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SERMON XVII.

FRUGALITY.

JOHN, vi. 12.

WHEN THEY WERE FILLED, HE SAID UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS THAT REMAIN, THAT NOTHING BE LOST.

OUR

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UR Lord, having fed thousands with five loaves and two fmall fishes, directed his disciples to gather up the fragments, that nothing be loft. He who thus multiplied the loaves and fishes, could have no anxious thoughts for himself, and the friends who had forfaken all to follow him. He had taught them, "Fear not, little flock. Take no thought for the mor"row: But feek ye first the kingdom of God;-and "all these things fhall be added unto you"-meaning things needful for the body. There is, at the fame time, a care for the prefent life, without which the profeffors of religion are not warranted to conclude that they seek first the kingdom of heaven; yea, must be pronounced worse than infidels. Nothing is given to be refused, abused, or wafted; but to be enjoyed with temperance, and applied to useful purposes, that our divine Benefactor may be glorified. The greatest plenty is no excufe for excefs, nor for a neglect to gather up the fragments.

When it is confidered who gave the injunction on frugality in the words read, and to whom he gave it, a difcourfe on this fubject will not be thought improper. It well claims the particular attention of thofe who are entering on life.

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Some illuftrations of the fubject are first proposed. Secondly, We will attend to various reasons which enforce it.

First, Some illuftrations of the fubject will be offered. The injunction to gather up the fragments was not meant to recommend parfimony. Avarice is no part of frugality. The gospel feverely condemns an eagernefs to hold all that comes within our grafp, and to accumulate more. No liberality may compare with his, who went about doing good. The following are recorded as the words of our Lord, which it behoves his disciples to remember: It is more blessed to give than to receive. His ordering them to gather up the fragments, was, no doubt, with this view, that what remained might be diftributed in charity, and alfo fupply their future neceffities.

Some, pretending to fublime Chriftianity, affect an entire neglect of terreftrial concerns. Is he then the beft Chriftian, who is the worst citizen? who is indifferent to his civil duties, and to the duties of the neareft relations? Jefus Chrift inculcated and exemplified every relative and focial virtue. He came eating and drinking as other men, and freely converfed with all ranks and characters for their good. Early intent on the work given him to do, he yet regarded his earthly connections, was fubject in his childhood and youth to his parents, and is fuppofed to have wrought at the occupation of Jofeph, his reputed father. Though he wrought a miracle to feed the multitudes, in a special emergency, he took care to prevent a misconstruction of it, giving no encouragement to a neglect of the ordinary means of obtaining the fupplies of life. When these means are denied, man has no other refource than to caft himself immediately on the providence of God, which feedeth the fowls of the air, though they neither fow, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and clotheth the lilies, that neither toil nor fpin. But when the means of preferving life, and supplying its wants, are afforded,

it is tempting God, to expect that he will preserve us and fupply our daily neceffities, without our own care. Christians fhould reflect, that their families, kindred and friends, their neighbours, the poor, their fellow christians, their country and mankind have demands upon them. While they practically disclaim all these relations while they neglect, or are remifs in, the business of their stations, let them not imagine that they are fervent in fpirit ferving the Lord. They do not walk as God hath diftributed to them, and called them. They flight our Lord's injunction, to take care that nothing of the bounties of heaven be loft.The words of Chrift, Lay not up for yourselves treafures upon earth, do not forbid his disciples to provide against misfortune, ficknefs, or old age. They forbid only fuch care for earthly things as implies that they are preferred to heavenly. Man has to fulfil his part, in obedience to the will of God, by vigilance and induftry in the use of means for the fupport and comfort of life, acquiefcing in the difpofal of divine providence. Mifmanagement, when owing to incapacity, calls for pity; but when owing to carelessnefs, men fuffer the merited confequences of their own folly and negligence. "Go to the ant, thou fluggard; confid"er her ways, and be wife; having no guide, over"feer, or ruler, fhe provideth her meat in the fummer, "and gathereth her food in the harveft." Inattention to the order of nature and providence is juftly followed with embarrassment, indigence and misery.

Further, the words contain a leffon of moderation in the use of the bounties of heaven. Excefs and negligence are alike oppofed to frugality. A disciple of Jefus keeps under his body, and is temperate in all things. His moderation is known in the provision of his table, in furniture, apparel and diverfions. It ill comports with his profeffion, to be allured with external fplendour and worldly greatness. "Whofoever will

"be chief among you, let him be your fervant: Even

"as the Son of man came not to be miniftered unto, "but to minifter. Learn of me; for I am meek and "lowly in heart." The fteward, whofe profusion, floth and pride lavished his lord's goods, when called to account, proceeded further to injure his lord, by a fcandalous compromise with the debtors. Affured of

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an immediate ejectment for his unfaithfulness and profligacy, and determined ftill to perfift in floth and diffipation, he had recourfe to means adapted to his end. "I cannot dig; to beg I am afhamed. I am refolved "what to do, that when I am put out of the steward"fhip, they may receive me into their houses. So he "called every one of his lord's debtors unto him,' and cancelled a large part of their acknowledged debt. Such are the tendency, embarraffments and shifts of floth and diffipation. Every fentiment of justice, gratitude and honour are violated without fhame or fcruple. Thus bankrupts embezzle the goods of their creditors, and live in profufion upon what they have fraudulently withheld from the just owners.

SECONDLY, We will attend to the reasons which enforce the fubject of frugality.

Firft, it is dictated by gratitude to God. This requires that we receive and enjoy his gifts as he hath directed. To what end are the fupplies and comforts of life given, but that we might cheerfully ferve him in the abundance of all things? A competency is ordinarily procured by industry and circumfpection, and accompanied with the moft enjoyment.

If, under the head of food convenient, we extend our defires to fupplies for a life of ease, for vanity, for riot and excefs, these are neither convenient nor fafe. Affluence is apt to excite confidence in outward poffeffions. He whofe "ground brought forth plenteously, "faid to his foul, Take thine eafe, thou haft goods "laid up for many years." Inftead of being thankful in proportion as God was bountiful, he indulged to security. The man in the parable, who was clothed in

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