2. Branch of this copulate Axiom, is, From him that hath not, shall be taken away, even that which he hath. As he that had one Talent, but had it not for his Master's Use, is counted and reckoned as though he had none. We have not what we have, if we use it not well; as we say of a covetous Man, Avaro tam deest quod habet, quàm quod non habet. 'Tis as if we had it not: idle Gifts and Habits lie dead and useless. In Luke 'tis, Chap. 8.18. And from whomsoever hath not, shall be taken that which he seemeth to have. He maketh no use of his Gifts, but lets them lie idle, as if he had not had them. Of Grace and Righteousness the Proposition holdeth most true; of Reprobates their Grace and Righteousness is but a Pretension: of other Gifts which they have, they have them not for use, for the Lord's Service; and so, in effect, they have them not: Therefore, they shall be taken from them; that is, they lose their Reward. Ezek. 33.13. If he trust in his Righteousness, and commit Iniquity, all his Righteousness shall not be remembered. 2 John 8. Look to your selves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought; but that we receive a full Reward. Gal. 3.4. Have you suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain. Men may suffer many things for the Truth, who afterward make foul Defection from it; but all is vain, lost, and to no purpose, as to any thing that can be expected from God. The Nazarite was to begin again, if he had defiled himself in the days of his Separation, Numb. 6.12. Thus for their putative Righteousness, for other common Gifts which they really have, they shall be deprived of all the real Benefit, which otherwise they might have had, if they had laid them out for the Glory of God, their own Salvation, and the good of their Neighbours.
2. Branch of this copulate Axiome, is, From him that hath not, shall be taken away, even that which he hath. As he that had one Talent, but had it not for his Master's Use, is counted and reckoned as though he had none. We have not what we have, if we use it not well; as we say of a covetous Man, Avaro tam deest quod habet, quàm quod non habet. 'Tis as if we had it not: idle Gifts and Habits lie dead and useless. In Luke 'tis, Chap. 8.18. And from whomsoever hath not, shall be taken that which he seemeth to have. He maketh no use of his Gifts, but lets them lie idle, as if he had not had them. Of Grace and Righteousness the Proposition holdeth most true; of Reprobates their Grace and Righteousness is but a Pretension: of other Gifts which they have, they have them not for use, for the Lord's Service; and so, in effect, they have them not: Therefore, they shall be taken from them; that is, they lose their Reward. Ezek. 33.13. If he trust in his Righteousness, and commit Iniquity, all his Righteousness shall not be remembred. 2 John 8. Look to your selves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought; but that we receive a full Reward. Gal. 3.4. Have you suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain. Men may suffer many things for the Truth, who afterward make foul Defection from it; but all is vain, lost, and to no purpose, as to any thing that can be expected from God. The Nazarite was to begin again, if he had defiled himself in the dayes of his Separation, Numb. 6.12. Thus for their putative Righteousness, for other common Gifts which they really have, they shall be deprived of all the real Benefit, which otherwise they might have had, if they had laid them out for the Glory of God, their own Salvation, and the good of their Neighbours.
