The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…

and therefore then shall have no other answer, than that of our Saviour, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity; let him pay you, that set you on work. Sinners, you think that at present you have the odds and advantage of the Saints; they are Macerating themselves with Fasting, while you are pampering your selves with Feasting; they are Mourning for their Sins, while you are Pleasurably committing yours; they are Afflicted, and you are at Ease; you get the World, ⟨p. 108⟩and they lose it. But then the Tables will be turned, they will recover all their losses here, and thou lose all thy gain; their sorrows will take leave of them, never to trouble them more; but thy joys will be at end, and thy sorrows come in the room of them. In a word, they shall be comforted, and you tormented. 2. To the Saints. Walk in the view of this your reward, and make an holy improvement of it in your lives. That which is the end of our Faith, viz. Salvation, should be propounded as the end of all our actings, and have an influence into our whole course. Finis principium est omnium operationum; it should have the nature of a Direction what to do, and of a Motive to enforce, and invigorate us in all we do. As the Bird is guided by its Train, and the Ship by its Rudder, so the Christian should by his end. First, Therefore let this Glorious Reward thou seest before thee, keep thee from accepting of the rewards of sin; let them love the reward of iniquity, ⟨p. 109⟩that look not for a reward of Righteousness. Abraham would not have it said, the King of Sodom made him rich, who had God for his exceeding great reward. Moses, who had respect unto the recompense of the reward, despised the pleasures of sin for a season. It dishonoureth the Prince, when his Courtier accepts a Pension from a strange, much more from an enemy Prince. When we yield to any sin, we do what Satan tempted Christ unto, even worship and pay an homage to him. I know no Argument to repel the Enemy, more forcible, nor more honourable, than this; I will not disgrace my Masters service, the hopes I have from him, to borrow a reward from his Enemy. Some Nations are wont to sight in their richest Clothes and Jewels, to make them more valiant, by considering how great their loss would be, by falling into their Enemies hands.

and therefore then shall have no other answer, than that of our Saviour, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity; let him pay you, that set you on work. Sinners, you think that at present you have the odds and advantage of the Saints; they are Macerating themselves with Fasting, while you are pampering your selves with Feasting; they are Mourning for their Sins, while you are Pleasurably committing yours; they are Afflicted, and you are at Ease; you get the World,