this?" Whereupon the philosopher, as if he had never learned the art of contradiction, was so astonished at the words which were spoken, that being mute to all that was alleged, only this he was able to answer:-"That what the old man had said seemed so to himself indeed, and that there was no other truth than that which was delivered by him.” Whereupon the old man then replied, "Why then, if thou believest these things to be true, arise, and follow me to the church, and take thy baptism, the seal of this faith. Hereupon the philosopher turning to his disciples, or to those that were present, and came to hear, said,—“ O ye learned men, hearken unto me; whilst this matter in hand was performed by words, I also opposed words unto words; and those things which were spoken, I was able to confute by the art of speaking: but now, that instead of words, power has proceeded from the mouth of him that speaketh, neither can words resist that power, neither can man withstand God. Therefore, if any of you here present, can believe those things that have been spoken, as I do believe them, let him believe in Christ, and follow this old man, in whom God hath thus spoken." And so, at length, the philosopher becoming a Christian, was glad that he was thus vanquished.

Now then, all ye who are made alive to God, consider ye what the Lord requires at your hands; is it enough for you to keep pace in the ways of God, with those who are asleep, yet dead in sin? As if a man should not arise from his bed, nor set upon his work, until he sees the dead corpses in the churchyard rise out of their graves, and walk abroad. It is you that have wherewithal to serve the Lord. It is you that have your eyes opened, to see the ways and

works which he hath ordained, that ye should walk in them. It is you that have faith to rest upon him, whereby to receive an encouragement from him in his services, upon the apprehension of the crown of glory. It is you that have the spirit of prayer: it is you that have cast anchor within the vail: it is you that can see an open passage for your prayers and services to the throne of grace: it is you that have felt the fire of God to fall upon your hearts, whereby ye might offer up an acceptable sacrifice unto God, like Elijah, whilst carnal men, like the priests of Baal, may beat, cut, and force themselves, as divers of the papists do, beyond others in outward shows and needless superstitions, and yet have not one spark of fire from above, to set their offerings on fire. It is not a body of sin that will make a pleasing sacrifice unto God, but a body and soul washed by the blood of Christ.

Therefore, you to whom God hath thus given, must offer up yourselves to him; as our Saviour saith to his disciples: "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given," Matt. xiii. 11. So I say, To you it is given to pray; to you it is given to read the Scriptures, and to hear the word of God; to you it is given to meditate on the word; to you it is given to see and conceive aright of heavenly things. You have tasted of love and mercy, and therefore to you it is given to show love and mercy. Think of your talents, and of your receipts, you to whom God has given much, look what you have received, mind your account, tender his glory, whose love in all eternity was so tender to your souls above many thousand others.

SECTION XXXI.

OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF ALL INWARD AND OUTWARD MEANS, GIFTS, AND ABILITIES, BESTOWED upon us.

LET every one labour to improve all inward gifts, means, and abilities, bestowed upon them.

1. Whoever has a larger understanding, and a more searching head, than others, God requires the more of such an one: his brains should not be busied in hatching crafty and mischievous plots against God and his service, against the church of God, or against his neighbour. God did not allow that great politician, Ahithophel, to use that wit he had given him, to invent, nor his tongue which was as an oracle, to deliver a pestilent counsel against his anointed, a man after God's own heart, nor to teach the son how to kill his father. This is the height of Satan's wickedness, that whereas the Lord made him a glorious angel of light, and endued him with an admirable understanding and knowledge, he, on the other side, abuses it most wickedly to the dishonour of God his Maker, to oppose his glory, to ensnare his servants, and weaken his kingdom.

Some men have notable heads, and great apprehensions, but they fill them merely with earth; the world possesses them altogether; they are wholly busied in laying plots for gain, or in compassing and grasping more of the world than they can well rule when they have it; as if God had given them more wit than others, that they may be greater drudges and slaves to mammon than others. Some again abuse their wits in frothy jesting and scoffing at others. It is a pity that men of excellent under

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standings, should be set to dig in the mines of base employments. They should use them in searching the Scriptures, and in gathering knowledge out of the word of God, who does not require of the irrational creature that it should know his will in his word, but of man, to whom he hath given a more excellent spirit. But this is to be lamented, that men who naturally have notable understandings, quick wits, and solid judgments, are very blind and shallow in the knowledge of God's word. How will these stand before the Lord at the last day, when he shall say unto them :—“ I gave thee a great understanding, but thou knewest anything rather than me, whom thou shouldst have laboured to know above all things! How hast thou busied thy wits? Didst thou not think me worth thy knowledge and acquaintance? Thou knewest the way to thrive and get wealth, to please and get the good will of men; but didst not care to know the way to please me, to find out the way which I had ordained for thee to walk in. Thou knewest how to speak unto men, but didst not care how to call upon my name." Then wilt thou cry out:-" Oh that I had had a saving knowledge of God and his will, although all that had known me, had derided me for a fool, and contemned me for want of worldly wisdom! Oh that I had known Jesus Christ and him crucified, though I had known nothing else! Oh that I had thoroughly and spiritually have known the Scriptures, which would have made me wise unto salvation, though I had not known my right hand from my left! Woe is me, that I busied my head about trifles, and cared not to know the way of life, and everlasting peace! Alas! all my wit, my craft, my policy, now fail me; they will not serve to help

me with one excuse, whereby to shift off the wrath and justice of God; they do me no good now that I am to appear before my Judge."

Labour then for such knowledge, as may tend, some way or other, to your furtherance in godliness; and use your understandings also, to bring things about as well as you can for the promoting of God's glory for, as the Lord by his infinite wisdom defeats and brings to nought the crafty and malicious plots of Satan; so also he would have his children (to whom he hath given better understandings, and more wisdom than to others) oppose their wits against the craft of wicked men, and use their best skill to uphold religion, and to overthrow the strongholds of Satan. Thus was Hushai among all David's followers, chosen out to match Ahithophel, and to be a means to defeat his crafty counsel, and turn it into foolishness.

And as for those that have not so good natural understandings as others, yet according to their measure they must use their talent, for which they are accountable to the Lord. Even weak natural parts may be excellently perfected and bettered by grace, and raised to a higher degree than could be expected; therefore, none must give over exercising their gifts, although they cannot match some that are more excellent.

2. Again as to the memory, some men have a great gift this way. They can remember things to the admiration of others, who cannot come near them in this respect. These must glorify God according to this ability. It is your duty, O Christians, to treasure up a store of heavenly things, which you may read and hear; and be helpful to others, whose memories are not so firm and faithful; but do not