto you may give your answers, behold here is a schedule of the particulars with which I will charge you. Give in your particular answer how you have employed and improved them, and fee you do it truly; for know, I have à control and check upon you; a control within you, your own confciences, and a control without you, my book of remembrance, wherein all your receipts, difburfements and employments are registered.

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1. I have given unto you all your fenfes, and principally thofe two great fenfes of difcipline, your fight and your bearing.

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Item. I have given unto you all, understanding and reajon to be a guide of your actions, and to fome of you more eminent degrees thereof.

Item. I have given you all memory, a treasury of things paft, heard and obferved.

Item. I have given you a confcience to direct you and to check you in your mifcarriages, and to encourage you in well-doing; and I have furnished that confcience of yours with light and principles of truth and practice, conformable to my will.

Item. I have laid open to all your view the works of my power and providence, the heavens and the earth, the confpicuous adminiftration of my wifdom and power in them.

Item. I have delivered over to your view, my more Special providences over the children of men, the difpenfation of rewards and punishments, according to • eminent deferts or demerits.

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• Item. I have given you the advantage of Speech, whereby to communicate your minds one to another, and to inftruct and advantage one another by the help thereof.

Item. I have given you time of life in this world, to

• fome

fome longer, to fome fhorter, to all a time of life, a 'feafon wherein you might exercise those other talents "I have intrufted vou withal.

Item. I have delivered over unto you the rule and dominion over my creatures, allowing you the use of them for your food, raiment, and other conve

niencies.

Item. Befides thefe common talents, I have intrusted you withal, I have delivered over to you, and 'to you, &c. divers Special and eminent talents above others, viz. of the mind, or fuch as concern you, as 'intellectual creatures.

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1. Great learning and knowledge in the works of nature, arts and Sciences, great prudence and wisdom in the conduct of affairs, [elocution,] excellent edu'cation.

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2. Of the body, a firm and healthy conftitution, "Strength, beauty, and comeliness.

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3. Of externals. Great affluence of wealth and riches, eminence of place, and power and honour, great reputation and esteem in the world; great fuccefs in ' enterprises and undertakings, public and private: relations œconomical.

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4. Of things of a mixt nature. Chriftian and liberal education; counfel and advice of faithful and judicious friends; good laws in the place and country where you live, the written word of God acquainting you with my will, and the way to eternal life; the word preached by able and powerful minifters thereof; the Sacraments, both for your initiation and confirmation; fpecial and powerful motions and impulfes of my Spirit upon your confciences, diffuading from fin, and encouraging in and to holinefs; special providences abftracting and diverting you from the commiffion of ⚫ things contrary to my will, difhonourable to my name, and hurtful to yourfelves; chaftifements and corrections eminently and plainly inflicted for fin committed by yourselves and others, fo that the guilt was legible in the punishment; eminent bleffings upon the ways of holi

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VOL. I.

S

'nefs

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⚫ nefs and virtue, even to the view of the world: Emi⚫nent reftitution and deliverances upon repentance and ⚫ amendment of life; moft clear and fenfible experiences of my love, favour, and liftening to your prayers, to encourage you to a dependance upon me; fingular opportunities put into your hands, of inftructing the ignorant, delivering the oppreffed, promoting my

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honour.

These are some of the many talents which I have ⚫ committed to you, though in differing degrees: Give up your accounts, you children of men, how you have employed them.'

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THE ACCOUNT OF

THE GOOD STEWARD.

LORD, before I enter into account with thy Majefty, I must confess, that if thou shouldft enter into judg ment with me, and demand that account which in juftice thou mayeft require of me, I fhould be found thy debtor I confefs I have not improved my talents according to that measure of ability that thou haft lent me: I therefore moft humbly offer unto thee the redundant merit of thy own Son to supply my defects, and to make good what is wanting in my account; yet according to thy command, I do humbly render my difcharge of the truth thou haft committed to me, as followeth :

1. IN GENERAL.

As to all the bleffings and talents wherewith thou haft intrusted me.

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