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II. The consequences of it

As industry and wealth, so idleness and want are very closely connected

[Circumstances occur in this world to interrupt the natu ral operation of causes and effects: but in general, where any man's subsistence depends upon his labour, the consequences of sloth or activity will be such as might be expected. In spi ritual things the rule is absolute and invariable. Every man's progress will be according to his labour. Some indeed may enjoy more of comfort than others, from other causes than their own diligence: but every person's real proficiency in grace will be proportioned to the improvement he makes of the talents committed to him: without detracting at all from the grace of God, we may safely affirm, that the difference between one Christian and another in respect of victory over sin, and happiness in the divine life, must be traced in a very great measure to their different degrees of watchfulness in secret duties.]

This truth however will not appear in its full extent till the day of judgment

[At the time of harvest the care or negligence of the husbandman will very clearly appear: and, if we should suppose a man to have wholly neglected the cultivation of his fields, he would find himself destitute, while others were satiated with abundance; nor, if he were reduced to beggary, would he find any one to pity his forlorn condition. But his situation, deplorable as it would be, is not to be compared with that of a negligent Christian in the day of judgment. He will see others reaping a glorious harvest, while he is not permitted even to glean an ear: he will behold others "crowned with glory and honour and immortality," while nothing remains for him but "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish." The foolish virgins, who slept while they should have been procuring oil for their lamps, came and pleaded in vain for admittance, when the door was once shut against them: none but the wise virgins were suffered to participate the nuptial feast. In the same manner, the rich man, who lived only to the flesh, sought in vain for one drop of water to mitigate his anguish, while Lazarus, who had lived to nobler purposes, had a fulness of joy in Abraham's bosom. Thus also will it be with all, when the great harvest shall arrive: they, who had improved their season of grace, will be partakers of glory; while they, who had wasted it in sloth and self-indulgence, will reap the fruits of their folly, in deserved shame, in perpetual want, in unalleviated, unpitied, everlasting misery.]

APPLICATION

1. Let us, in the view of this subject, take shame to ourselves

[How long has our season of grace been protracted; and what little improvement have we made of it! How apt are we to yield to sloth, and to defer the most important of all duties on slight and frivolous pretences, which we know beforehand will never satisfy our Judge! But what can ever equal this folly? A sluggard in temporal things may find some one to pity his distress; and may learn from his experience to amend. But who will ever pity the self-ruined sinner? Or what further opportunity for amendment will be afforded him? Let us then begin, and prosecute without remission, the work of our souls. Let us "plow up the fallow ground, and sow in righteousness,' knowing assuredly, that "the diligent hand shall make us rich," and that, "if we sow in tears we shall reap in joy.”] 2. Let us look forward with earnestness to the future harvest

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[The husbandman waits with patience, in expectation that the harvest will compensate his labours. And will not our harvest repay all the exertions we can use, and all the self-denial we can exercise? Let us then put forth all the energies of our souls in preparing for that day. Let us not suffer any difficulties or discouragements to abate our ardour; but, "whatever our hand findeth to do, let us do it with our might," "and so much the more as we see the day approaching."]

CCCCIV. THE SINFULNESS OF MURMURING

AGAINST GOD.

Prov. xix. 3. The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

THE wickedness of the heart is deep and unsearchable

They who do not watch its motions, have no idea of its depravity

But they who diligently examine it may discover many evils

And by the light of God's word attain considerable knowledge

The disposition mentioned in the text deserves special attention

I. Illustrate the disposition here spoken of

The careless and ungodly world are ever ready to cast blame on God

1. On account of their sins

[They give the rein to every evil thought and desireexpose themselves to every kind of temptationlay innumerable stumbling-blocks in their own

way

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And thus become enslaved by vicious lusts and appetitesAgainst these iniquities God denounces his judgmentBut the slaves of sin continue hardened in their evil waysThey condemn even God himself as the author of their sins

This was the conduct of Adam immediately after the fallaAnd it is too often imitated by his guilty descendants-] 2. On account of their sorrows

[Sorrow is entailed on all as the punishment of the first transgression

But most of the afflictions which men suffer are brought on them by their own folly

