There is a third sort, who have strength to do service, and they have also will to do it; they have will, and they have strength, but they want an opportunity to do service. This may be the case of a good man, who is like the labouring Ox; A good man hath always a will to work, and may have strength for his work too, yet many times wants work. As they in the Parable (Mat. 20.6, 7.) answered when questioned, Why stand ye all the day idle? It was not (so they excused themselves) because they had no will to work, or had no strength to work; but (say they) No man hath hired us; we have not been called to work, we know not where to have a days work. Such there are, who have will and strength, while they want a call. Thus the Apostle spake concerning the Philippians (Chap. 4.10.) Ye were careful, but ye lacked opportunity. The door was not open, and so ye could not do what ye desired, and had both a mind and an ability to do. The point in hand leadeth us to the middle sort of persons (truly shadowed by the Unicorn) who though they have much strength to do service, ⟨p. 372⟩yet they have no mind to serve, but hide their Talent in a Napkin, and put their Candle under a Bushel: These are not to be trusted, though they are well furnished. I may say to any man concerning such men, as the Lord to Job, concerning the Unicorn; Wilt thou trust them, because their strength is great? because their strength of mind, their strength of body, their strength of estate is great? Can we trust all rich men that they will do works of charity, because their estate is great? Can we trust all healthy men, who have sound and able limbs, that they will take pains, because their bodily strength is great? Can we trust all knowing men, who have quick parts, and excellent gifts, much knowledge, that they will go through with their work, because the strength of their minds is great? We can hardly find any to trust, what strength soever they have, but those who have received strength of grace from God, and so have strength of faith in God, strength of love, strength of affections to God, strength of zeal for God. And even they who have strength of grace, may fail their trust very much (Job 4.18.) Behold he put no trust in his Servants, and his Angels he charged with folly. The Lord could not be confident of Angels, who are mighty, in strength.
There is a third sort, who have strength to do service, and they have also will to do it; they have will, and they have strength, but they want an opportunity to do service. This may be the case of a good man, who is like the labouring Ox; A good man hath alwayes a will to work, and may have strength for his work too, yet many times wants work. As they in the Parable (Mat. 20.6, 7.) answered when questioned, Why stand ye all the day idle? It was not (so they excused themselves) because they had no will to work, or had no strength to work; but (say they) No man hath hired us; we have not been called to work, we know not where to have a dayes work. Such there are, who have will and strength, while they want a call. Thus the Apostle spake concerning the Philippians (Chap. 4.10.) Ye were careful, but ye lacked opportunity. The dore was not open, and so ye could not do what ye desired, and had both a mind and an ability to do. The point in hand leadeth us to the middle sort of persons (truly shaddowed by the Unicorn) who though they have much strength to do service, ⟨p. 372⟩yet they have no mind to serve, but hide their Talent in a Napkin, and put their Candle under a Bushel: These are not to be trusted, though they are well furnished. I may say to any man concerning such men, as the Lord to Job, concerning the Unicorn; Wilt thou trust them, because their strength is great? because their strength of mind, their strength of body, their strength of estate is great? Can we trust all rich men that they will do works of charity, because their estate is great? Can we trust all healthy men, who have sound and able limbes, that they will take pains, because their bodily strength is great? Can we trust all knowing men, who have quick parts, and excellent gifts, much knowledge, that they will go through with their work, because the strength of their minds is great? We can hardly find any to trust, what strength soever they have, but those who have received strength of grace from God, and so have strength of faith in God, strength of love, strength of affections to God, strength of zeal for God. And even they who have strength of grace, may fail their trust very much (Job 4.18.) Behold he put no trust in his Servants, and his Angels he charged with folly. The Lord could not be confident of Angels, who are mighty, in strength.
