The Breastplate of Faith and Love

When you send a servant to market, as you give him a greater price, as you put more money into his hands, so you expect he should bring home more than another that hath a less price put into his hands: So the Lord doth with men, he sends men into the world, as men are sent to a market, he gives a larger price to some, to some he gives five talents, to some three, to some two, the Lord expects that they should bring home according to the price they have in their hands, that is, according to the might, according to the strength and opportunity he hath given them. For, you must know, that the Lord observes an exact difference between man and man. It may be, thou livest under better means than another, thou hast had better education than another, thou hast more ⟨p. 162⟩knowledge in the ways of God than another, the Lord hath helped thee more by the inward suggestions of his Spirit than another, he looks that thou shouldest bring forth more fruit than another. And so again for all other abilities and advantages: the Lord expects at our hands that we love him with all our might, otherwise, saith he, you might have given my money to the exchangers, and they would have made use of it. Mark that in the Parable of the Talents; for a man will be ready to say, if I bestow some love on the Lord, why should he exact & require the utmost, why doth he require so much at my hands? Yes, saith he, if another had this might, if another had this strength, and this opportunity that thou hast, he would have done as exchangers do, he would have brought it in with profit; so if that ability were given to another, he would make use of it: And therefore think not much, if he require it at thy hands, for there is loss if he should not. Therefore know that the Lord requires this at thy hands, it may be thou art more composed, and more disposed than another, it is nothing for thee to abstain from drinking, to abstain from swearing, because thou art framed this way by natural ingenuity, and natural temper that God hath given thee, it is not that the Lord requires no more, but that thou live soberly, free from gross sins: No, God looks for more, he requires of every man according to his strength and ability. As, you know, a child may run, and another man may ⟨p. 163⟩walk, the child takes more pains, the man less;

When you send a servant to market, as you give him a greater price, as you put more money into his hands, so you expect hee should bring home more than another that hath a lesse price put into his hands: So the Lord doth with men, hee sends men into the world, as men are sent to a market, hee gives a larger price to some, to some hee gives five talents, to some three, to some two, the Lord expects that they should bring home according to the price they have in their hands, that is, according to the might, according to the strength and opportunity he hath given them. For, you must know, that the Lord observes an exact difference betweene man and man. It may be, thou livest under better meanes than another, thou hast had better education than another, thou hast more