He 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; disobedience being a more henious crime in him than in others, who have not such encouragements to serve God. His obedience may be inculcated by those arguments which Joshua and Samuel did use in pressing it on the Israelites; Only (said Samuel) fear the Lord, and serve him in truth; for consider how great things God hath done for you. And, I have given you (saith God by Joshua) a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not; and ye dwell in them: of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not, do ye eat. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth.s His disodedience may be aggravated, as Nehemiah did that of the Isrealites: They took strong cities and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vinyards and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they did eat and were filled, and became fat; and delighted themselves in thy goodness: nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs-They have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness, which thou gavest them; neither turned they from their wicked works." : and useful talents intrusted to him, not to be wrapped up in a napkin or hidden under ground; not to be squandered away in private satisfactions, but for negotiation, to be put out to use, to be improved in the most advantageous way to God's service. Every talent doth require a particular care and pains to manage it well. He particularly is God's steward, intrusted with God's substance for the sustenance and supply of God's family; to relieve his fellow-servants in their need, upon seasonable occasions, by hospitality, mercy, and charitable beneficence; according to that intimation of our Lord, Who is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion and meat in due season ? And according to those apostolical precepts, As every one hath received a gift (or special favour), even so minister the same to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God: and, Charge the rich in this world,--that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.' And he that is obliged to purvey for so many, and so to abound in good works, how can he want business? how can he pretend to a writ of ease? Surely that gentleman is very blind, and very barren of invention, who is to seek for work fit for him, or cannot easily discern many employments belonging to him, of great concern and consequence. It is easy to prompt and show him many businesses, indispensably belonging to him, as such. A gentleman hath more talents committed to him, and consequently more It is his business to minister relief to employment required of him if a rustic his poor neighbours, in their wants and labourer, or a mechanic artisan, hath one distresses, by his wealth. It is his busitalent, a gentleman hath ten; he hath in-ness to direct and advise the ignorant, to nate vigour of spirit, and height of cour- comfort the afflicted, to reclaim the wickage fortified by use; he hath accomplish-ed, and encourage the good, by his wisment and refinement of parts by liberal education; he hath the succours of parentage, alliance, and friendship; he hath wealth, he hath honour, he hath power and authority, he hath command of time and leisure; he hath so many precious 1 Sam. xii. 24; Josh. xxiv. 13, 14. h Nehem. ix. 25, &c.; (Isa. Ixiii. 10; Psal. evi. 6; Jer. ii. 7; Ezek. xvi. 7; 1 Sam. xv. 17; 2 Sam. xii. 7; 1 Kings xvi. 26.) dom. It is his business to protect the weak, to rescue the oppressed, to ease those who groan under heavy burdens, by his power; to be such a gentleman, and so employed, as Job was; who did i Luke xix. 20; Matt. xxv. 25. 1 Πραγματεύσασθε, Luke xix. 13; Εργάζεσθαι, Matt. xxv. 16, 27, 14. * Παρέδωκε τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ,—Luke xii. 42. 1 Xápiopa,-1 Pet. iv. 10; 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18. not eat his morsel alone, so that the fath- | excel, and bear himself above the vulgar erless did not eat thereof; who did not level, no less in real inward worth, than withhold the poor from their desire, or in exterior garb; that he be not a gentlecause the eyes of the widow to fail; who man merely in name or show. did not see any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; who delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. It is his business to be hospitable; kind and helpful to strangers; following those noble gentlemen, Abraham and Lot, who were so ready to invite and entertain strangers with bountiful courtesy." It is his business to maintain peace, and appease dissensions among his neighbours, interposing his counsel and authority in order thereto whereto he hath that brave gentleman, Moses, recommended for his pattern." It is his business (and that no slight or easy business) to eschew the vices, to check the passions, to withstand the temptations, to which his condition is liable taking heed that his wealth, honour, and power do not betray him unto pride, insolence, or contempt of his poorer brethren; unto injustice or oppression; unto luxury and riotous excess; unto sloth, stupidity, forgetfulness of God, and irreligious profaneness. It is a business especially incumbent on him to be careful of his ways, that they may have good influence on others, who are apt to look upon him as their guide and pattern. It is his business to promote the wel- He should labour and study to be a fare and prosperity of his country with leader unto virtue, and a notable promothis best endeavours, and by all his inter-er thereof; directing and exciting men est; in which practice the sacred history doth propound divers gallant gentlemen (Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Nehemiah, Daniel, Mordecai, and all such renowned patriots) to guide him." It is his business to govern his family well; to educate his children in piety and virtue; to keep his servants in good order." It is his business to look to his estate, and to keep it from