SERMON XI.

LUKE, xvi. 2.

GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF THY STEWARDSHIP; FOR THOU MAY EST BE NO LONGER STEWARD.

THIS verse is taken from one of our Saviour's parables, in which he introduces the master of a family calling an unjust steward to an account. I shall not however enter into the particular intention of the parable; but confine my discourse to the single circumstance mentioned in the text, Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward.-These words I shall consider in an enlarged sense; and shall endeavour to shew you first, that we should all consider ourselves in the light of stewards to our heavenly Master; and secondly, that we should all act faithfully, as we must give an account of our stewardships.

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IN the first place, we should all consider ourselves in the light of stewards to our heavenly Master. A steward is a person appointed to manage affairs, in which he hself has no property; but must give an account of the management of them to the person who appoints him. In this sense then, according to the scripture account, we are all stewards to God Almighty. We have no property, we know, in any of the things we enjoy; but enjoy them merely on the good-will and sufferance of our heavenly Master, who expects an account of our several trusts. Let us then see what those things are, which are intrusted to us, and of which we must give an account.

Our

In the first place, we should consider ourselves as stewards of our time, not a moment of which is our own. What belongs to God therefore we should use as God directs. time is intrusted to us by our great Master; and he hath given us directions how to employ it properly in working out our own salvation, and in being of service to others. These are the great ends for which our time is intrusted to us, Like good stewards therefore we should endeavour, in the general employment of our time, that is, when it is not necessarily engaged in the

matters

matters of this world, to have one or other of these ends in view.

Again, we should consider the goods of for tune, as they are called-that is, such possessions as God hath given us, or enabled us to procure, in the same light. No man, according to the scripture account, can be said to have a property in any of these things. How can we call any thing our own, of which we may be deprived in a moment? They are all intrusted to us by God; and we are therefore only stewards of them. Some people are rich, and are stewards and are of large possessions. But even they who have the least, will find themselves much mistaken, if they suppose they have no trust committed to them. They should remember him, who had only one talent. His great Master did not expect from him the improvement of ten talents; but certainly the improvement of one. In short, whether God intrusts us with more, or Jess, is not the, question; but whether we are good stewards of what we are intrusted with; and of this God will be the judge; and we shall be the sufferers, if we are found to have neglected

qur trusts.

Our different stations in life, which furnish us with different means of being of use, are all

count how we have acted in these several tions. The magistrate, the clergyman, lawyer, the merchant, the husbandman, every one else, has his proper duty, and ad a steward under God.-Among these trusts, of masters of families is a most important The care of servants, and of children, is cert one of the greatest trusts of which we must

an account.

Then again our reason, which contribut much to the government of our lives-whi capable of such use, and abuse, and is the distinction between man and the inferior pa the creation, ought surely to be considered very great trust.

Our passions and appetites should be dered in the same light. They are all giv for useful purposes; though, if neglected suffered to run wild, they will lead us into mischief. We are to consider them theref a kind of wastes, of which we are app stewards. With care they may be impro

great advantage; but without proper cultivation they will infallibly be overrun with destructive weeds.

We are accountable also for our health and strength that is, for the vigour of our bodies, as well as of our minds. If God visit us with sickness, or give us an infirm constitution, we must bear it with resignation, and make the best of it. But if God hath blessed us with health and strength, we ought to consider these blessings as trusts, and ourselves as the stewards of those trusts, in using them to the best advantage.

Lastly, we should consider ourselves as the stewards of the various opportunities, which God is continually throwing in our way, of being of service to ourselves, and others. He gives us frequent opportunities of improving ourselves in religion by going to church-by reading the scriptures-by conversing with good people, and profiting by their example. He gives us frequent opportunities also of doing little friendly offices to our neighbours. All these opportunities of every kind we should consider as a part of our stewardship, and not as things of course. We should be upon the watch to improve them to advantage.