Fourthly, faithfulness is exercised in the conscionable employment of the Gifts, Graces and Talents received in our general calling, to Gods glory, the increase of our gifts, and the enriching of our souls ⟨p. 11⟩with true spiritual gain. And thus he is said to be a good Servant and faithful,1 that having received five Talents, hath gained with them five moe, or two Talents and doth gain two moe, and this we do, when having received Knowledge, Faith, Love, Hope, Patience, Spirit of Prayer, &c. we do by a constant and daily practise bring them out into exercise for our selves and for others. Thus doing, two commodities we shall reap: first, it is a sign of our faithfulness: secondly, the gifts will increase, and to him that hath such gifts to use them, shall be more given. Lastly, faithfulness shows §5it self in mens sincerity, diligence, constancy, and care to promote and further the causes of God, and the Church, with the conscionable discharge of all such duties as belong unto such service. Thus Timothy is praised to be faithful in the Lord, 21 Cor. 4 17. And thus the Apostle and Apostolical men were faithful, when they could do nothing against the truth, but for the truth:3 and thus men are faithful that can patiently bear and willingly take up the Cross of Christ,4 and that daily; so as they may further the building up, and edification of Gods people. Those then are not faithful that do the work of the Lord negligently, that set their hands to the plough and look back, that mind their own things, honours, pleasures, profits, and preferments, and those that in the time of temptation fall away: these specialties of faithfulness receive a great increase of praise if two things come to them: first, that mens hearts be faithful; that is, that though they have many wants and infirmities, and fail much and often in well-doing, yet the desire, delight, endeavour, resolution and affection is in all pleasing and firmness to walk before God, without either hypocrisy or presumption: this was Abraham's praise,5 Nehem. 9.8. Secondly, that men continue faithful unto the death, with all constancy and holy perseverance, believing in Christ, and worshipping GOD, even to the end of their days, this is called for,6 and crowned, Revel. 2.11. Thus of faithfulness in spiritual things.
Fourthly, faithfulnesse is exercised in the conscionable imployment of the Gifts, Graces and Talents receiued in our generall calling, to Gods glory, the increase of our gifts, and the inriching of our soules ⟨p. 11⟩with true spirituall gaine. And thus hee is said to be a good Seruant and faithfull,1 that hauing receiued fiue Talents, hath gained with them fiue moe, or two Talents and doth gaine two moe, and this we doe, when hauing receiued Knowledge, Faith, Loue, Hope, Patience, Spirit of Prayer, &c. wee doe by a constant and daily practise bring them out into exercise for our selues and for others. Thus doing, two commodities wee shall reape: first, it is a signe of our faithfulnesse: secondly, the gifts will increase, and to him that hath such gifts to vse them, shall be more giuen. Lastly, faithfulnesse shewes §5it selfe in mens sinceritie, diligence, constancie, and care to promote and further the causes of God, and the Church, with the conscionable discharge of all such duties as belong vnto such seruice. Thus Timothy is praysed to be faithfull in the Lord, 21 Cor. 4 17. And thus the Apostle and Apostolicall men were faithfull, when they could doe nothing against the truth, but for the truth:3 and thus men are faithfull that can patiently beare and willingly take vp the Crosse of Christ,4 and that daily; so as they may further the building vp, and edification of Gods people. Those then are not faithfull that doe the worke of the Lord negligently, that set their hands to the plough and looke backe, that minde their owne things, honours, pleasures, profits, and preferments, and those that in the time of temptation fall away: these specialties of faithfulnesse receiue a great increase of prayse if two things come to them: first, that mens hearts be faithfull; that is, that though they haue many wants and infirmities, and fayle much and often in well-doing, yet the desire, delight, endeauour, resolution and affection is in all pleasing and firmenesse to walke before God, without eyther hypocrisie or presumption: this was Abrahams prayse,5
- 1Mat. 25.21.23
- 21 Cor. 4.17.
- 32 Cor. 11.8.
- 4Luke 9.23.
- 5Nehem. 9.8.
- 6Reu. 2.11.
