the oppressed, to maintain peace, and appease dissension among his neighbours; to promote the welfare and prosperity of his country, with his best endeavours; to govern his family well; to look to his estate, and keep it from wasting; to cultivate his mind with knowledge and generous dispositions; to be careful of his ways, that they may have good influence on others, and set a bright example to those who may look up to him.' A gentleman is bound to be industrious for his own sake; he hath more talents committed to him, and, consequently, more employment required of him; he hath, also, obligations to mankind, demanding industry from him: if any are bound to serve the public, then all are; for why should the whole burthen lie on some, while others are exempted? A gentleman hath all the common duties, of piety, of charity, of sobriety, to discharge with fidelity; for being a gentleman doth not exempt him from being a Christian, but rather more strictly doth engage him to be such in a higher degree than others; it is an obligation peculiarly incumbent on him, in return for God's peculiar favours, to pay God all due obedience, and to exercise himself in all good works.2 It is with us, as with other things in nature, which, by motion, are preserved in their native purity and perfection; if the water runneth, it 1 See Barrow's Works, iii. 219, et seq. (Oxford 8vo edit.). M holdeth clear, sweet, and fresh; but stagnation turneth it into a noisome puddle.' "The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." The one pineth away with ineffectual and fruitless desires; the other thriveth upon satisfaction in prosperous success.2 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but "the sluggard shall beg in harvest, and have nothing." 3 In not being industrious we defeat the intent of our Maker, we pervert his work and gifts; we are bad husbands of nature's stock.4 By INDUSTRY We understand a serious and steady application of mind, joined with a vigorous exercise of our active faculties, in prosecution of any reasonable, honest, useful design, in order to the accomplishment or attainment of some considerable good. Success in life depends much upon "improving those decisive moments, which are irrecoverably lost before they are perceived by a common eye. 6 Resolve, and keep your resolution; choose, and pursue your choice. If you spend this day in study, you will find yourself still more able to study tomorrow; not that you are to expect that you shall at once obtain a complete victory. Depravity is not very easily overcome. Resolution will some 1 See Barrow's Works, iii. 144. (Oxford edit.). 2 Ibid. 152. 5 Ibid. 142. 3 Prov. xx. 4. 6 Gibbon. 4 Barrow, iii. 143. times relax, and diligence will sometimes be interrupted; but let no accidental surprise or deviation, whether short or long, dispose you to despondency. Consider these failings as incident to all mankind. Begin again where you left off, and endeavour to avoid the seducements that prevailed over you before.1 Application to business, attended with approbation and success, flatters and animates the mind, which, in idleness and inaction, stagnates and putrefies. I could wish that every rational man would, every night when he goes to bed, ask himself these questions," What have I done to-day? Have I done any thing which can be of use to myself or others? Have I employed my time, or have I squandered it?" A thinking being must be pleased or confounded, according as he can answer himself these questions.2 No man's spirits were ever hurt by doing his duty; on the contrary, one good action, one temptation resisted and overcome, one sacrifice of desire or interest, purely for conscience sake, will prove a cordial for weak and low spirits, far beyond what either indulgence, or diversion, or company can do for them.3 Let not romantic views your bosom sway; 1 Johnson (Boswell's Life), i. 487. (Croker's edit.). 2 Chesterfield, Lett. 288. 4 Crabbe. The man who consecrates his hours By vigorous efforts and an honest aim, At once he draws the sting of life and death: Mirabeau, being told that something which he required was impossible, exclaimed: "Impossible! never again use that foolish word in my pre Had I not lived with Mirabeau, I never should have known all that can be done in one day. A day to him was of more value than a week or a month to others. To-morrow was not the same impostor to him as to other men.3 Our lawful daily business, nay our needful relaxation, we may humbly present to Him as part of what He designed us for. He hath forewarned us that the slothful servant shall be deemed a wicked one.4 There is one way of attaining what we may term, at least, mortal happiness: a sincere and unrelaxing activity for the happiness of others. We cannot offer to God the service of angels; we cannot obey him as a man in a state of perfection could; but fallen men can do THEIR BEST; and this is the perfection that is required of us.3 The best way for any one to know how much he ought to aspire after holiness is to consider, not how much will make his present life easy, but how I Crabbe. 2 Dumont's Recollections. 3 Ibid. 4 Secker (Sermons). 5 Law's Serious Call, chap. iii. much he thinks will make him easy at the hour of death. Now any man that dares be so serious as to put this question to himself will be forced to answer, that, at death, every one will wish that he had been as perfect as human nature can be.' sin Do you imagine that when God comes to punish you shall have a saving bargain, and that your present enjoyments will be worth all you can suffer for them hereafter? If you think God a wise governor, rest satisfied that there is nothing to be got by offending Him.? If you are contented to take God's word for the method He intends to pursue in the judging of the world, you will soon see that in order to be happy you must be good. If you want restraint, the threatenings of God are terrible; if you want comfort, the promises of the Gospel are the only proper cordial for penitent sinners; but if you indulge your own conceit, and imagine that God will be either better or worse to you than He has declared, you expose yourself to manifold peril.3 You perhaps will say that all people fall short of the perfection of the Gospel, and therefore you are content with your failings; but the question is, not whether Gospel perfection can be fully attained, but whether you come as near it as a sincere intention, and careful diligence can carry you; whether you are not in a much lower state than you might 1 Law's Serious Call, 25. 2 Sherlock, Serm. ix. |
