A Body of Practical Divinity

Use 2. It reproves such, 1. as bring no Glory to God: They do not answer the End of their Creation, their time is not true lived, but time lost; they are like the Wood of the Vine, Ezek. 15.2. Their Lives are as St. Bernard speaks, Aut peccatum aut sterilitas; Either Sinfulness or Barrenness. Telluris inutile pondus:—God will one day ask such a question as King Ahasuerus did, Esther 6.3. What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai? So will the Lord say, What honour hath been done to me? What Revenues of Glory have you brought into my Exchequer? There is none here present, but God hath put you in some Capacity of glorifying him; the Health he hath given you, the Parts, Estate, Seasons of Grace, these all are Opportunities put into your hand to glorify him; and be assured God will call you to account to know what you have done with the Mercies he hath entrusted you with, and what Glory you have brought to him: The Parable of the Talents, Matth. 25.15. where the Man with the five Talents, and the two Talents are brought to a Reckoning, doth evidently show that God will call you to a strict Account to know how you have traded with your Talents, and what Glory you have brought to him. Now how sad will it be with them that hide their talent in a napkin, that bring God no Glory at all; Verse 30. Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. It is not enough for you to say, that you have not dishonoured God, you have not lived in gross Sin; but what Good have you done, what Glory have you brought to God? It is not enough for the Servant of the Vineyard, that he doth no hurt in the Vineyard, he doth not break the Trees, or destroy the Hedges, if he doth not do service in the Vineyard, he looseth his Pay: If you do not good in your Place, not glorify God, you will lose your Pay, miss of Salvation. Oh think of this all you that live Unserviceably! Christ cursed the barren Fig-tree.

Use 2. It reproves such, 1. as bring no Glory to God: They do not answer the End of their Creation, their time is not true lived, but time lost; they are like the Wood of the Vine, Ezek. 15.2. Their Lives are as St. Bernard speaks, Aut peccatum aut sterilitas; Either Sinfulness or Barrenness. Telluris inutile pondus:—God will one day ask such a question as King Ahasuerus did,