Some involve themselves in distress through sloth or intemperance

Others ruin themselves by imprudence and extravaganceBut all under their calamities "fret against the Lord"They are full of invectives against those that have been the more immediate occasions of their troubleb

They consider their lot as hard and severe

And thus do they reflect on Providence rather than on themselves

Cain, the first-born of Adam, indulged this malignant spiritNor are there any sons of sorrow who do not follow his example-]

Nor are believers themselves wholly free from this disposition

[They watch and pray against their besetting sinYet are sometimes brought under the power of it— On these occasions they are tempted to fret against the Lord

They are ready to expostulate with him like those of oldd

a Gen. iii. 12. He obliquely condems God for giving the woman to him.

Numb. xvi. 11, 41.

Gen. iv. 18, 14.

a Isaiah lviii. 3.

They forget how justly they might have been eternally for

saken

And that the remaining power of their sins is the consequence both of former habits, and of present neglects

Under afflictions also they feel too much proneness to mur

mur

What sinful impatience did the holy Elijah manifest!

Even Job himself preserved not wholly a becoming temper1-]

This disposition however is most hateful in the sight of God

II. The evil of it

It betrays the most deplorable ignorance

[God is not, nor can be, the author of sin

He maintains in all things the character given of him— Hence St. James shews the folly of casting blame on Godh Nor can God punish any of us more than our iniquities de

serve

Hence the expostulation of the prophet is unanswerable_ Besides, to fret against God is not the way to interest him in our behalf—

Nor will it tend to the peace and composure of our own spirits

It is as unprofitable to us as it is unjust towards him— True wisdom would teach us to humble ourselves in his presence

And to renew our supplications with greater earnestness This conduct is as sure to succeed, as the other is to fail of successk-]

It manifests the most obstinate impenitence

[Both sins and sorrows ought to produce humilityWhen they increase our rebellion, our state is almost despe

rate

How awfully does such a temper characterize God's enemies!m

And make us resemble those that are consigned over to perdition!"

Surely nothing more heinous can be laid to our charge-
Nor any thing more speedily fit us for destruction-

It evinces the most consummate arrogance
[To fret and murmur is, in fact, to reprove God-

e 1 Kings xix. 4. h James i. 13, 14.

'Isaiah i. 5.

f Job vii. 15, 16.
i Lam. iii. 39.
m Rev. xvi. 9.

Deut. xxxii. 4. Prov. xxviii. 13. " Matt. viii. 12.

God himself considers it as a direct attack upon him°And can any thing be more presumptuous in such worms as we?

St. Paul reprobates this impiety with holy indignation3— And every one who allows himself in it, must answer it at his peril-]

We conclude with suitable ADVICE

1. Let us search into the occasions of our sins and sorrows

[We may be surprised into sin by a sudden temptationBut may trace our fall to preceding unwatchfulnessNor can we expect God to keep us, if we neglect to keep ourselves

We are rarely earnest enough in using the means of safetyWe are too backward to meditation, prayer, and fastingOur afflictions also may have come without any misconduct on our part

But who has not merited them by his sins?

Men should only be considered as instruments in God's hands

And the consideration of his will should silence every murmur-]

2. Let us always be careful to justify God

[We may not always be able to account for his dispensations

ly"

ist

But we should not on that account doubt the equity of themWhatever we suffer, we should not charge God foolish

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Under the darkest dispensations we should say as the Psalm

If we wait we shall see the wisdom of many things which now seem utterly inexplicable

We may rest assured that David's assertion shall be verified-]

3. Let us see what improvement may be made of our troubles

[There is no rod which has not a voice to us—— Our very sins may be permitted, in order to humble us ùs→ And to make us more thankfully cleave to the Saviour— Our trials, of whatever kind, are to purge away our drossAnd to fit us for our eternal rest

To view them in this light will greatly compose our minds Instead of fretting against the Lord, we shall be thankful to him

And instead of increasing our misery, we shall make it a mean of joy-]

• Mal. iii. 13, 14. r 2 Sam. xvi. 10.

P Rom. ix. 20.

• Ps. xxii. 2, 3.

9 Ps. xvii. 13, 14. t Ps. li. 4.

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