degrees; some to more advantage, some to less and although the best husbands come short of what they should do, and at best are in this respect unprofitable servants, yet if there be a faithful, conscientious, and sincere endeavour to employ that talent to their master's honour, they are accounted good Stewards; and the merits of Christ supply by faith that wherein they come short.

On the other side, some persons are unfaithful Stewards of their talents; and these are of three kinds: 1. Such as wholly misemploy their talents, turning them to the dishonour and disservice of their Lord, which they should have employed to his service; and these have a double account to make, viz. of their Talents, and of their Mis-employment. 2. Such as do not at all employ their talent; but as they do no harm, so they do no good with it these are negligent Servants, and have the single, but full account of their Talents to make. 3. Such as do make some use of their Talents, but do not produce an increase proportionable to their stock: and so, though they are not debtors for their whole Talents, yet are in arrear and grown behind-hand; and

so upon the foot of their account are found debtors to their Lord; which, without faith in Christ, and his merits coming in to make up the sum, will be enough to cast them in prison, and there keep them to eternity.

And according to these varieties of degrees, of good or bad administration, are the degrees of Reward or Punishment. He that hath administered his trust well, so that there is a great access of his improvement, hath a greater access of glory; and he that hath less surplusage upon his account, shall have the less degree of glory and on the other side, he that hath many talents, and made no improvement, his debt and punishment shall be the greater; he that hath fewer talents, his non-improvement leaves him a debtor in a less sum, and consequently subject to a less punishment.

The great Day of Account will be the great Day of Judgment, when the Lord of the families of the whole earth will call every man to his account of his stewardship here on earth: wherein we may with reverence, and for the better fastening it upon our affections, suppose the Lord thus to be speaking to all, and every particular person in the world.

THE CHARGE

"Come, ye children of men, as I have formerly made you stewards of my blessings upon earth, and committed to every one of you, that come to the use of your understanding, several talents to employ and improve to the honour and service of me your Lord and Master, so now I come to call you to render an account of your stewardship; and because you shall see the particular charge of your several receipts, whereunto you may give your answers, behold here is a schedule of the particulars with which I will charge you. Give in your particular answer how you have employed and improved them, and see you do it truly; for know, I have a control and check upon you: a control within you, your own consciences; and a control without you, my book of remembrance, wherein all your receipts, disbursements, and employments are registered.

"First, I have given unto you all your Senses; and principally those two great senses of discipline, your Sight, and your Hearing.

"Item. I have given unto you all, Understanding and Reason, to be a guide of your

actions; and to some of you, more eminent degrees thereof.

" Item. I have given you all Memory, a treasury of things past, heard, and observed.

“Item. I have given you a Conscience to direct you, and to check you in your miscarriages, and to encourage you in well-doing; and I have furnished that conscience of yours with light, and principles of truth and practice, conformable to my will.

" Item. I have laid open, to all your view, the Works of my Power and Providence, the heavens and the earth, the conspicuous administration of my wisdom and power in them.

" Item. I have delivered over to your view, my more special Providences over the children of men,-the dispensation of rewards and punishments, according to eminent deserts or demerits.

" Item. I have given you the advantage of Speech, whereby to communicate your minds one to another, and to instruct and advantage one another by the help thereof.

"Item. I have given you Time of life in this world; to some longer, to some shorter, to all a time of life, a season wherein you

might exercise those other talents I have intrusted you withal.

" Item. I have delivered over unto you the rule and Dominion over my Creatures, allowing you the use of them for your food, raiment, and other conveniencies.

" Item. Besides these common talents I have intrusted you withal, I have delivered over to you, and to you, &c. divers special and eminent Talents above others, viz. of the Mind, or such as concern you as intellectual

creatures.

1. "Great Learning and Knowledge in the works of nature, Arts and Sciences, great Prudence and Wisdom in the conduct of affairs, [Elocution,] excellent Education.

2. "Of the Body: A firm and healthy constitution, Strength, Beauty, and Comeliness.

3. "Of externals: Great affluence of Wealth and Riches; eminence of Place, and Power, and Honour; great Reputation and Esteem in the world; great Success in enterprises and undertakings, public and private; relations economical.

4. "Of things of a mixt nature: Christian and liberal Education; counsel and advice of