SERM. creature, is it not very monstrous and extrava I should close all this discourse with that, at which, in pitching on this subject, I chiefly did aim, an application exhortatory to ourselves, urging the practice of this virtue by considerations peculiar to us as scholars, and derived from the nature of our calling. But the doing this requiring a larger discourse than the time now will allow, I shall reserve to another occasion; adding only one consideration more. 13. Lastly, if we consider, we shall find the root and source of all the inconveniences, the mischiefs, the wants of which we are so apt to complain, to be our sloth; and that there is hardly any of them, which commonly we might not easily prevent or remove by industry. Why is any man a beggar, why contemptible, why ignorant, why vicious, why miserable? Why, but for this one reason, because he is slothful; because he will not labour to rid himself of those evils? What could we want, if we would but take the pains to seek it, either by our industry or by our devotion? For where the first will not do, the second cannot fail to procure any good thing from Jam. i. 5. him, who giveth to all men liberally, and hath promised to supply the defect of our ability by his free γουμένη. ρησις. bounty; so that if we join these two industries (inAinos ing-dustrious action and industrious prayer) there is noJam. v. 16. thing in the world so good, or so great, of which, if Προσκαρτέ we are capable, we may not assuredly become masEph. vi. 18. ters: and even for industry itself, especially in the performance of all our duties toward God, let us in1 Thess. v. dustriously pray even so, The God of peace sancHeb. xiii. tify us wholly, and make us perfect in every good Rom. xii. 12. Col. iv. 2. 23. LI. work to do his will, working in us that which is SERM. wellpleasing in his sight; through our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom for ever be all glory and praise. Amen. OF INDUSTRY IN OUR GENERAL CALLING, ROM. xii. 11. Not slothful in business. SERM. INDUSTRY is a very eminent virtue, being an in LII. gredient, or the parent, of all other virtues, of con- For it is in our nature framed; all our powers of We were designed for it in our first happy state ; and upon our lapse thence were further doomed to it, as the sole remedy of our needs and the inconveniences to which we became exposed. For Without it we cannot well sustain or secure our life in the enjoyment of any comfort or convenience; we must work to earn our food, our clothing, our shelter; and to supply every indigency of accommodations, which our nature doth crave. To it God hath annexed the best and most desirable rewards; success to our undertakings, wealth, honour, wisdom, virtue, salvation; all which, as they flow from God's bounty, and depend on his blessing; so from them they are usually conveyed to us through a Τῇ σπουδῇ μὴ ὀκνηροί. Solicitudine non pigri. Vulg. Of Industry in our particular Calling, &c. 191 our industry, as the ordinary channel and instrument SERM. of attaining them. It is requisite to us, even for procuring ease, and preventing a necessity of immoderate labour. It is in itself sweet and satisfactory; as freeing our mind from distraction, and wrecking irresolution; as feeding us with good hope, and yielding a foretaste of its good fruits. It furnisheth us with courage to attempt, and resolution to achieve things needful, worthy of us, and profitable to us. It is attended with a good conscience, and cheerful reflections, of having well spent our time, and employed our talents to good advantage. It sweeteneth our enjoyments, and seasoneth our attainments with a delightful relish. It is the guard of innocence, and barreth out temptations to vice, to wantonness, to vain curiosity, and pragmaticalness. It argueth an ingenuous and generous disposition of soul; aspiring to worthy things, and pursuing them in the fairest way; disdaining to enjoy the common benefits, or the fruits of other men's labour, without deserving them from the world, and requiting it for them. It is necessary for every condition and station, for every calling, for every relation; no man without it being able to deport himself well in any state, to manage any business, to discharge any sort of duty. To it the world is indebted for all the culture, which advanceth it above rude and sordid barbarism; for whatever in common life is stately, or comely, or useful, industry hath contrived it, industry hath composed and framed it. LII. LII. SERM. It is recommended to us by all sort of patterns considerable; for all nature is continually busy and active in tendency toward its proper designs; heaven and earth do work in incessant motion; every living creature is employed in progging for its sustenance; the blessed spirits are always on the wing in despatching the commands of God, and ministering succour to us; God himself is ever watchful, and ever busy in preserving the world, and providing for the needs of every creature. The lives of our blessed Saviour, of all the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles, the saints, in this respect have been more exemplary; no virtue being more conspicuous in their practice than industry in performing the hard duties and painful tasks imposed on them for the service of God, and the benefit of mankind. Such is the virtue upon which I have formerly discoursed in general and at large; but shall now more specially consider, according to St. Paul's prescription, in reference to its most proper matter, business, explaining and pressing it accordingly. Be not slothful in business, (that is, in discharge of it,) or to business, (that is, to undertake it:) this is the rule; the nature and needfulness whereof we shall declare. By novon, business, we may understand any object of our care and endeavours which doth require them, and may deserve them; which by reason of its difficulty cannot well be accomplished or attained without them; and which is productive of some fruit or recompense answerable to them; the which hath operæ causam, a need of labour, and operæ pretium, some effect worth our pains: if it |