Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

This is all in all therefore to consider whether the talents that we use, we use them for our Masters advantage or our own. Thou mayest do very much, thou mayest use thy talent as diligently as any man; yet if thou examine thy heart, and deal strictly with thy self, thou mayest find that, these are used for thy self and not for thy Master, which is the greatest folly in the world. For, my brethren, what do we gain when we take a great deal of pains for Christ? surely there is nothing ours, but the sincerity we do it withal. It is for other mens advantage, the most glorious and specious, works we perform, the greater they are, the more may be the profit and benefit of the Church by them: but there is nothing thine own, but thy faithfulness and sincerity in doing them.

This is all in all therefore to consider whether the talents that we use, we use them for our Masters advantage or our own. Thou mayest do very much, thou mayest use thy talent as diligently as any man; yet if thou examine thy heart, and deal strictly with thy self, thou mayest find that, these are used for thy self and not for thy Master, which is the greatest folly in the world. For, my brethren, what do we gain when we take a great deal of pains for Christ? surely there is nothing ours, but the sincerity we do it withall. It is for other mens advantage, the most glorious and specious, works we perform, the greater they are, the more may be the profit and benefit of the Church by them: but there is nothing thine own, but thy faithfulnesse and sincerity in doing them.

Therefore consider this, whether when we do any thing for Christ, we do it faithfully or no, for in this our hearts are apt to deceive us. How many are there, that pass not much for the doing of the thing so themselves may have their end? Diotrophes was willing to work with the Apostle; but it was to have the preeminence. How many great actions are overthrown for want of this faithfulness that men do not simply do that which they do, but out ⟨p. 388⟩of contention, and vain glory they do it? How many great actions I say are overthrown? So that when two men are both of them alike set to do a thing, both are willing to do the work, yet because one may not have the praise of it, the glory of it, because he may not be first, and chief in the business therefore he lets it go.