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as he can. He will provide them with things suita. ble to their station when in health, and be very tender to them in sickness; procuring them help in their work under slighter indispositions, and proper ad. vice, if he can, in more acute diseases.* He will not think himself justified by custom, in turning away a faithful servant, by sending him to an hospital, because he cannot do his work, if it be in his power to prevent it; but will consider, that he who has the benefit of his skill and labour when well, ought to submit to trouble and expense for him, when sick. Nay, if he can afford it, he will copy the example of the Lord, in respect of the aged; as He does not forsake his servants in their old age, or when their strength faileth. Remembering that he also hath a master in heaven," he will consult the interests of his servants, and be a sincere and faithful friend to them, in whatever may tend to their comfortable settlement in life. He will not keep them at a dis dainful distance, or answer them with harshness, even when they are mistaken or unreasonable; nor express discouraging suspicions of them, or descant on their faults to others.

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The same principles will influence him to consider the souls of his domestics as entrusted to his care. He will, therefore, order his affairs so as may give them most leisure and opportunity for hallowing the Lord's day, and use his authority in enforcing such observance of it. He will read the Scriptures to them, and join with them in family prayer; and he will arrange his daily plans in subserviency to that rand concern, and avoid whatever may prejudice

*Matt. viii. 5-9.

+ Gen. xviii. 19.

their minds against it. He will watch over their morals and principles, and exclude from among them infectious companions as much as possible. Thus he will make family-religion the cement of family peace; and not only aim to influence his servants by love to willing obedience, but to give them cause to bless the day when they entered his doors, both in this world and for ever.*

Many other relative duties might be discussed; but this topic has already occupied a full proportion of the limits prescribed to these Essays.-Subjects are required to obey the lawful commands of magistrates, to respect their persons, and revere their authority as God's ordinance; not to speak evil of them; to pay them tribute conscientiously; to pray for them; and to study to be quiet, and mind the duties of their station.t-The duty of rulers and magistrates, as far as it falls under our plan, will be mentioned in an Essay on the improvement of talents. The poor should behave with respect to the rich, without envying, coveting, or repining. The rich should be courteous, condescending, compassionate, and liberal to the poor; and set them an edifying example of piety.-The young should behave with modesty, deference, and attention to the old, especially to such as are godly, however poor they may be. The aged should temper gravity and seriousness with cheerfulness and kindness, in their

*Acts x. 7, 22. Eph. vi. 9. Col. iv. 1.

+ See Impartial Statement of Scripture Doctrine, in respect of Civil Government and the Duties of Subjects, by the Author. Essay xxii.

conduct to the young.-The faithful pastor will study from the Scriptures, his duty to his flock; and the consistent Christian, will, even in this relaxed day, consider himself as bound to honour, love, and attend to his faithful pastor.-In a word, true christianity will influence every man to fill up his station, in the family, in the church, and in the community, to the glory of God, and the common benefit of the whole and all that comes short of this, is the effect of remaining contrariety to its heavenly principles, in the judgment and dispositions of true Christians, and among those "who name the name of Christ, but depart not from iniquity."

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ESSAY XXII.

On the Christian's improvement of his Talents.

WHEN the humble penitènt has obtained peace of conscience by faith in Christ, and enjoys a prevailing hope of eternal life: he will be disposed, in propor tion as his views are distinct and consistent, to inquire seriously, by what means he may most effectually

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glorify the God of his salvation, and do the greatest good to mankind during the remainder of his days. For," the love of Christ" in dying on the cross to deliver sinners from the wrath to come, and to purchase for them everlasting felicity; and in calling him to partake of so inestimable a blessing, “ will constrain him—to live no longer to himself, but to Him who died for him and rose again." This will induce him to consider very attentively, what advantages or opportunities his situation affords, of promoting the honour of the Redeemer's name; the peace, purity, and enlargement of his kingdom; the comfort and edification of his people; and the welfare, temporal and eternal, of the human species. These opportunities and advantages are commonly called talents, from the parable which our Lord spoke on this subject ;* and doubtless this portion of Scripture, and that coincident with it,† relate entirely to the subject under consideration, and cannot reasonably be thought to point out the method of salvation, as if the improvement of natural powers or common grace could merit or procure special grace, as some have confusedly argued. For, indeed, special grace produces the inclination and disposition to use natural powers, and all other advantages, aright.

There are various endowments and opportunities, which may be improved to the best of purposes; but which wicked men employ in gratifying their base lusts, to the increase of their own guilt, and the injury of all around them; and which formal professors of religion, who harbour hard thoughts of

* Matt. xxv. 14-30.

+ Luke xix. 11-27.

God, and a secret dislike to his service, bury, as it were, in the earth. Of these the true disciple of Christ will avail himself; and by occupying with the talent entrusted to him, he will become as" the light of the world," and "the salt of the earth."* Every one has some measure of these advantages afforded him, according to the appointment of infinite wisdom, which also assigns to each person his station in the church and in the community and if a man profess the gospel, the use he makes of these advantages is one of the most decisive tests, by which the sincerity of that profession may be ascer tained, and the degree of his grace estimated. But the improvement, and not the number of his talents, will be considered in the decision: "he that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much :"‡ and whilst the servant, to whom many talents have been entrusted, may be more extensively useful, he that hath improved a very small proportion will be equally favoured by his Lord. The poor widow's two mites may be more evidential of sincere love and fervent zeal, than the liberal donations of the affluent.

Every thing, almost, which we are, or possess, or meet with, may be considered as a talent: for a good or a bad use may be made of all natural endowments or providential appointments; or they may remain unoccupied through inactivity and selfishness. -Time, health, vigour of body, and the power of

* Matt. v. 13-16.

2 Cor. viii. 7, 8. James ii. 24-26. 1 John iii. 17-20. + Luke xvi. 9-12,

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