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SER M. It is no wonder, if they did not work at all, that they XIII. fhould walk diforderly, or that quite ; or that quite neglecting their

1 Tim. v.

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own concerns, they should ggyálεodai, over-work, or be too busy in matters not belonging to them, intruding themselves into the affairs of their neighbours for there is a natural connection between these things, fince every man must be thinking, must be doing, must be saying somewhat, to spend his leifure, to uphold converfation, to please himself, and gratify others, to appear fomebody among his companions; to avoid the fhame of being quite out of employment: wherefore not having the heart to mind his own affairs, he will take the boldnefs to meddle with the concerns of other men: if he cannot have the fubftance, he will fet up an idol of business, and seem very active in his impertinency; in order thereto, being curioufly inquifitive, and prying into the difcourfe, actions, and affairs of all men. This men are apt to do in their own defence: and befides, idlenefs doth put men into a loose, garish, wanton humour, difpofing them without heed or regard to meddle with any thing, to prattle at any rate. In fine, whoever hath no work at home, will be gadding to seek entertainment abroad, like thofe goffips of whom St. Paul faith, They learn to be idle, wandering about from houfe to boufe; and not only idle, but tattlers alfo, and bufy bodies, fpeaking things which they ought not. If indeed we confider all the frivolous and petulant discourse, the impertinent chattings, the rafh cenfures, the spiteful detractions which are fo rife in the world, and fo much poifon all converfation, we fhall find the main root of them to be a want of industry in men, or of diligent attendance on their own matters; which would fo much take up their spirit and time, that they would have little heart or leisure to fearch into or comment upon other men's actions and concerns.

10. Let us confider that industry is needful in every condition and ftation, in every calling and way

of

of life; in all relations, for our good behaviour, and s ER M. right discharge of our duty in them. Without it we XIII. cannot in any state act decently, or ufefully, either to

the benefit and fatisfaction of others, or to our own advantage and comfort.

Are we rich? Then is induftry requifite for keeping and fecuring our wealth, for managing it wifely, for employing it to its proper ufes, and beft advantages (in the fervice of God, in beneficence to our neighbour, in advancing public good); fo that we may render a good account to him who hath entrufted us with the ftewardship thereof: industry is very needful to guard us from the temptations and mifchiefs to which wealth doth expofe us, that it do not prove a treacherous fnare, an unwieldy burthen, a deftructive poifon and plague to us, throwing us into pride and vanity, into luxury, into ftupidity, into distracting folicitude, into a bafe, worldly, and earthly temper of heart, into a profane oblivion of God, and of our own fouls.

Are we in confpicuous rank of dignity, or in honour and repute among men? Then is industry requifite to keep us faft in that ftate, to hold us from tumbling from that pinnacle down into extreme difgrace; for then all eyes are upon us, ftrictly obferving what we do, and ready to pafs cenfure on our actions; fo that great diligence is neceffary to approve ourselves, and fhun obloquy. Nothing is more brittle than honour*; every little thing hitting on it, Ecch x. j. is able to break it, and therefore without exceeding care we cannot preferve it. Nothing is more variable or fickle than the opinions of men (wherein honour confifteth); it is therefore no eafy matter to fix or detain them in the fame place.

Honour cannot live without food or fuel; it must be nourished by worthy actions; without a continual fupply of them, it will decay, languish, and pine

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XIII.

SER M. away industry therefore is required to keep it; and no less is neceffary to use it well, in a due fubordination to God's honour, and reference to his service, that, instead of an ornament and convenience, it do not prove a baneful mischief to us; puffing up our minds with vain conceits and complacencies, inclining us to arrogance and contempt of others, tempting us by affuming to ourselves to rob God of his due glory; to decline which evils great care is requifite; we must have a steady ballast, and we must hold the rudder warily, when we carry fo great fail.

On the other hand, are we poor and low in the world; or do we lie under difgrace? Then do we much need industry to fhun extremities of want and ignominy; that we be not swallowed up and overwhelmed by need or contempt; to fupport us under our preffures, to keep up our fpirits from dejection and difconfolatenefs; to preferve us from impious discontentedness and impatience: industry is the only remedy of that condition, enabling us to get out of it, retrieving a competence of wealth or credit; or difpofing us to bear it handfomely, and with comfort; fo as not to become forlorn or abject

wretches.