wasting; that he may sustain the repute of his person and quality with decency; that he may be furnished with ability to do good, may provide well for his family, may be hospitable, may have wherewith to help his brethren; for if, according to St. Paul's injunction, a man should work with his own hands, that he may have somewhat to impart to him that needeth," then must he that hath an estate be careful to preserve it, for the same good purpose. It is his business to cultivate his mind with knowledge, with generous dispositions, with all worthy accomplishments befitting his condition, and qualifying him for honourable action; so that he may Job xxxi. 17, 16, 19; xxix 12. thereto by his exemplary conversation; encouraging them by his countenance and authority; rewarding the goodness of meaner people by his bounty and favour: he should be such a gentleman as Noah, who preached righteousness by his words and works before a profane world. Such particular affairs hath every person of quality, credit, wealth, and interest, allotted to him by God, and laid on him as duties; the which to discharge faithfully, will enough employ a man, and doth require industry, much care, much pains; excluding sloth and negligence: so that it is impossible for a sluggard to be a worthy gentlemen, virtuously disposed, a charitable neighbour, a good patriot, a good husband of his estate; any thing of that, to which God, by setting him in such a station, doth call him. Thus is a gentleman obliged to industry in respect of God, who justly doth exact those labours of piety, charity, and all virtue, from him. Further, 2. He hath also obligations to mankind, demanding industry from him, upon accounts of common humanity, equi 1 Pet. iv. 9; Heb. xiii. 2; Rom. xii. 13; ty, and ingenuity; for Gen xviii. 1; xix. 1. • Exod. ii. 13; Acts vii. 26. P (Judges v. 9.) Josh. xxiv. 15; Psal. ci. * Μεταδιδόναι,Eph. iv. 28. How can he fairly subsist upon the common industry of mankind, without * Ardua nam res est opibus non tradere mores. bearing a share thereof? How can he | honour, for the sake of public order, may well satisfy himself to dwell statelily, to be due to an exterior rank or title: but to feed daintily, to be finely clad, to main-pay this, is not to honour the person, but tain a pompous retinue, merely upon the his title; because it is supposed, that men sweat and toil of others, without himself of real worth and use do bear it; or lest, rendering a compensation, or making by refusing it to one, the whole order some competent returns of care and pain, may seem disrespected: but yet true redounding to the good of his neighbour? honour, or mental esteem, is not due upHow can he justly claim, or reasona- on such accounts; nor is it possible to bly expect from the world, the respect render it unto any person, who doth not agreeable to his rank, if he doth not by by worthy qualities and good deeds apworthy performances conduce to the ben-pear to merit it. efit of it? Can men be obliged to regard those, from whom they receive no good? If no gentleman be tied to serve the public, or to yield help in sustaining the common burdens, and supplying the needs of mankind, then is the whole order merely a burden, and an offence to the world; a race of drones, a pack of ciphers, in the commonwealth, standing for nothing, deserving no consideration or regard and if any are bound, then all are; for why should the whole burden lie on some, while others are exempted? It is indeed supposed that all are bound thereto, seeing that all have recompenses publicly allowed to them upon such considerations; divers respects and privileges peculiar to the order, grounded upon this supposition, that they deserve such advantages by conferring notable benefit to the public; the which indeed it were an arrogance to seek, and an iniquity to accept, for doing nothing. It is an insufferable pride for any man to pretend or conceit himself to differ so much from his brethren, that he may be allowed to live in ease and sloth, while the rest of mankind are subject to continual toil and trouble. Moreover, 3. A gentleman is bound to be industrious for his own sake; it is a duty which he oweth to himself, to his honour, to his interest, to his welfare. He can not without industry continue like himself, or maintain the honour and repute becoming his quality and state, or secure himself from contempt and disgrace; for to be honourable and slothful are things inconsistent, seeing honour doth not grow, nor can subsist, without undertaking worthy designs, constantly pursuing them, and happily achieving them; it is the fruit and reward of such actions, which are not performed with ease. External respect and a semblance of Nor can a gentleman without industry uphold his real interests against the attempts of envy, of treachery, of flattery, of sycophantry, of avarice, to which his condition is obnoxious: to preserve his wealth and estate, which are the sup ports of his quality, he must endure care and pains; otherwise he will by greedy harpies and crafty lurchers be rifled or cozened of his substance; it will of itself go to wreck, and be embezzled by negli gence. He cannot without industry guard his personal welfare from manifold inconveniences, molestations, and mischief; idleness itself will be very troublesome and irksome to him. His time will lie upon his hands, as a pestering incumbrance. His mind will be infested with various distractions and distempers; vain and sad thoughts, foul lusts, and unquiet passions will spring up therein, as weeds in a neglected soil. His body will languish and become destitute of health, of vigour, of activity, for want of due exercise. All the mischiefs, which naturally do spring from sloth and stupidity will seize upon him. 4. Thus, upon various accounts, a gentleman is engaged to business, and concerned to exercise industry therein: we may add, that indeed the very nature of gentility, or the true notion of a gentleman, doth imply so much. For what, I pray, is a