3. Let us be always bearing fruit. That's the way to bear much fruit. He that bea•s fruit every day, will at last bear much fruit. A Christian should not let one day pass, without some good. And therefore it is good for a man, as duly as the day passeth over his head, when night cometh, to call himself to an account before he goeth to sleep, and to ask, Where have I been this day? How have I spent my time this day? Have I gained any spiritual good to my self, or done any good to others this day? Thus do, and if upon Examination, you find that your time has been spent unprofitably, Oh fall down and mourn in the presence of God, and say, Alas O Lord, I have lost a day! I have read of a great Moralist, that would do not much less than this comes to. How much more should a Christian be careful to spend his time well every day! And he should endeavour to do good wherewherever ⟨p. 119⟩he cometh. He may do good in whatever place he shall be. If he be in Company with others, he may do good with his Tongue. Some have said concerning Dr. Preston, that he was the most fruitful Christian in the world in that respect. He would upon all occasions set on foot Edifying Discourse, either something that should tend to promote Knowledge, or should be helpful as to the practical part of Christianity. Or, If a man be alone; he may do good with his head and heart, he may be contriving for God's glory. He may be often thinking with himself, What shall I do for God? Is there nothing that I may yet do for God and His people, more than I have hitherto done? Yea, a Christian should endeavour so to walk, as that all he does may be fruit unto God. Therefore holy Thoughts of GOD should be still running in his mind. I could name a man to you, that could say, For the space of these ten years, excepting when I have been asleep, Thoughts of God •ave not been out of my heart a quarter of an hour together. We should have thoughts of God, in our Eating, Drinking, Buying, Selling, and in all that we do. And explicit aymings at His Glory, should be in our hearts and thoughts very frequently every day. So will ⟨p. 120⟩all that we do become fruit, and then we shall bear much fruit.
3. Let us be alwaies bearing fruit. That's the way to bear much fruit. He that bea•s fruit every day, will at last bear much fruit. A Christian should not let one day pass, without some good. And therefore it is good for a man, as duly as the day passeth over his head, when night cometh, to call himself to an account before he goeth to sleep, and to ask, Where have I been this day? How have I spent my time this day? Have I gained any spiritual good to my self, or done any good to others this day? Thus doe, and if upon Examination, you find that your time has been spent unprofitably, Oh fall down and mourn in the presence of God, and say, Alas O Lord, I have lost a day! I have read of a great Moralist, that would doe not much less than this comes to. How much more should a Christian be careful to spend his time well every day! And he should endeavour to doe good wherewherever ⟨p. 119⟩he cometh. He may doe good in whatever place he shall be. If he be in Company with others, he may doe good with his Tongue. Some have said concerning Dr. Preston, that he was the most fruitful Christian in the world in that respect. He would upon all occasions set on foot Edifying Discourse, either something that should tend to promote Knowledge, or should be helpful as to the practical part of Christianity. Or, If a man be alone; he may do good with his head and heart, he may be contriving for God's glory. He may be often thinking with himself, What shall I doe for God? Is there nothing that I may yet doe for God and His people, more than I have hitherto done? Yea, a Christian should endeavour so to walk, as that all he does may be fruit unto God. Therefore holy Thoughts of GOD should be still running in his mind. I could name a man to you, that could say, For the space of these ten years, excepting when I have been asleep, Thoughts of God •ave not been out of my heart a quarter of an hour together. We should have thoughts of God, in our Eating, Drinking, Buying, Selling, and in all that we doe. And explicit aymings at His Glory, should be in our hearts and thoughts very frequently every day. So will ⟨p. 120⟩all that we do become fruit, and then we shall bear much fruit.