It is fo needful to every condition; and it is so for all vocations; for,

Is a man a governor, or a fuperior in any capacity? Then what is he but a public fervant doomed to continual labour, hired for the wages of refpect and pomp, to wait on his people; in providing for their needs, protecting their fafety, preferving their peace and welfare: where is he but on a stage, whereon he cannot well act his part, without vigilant attendance to his charge, and conftant activity in performing all the functions thereof? He is engaged in great obligations and neceffities of using extreme diligence, both in regard to himself and others. Homer's description of a prince is a good one; One who hath much people, and many cares committed to him:

ΤΩ

Ω λαοὶ τ ̓ ἐπιτετράφαται, καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε

He muft watchfully look to his own steps, who is to guide others by his authority and his example. All his actions require special conduct, not only his own credit and intereft, but the common welfare depending thereon. He muft heedfully advise what to do, he muft diligently execute what he refolveth on. He hath the most ticklish things that can be (the rights and interefts, the opinions and humours of men) to manage. He hath his own affections to curb and guide, that they be not perverted by any finister refpects, not fwayed by any unjuft partiality, not corrupted by flattery or fear. He will find, that to wield power innocently, to brandish the fword of juftice difcreetly and worthily, for the maintenance of right, and encouragement of virtue, for the fuppreffion of injury, and correction of vice, is a matter of no fmall fkill or flight care.

SERM.

Industry is indeed a quality moft proper for perfons of high rank and dignity, or of great power and authority; who have fpecial opportunities to employ it in weighty affairs to great advantage; whofe undertakings being of vast moment, do need answerable efforts to move and guide them. The industry of a mechanic, or a ruftic, acting in a low and narrow sphere, can effect no great matter, and therefore itself need not to be great: but the industry of a prince, of a nobleman, of a gentleman, may have a large and potent influence, fo as to render a nation, a county, a town, happy, profperous, glorious, flourifhing in peace, in plenty, in virtue; it therefore for atchieving fuch purposes need be, and fhould be proportionably great; a fmall power not being able to move a great weight, nor a weak cause to produce a mighty effect. Wherefore Cicero recommending Pompey for a public charge, doth reckon these to be the imperatoria virtutes, qualities befitting a prince, or general,

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XIII.

SER M. general, wherein he did excel*, Labour in business, XIII. valour in dangers, industry in acting, nimbleness in performance, counfel in providing.-And Alexander the Great, reflecting on his friends degenerating into floth and luxury, told them that it was a most flavish thing to luxuriate, and a moft royal thing to labour.

And for those who move in a lower orb of fubjection or fervice, I need not fhew how needful industry is for them. Who knoweth not that, to be a good fubject, doth exact a careful regard to the commands of fuperiors, and a painful diligence in obferving them? that to make a good fervant, fidelity and diligence must concur? whereof the first doth fuppofe the last, it being a part of honefty in a fervant to be diligent; whence δῆλε πονηρὲ καὶ ὀκνηρὲ, Matt. xxv. O thou wicked and flothful fervant, were in the Gofpel well coupled; and the firft epithet was grounded on the second, he being therefore wicked, because he had been flothful.

26.

Neither can a man be a true friend, or a good neighbour, or anywife a good relative, without industry difpofing him to undergo pains in performing good offices, whenever need doth require, or occafion invite.

In fine, it is palpable, that there is no calling of any fort, from the fceptre to the fpade, the management whereof with any good fuccefs, any credit, any fatisfaction, doth not demand much work of the head, or of the hand, or of both.

If wit or wisdom be the head, if honefty be the heart, industry is the right hand of every vocation; without which the fhrewdeft infight and the best intention can execute nothing.

*Labor in negotio, fortitudo in periculis, industria in agendo, celeritas in conficiendo, confilium in providendo, &c. Cic. pro lege Manil.

* Δελικώταῖόν ἐτι τὸ τρυφᾷν, βασιλικώτατον δὲ τὸ ποιεῖν. Plut. in Alox. P. 1262.

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