gentleman, what properties hath he, what qualities are characteristical or peculiar to him, whereby he is distinguished from others, and raised above the vulgar? Are they not especially two, courage and courtesy ? which he that wanteth, is not otherwise than equivocally a gentleman, as an image or a carcass is a man; without which, gentility in a conspicuous degree is no more than a vain show or an empty name: and these plainly do involve in- | heir of all things, all the world being at dustry, do exclude slothfulness; for cour- his disposal; yea, infinitely more, age doth prompt boldly to undertake, and being in his power with a word to create resolutely to despatch great enterprises whatever he would to serve his need or and employments of difficulty: it is not satisfy his pleasure; omnipotency being seen in a flaunting garb,or strutting deport- his treasure and supply; he had a retinue ment; not in hectorly, ruffian-like swag- of angels to wait on him, and minister to gering or huffing; not in high looks or him; whatever sufficiency any man can big words; but in stout and gallant deeds, fancy to himself to dispense with his takemploying vigour of mind and heart to ing pains, that had he in a far higher de achieve them: how can a man otherwise gree: yet did he find work for himself, approve himself for courageous, than by and continually was employed in persignalizing himself in such a way? forming service to God, and imparting benefits to men; nor was ever industry exercised upon earth comparable to his. And for courtesy, how otherwise can it be well displayed than in sedulous activity for the good of men? It surely doth not consist in modish forms of address, or complimental expressions, or hollow professions, commonly void of meaning or of sincerity; but in real performances of beneficence, when occasion doth invite, and in waiting for opportunities to do good; the which practice is accompanied with some care and pain, adding a price to it; for an easy courtesy is therefore small, because easy, and may be deemed to proceed rather from ordinary humanity, than from gentle disposition; so that, in fine, he alone doth appear truly a gentleman, who hath the heart to undergo hard tasks for public good, and willingly taketh pains to oblige his neighbours and friends. 5. The work indeed of gentlemen is not so gross, but it may be as smart and painful as any other. For all hard work is not manual; there are other instruments of action beside the plough, the spade, the hammer, the shuttle: nor doth every work produce sweat, and visible tiring of body: the head may work hard in contrivance of good design; the tongue may be very active in dispensing advice, persuasion, comfort, and edification in virtue; a man may bestir himself in going about to do good: these are works employing the cleanly industry of a gentleman. Gentlemen, therefore, would do well to make him the pattern of their life, to whose industry they must be beholden for their salvation: in order whereto we recommend them to his grace. SERMON LIV. OF INDUSTRY IN OUR PARTICULAR CALLING, AS SCHOLARS. ROM. xii. 11.-Not slothful in business. I PROCEED to the other sort of persons, whom we did propound, namely, II. Scholars; and that on them particularly great engagements do lie to be industrious, is most evident from various considerations. The nature and design of this calling doth suppose industry; the matter and extent of it doth require industry; the worth of it doth highly deserve industry. We are, in special gratitude to God, in charity to men, in due regard to ourselves, bound unto it. 1. First, I say, the nature and design of our calling doth suppose industry: There is (saith the divine Preacher) a man whose labour is in wisdom, in knowledge, and in equity. Such men are scholars; so that we are indeed no scholars, but absurd usurpers of the name, if we are not laborious; for what is a scholar, but one who retireth his person, and avocateth his mind from other occupations, and worldly entertainments, that he may ozoláce, vacare studiis, employ his mind and leisure on study and learn 6. In such works it was, that the truest and greatest pattern of gentility that ever was, did employ himself. Who was that? Even our Lord himself; for he had no particular trade or profession: no man can be more loose from any engagement to the world than he was; no man had less need of business or pains-taking than he; for he had a vast estate, being ⚫ Isa. liii. 11. • Eccles. ii. 21. perfluous humours, opening distributing nourishment, excil heat barring the use of it, no stitution of soul or body can st a foul rust, a dull numbness, a lessness, a heavy unwieldiness, on us; our spirits will be choked, our hearts will grov languid, our parts will flag a the vigour of our mind and th our body will be much impai It is with us as with other t ture, which by motion are their native purity and perfec sweetness, in their lustre, res debasing, and defiling them. runneth, it holdeth clear, swe but stagnation turneth it i puddle if the air be fann it is pure and wholesome; ing shut up, it groweth thi if metals be employed, the and splendid; but lay ther soon contract rust: if the boured with culture, it yiel lying neglected, it will with brakes and thistles ; its soil is, the ranker w duce all nature is uphe order, and state, by co every creature is inces in action conformable t and use; in like manne and improvement of ou on their constant exer 3. As we naturall so by divine appointr inally designed for in intend that man sho his best state, or sh without taking pa work enough even the Lord God (sa and put him into dress it and to continued happy * Πάντα γὰρ ἡ τος αὐτὰ, &c. Chr Πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ Ibid. + Ποῖος ἵππος νος ; ποία ναῦς, τὸ τρέχον, ἢ τὸ ἐργαζόμενος, ότ Neglecti Hor. Ser. i. 3, edit. Step d Gen. ii. ir the pube arrogance 1: e- It is up 5 p * the rest of mate'NE ATE STI 3. A gentemar S DOUN 2 not without industry come bi'verdal rempoot and a sembl |