The crucifying of the world

And as for the improvement of their talents for God, What is ⟨p. 90⟩to be seen? What self-seeking and unprofitable servants are they? They will confess that they have all from God, and that all is due to him again: but it is but a self-condemning Confession. How many charitable and pious uses do call aloud for much of their estates? but how little of it is so expended. Now and then two pence or a groat to the poor is a great matter with them and the wealthy can come off with the quantity of the widows mite. Let God call, and Ministers call, and the poor call and cry for it, all cannot extort their Idol out of their purses: So fast do they hold their money, that scarce any thing but thieves, or soldiers, or death can wring it out of their hands. But so loose do they hold spiritual good which they seem to mind, that if a Seducer cannot easily tice them from it, or a derision shame them from it, yet at least a good bargain for the world can hire them from it, and the frowns of men in power, or the change of the times can affright them from it. Long will it be ere they will go from house to house through the Parish, and see what poor want clothing, what children want means to set them to trades, and what families want Bibles and other Books that may promote their salvation, and go as far as they are able in procuring them, and set their friends a work where their own ability is too short. O the disproportion that there is between the verbal service, and the more costly service of worldly Hypocritical professors. How far do their formal duties exceed their charitable communications and distributions! Most commonly the world doth cut short even these their Religious actions. They can scarce find time to be constant in worshipping God in their families, or in secret; in instructing and exhorting their children and servants; there is some business to be done, or some gain to be got; or while they seem to be deepest in their devotions, their thoughts run after their covetousness, and it is one God that hath their tongues, and another that hath their hearts.

And as for the improvement of their talents for God, What is ⟨p. 90⟩to be seen? What self-seeking and unprofitable servants are they? They will confess that they have all from God, and that all is due to him again: but it is but a self-condemning Confession. How many charitable and pious uses do call aloud for much of their estates? but how little of it is so expended. Now and then two pence or a groat to the poor is a great matter with them and the wealthy can come off with the quantity of the widows mite. Let God call, and Ministers call, and the poor call and cry for it, all cannot extort their Idol out of their purses: So fast do they hold their money, that scarce any thing but thieves, or souldiers, or death can wring it out of their hands. But so loose do they hold spiritual good which they seem to mind, that if a Seducer cannot easily tice them from it, or a derision shame them from it, yet at least a good bargain for the world can hire them from it, and the frowns of men in power, or the change of the times can affright them from it. Long will it be ere they will go from house to house through the Parish, and see what poor want cloathing, what children want means to set them to trades, and what families want Bibles and other Books that may promote their salvation, and go as far as they are able in procuring them, and set their friends a work where their own ability is too short. O the disproportion that there is between the verball service, and the more costly service of worldly Hypocriticall professors. How far do their formal duties exceed their charitable communications and distributions! Most commonly the world doth cut short even these their Religious actions. They can scarce find time to be constant in worshipping God in their families, or in secret; in instructing and exhorting their children and servants; there is some business to be done, or some gain to be got; or while they seem to be deepest in their devotions, their thoughts run after their covetousness, and it is one God that hath their tongues, and another that hath their hearts.