SERM ON V.

THE UNJUST STEWARD.

PART I.

LUKE Xvi. 8.

And the Lord commended the unjust fteward, because he had done wifely; for the children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light.

T1

HIS text is a juft inference from the preceding parable, wherein we read that a certain rich man had a fteward, in whose skill and integrity he fo much confided, that he empowered him to manage his affairs, to receive his rents, and to adjust debts. If there had been any fenfe of honour

He

honour in the fteward, if he had been well difpofed, this great truft and confidence would have enlarged his heart with affection and gratitude towards his kind master, and he would have abhorred the defign of defrauding him of his property: but as he was, on the contrary, knavishly inclined, his master's generous reliance on his fidelity, served only to tempt him to acts of treachery and fraud. He felt not the glowing warmth of gratitude and difinterested honour. knew not this great and useful truth, that honesty is the best policy; but being fully fraught with worldly cunning, he took every unfair advantage of his fituation; and in villainy he was both vigilant and industrious. But as foul deeds, like the fiery fluid in a volcano, may not always be concealed, so we read, that he was at laft (while lulled, perhaps, into unguardedness by a fuccessful course of perfidy) openly accused of having wafted his master's goods; and the accufation was so well fupported, and fo fubftantially confirmed, by incontrovertible evidence, that his lord found him guilty of the charge, and, with just indignation, he commanded him to deliver up his accounts, for

"that

that he fhould be no longer fteward." Who it was that brought this heinous charge against him, is not even hinted at in the pa rable, nor indeed is it very material. Perhaps it was fome one whom he had wronged, and it is probable that he had wronged many, for a fraudulent perfon can be just to no body perhaps he was accufed by fome vile affociate of his own, for fecrets are never kept by companions in iniquity: perhaps the neighbourhood had been witneffes of his bad conduct; and although he had, for a time, deceived his unfufpecting mafter, yet he could not escape their obfervation; who, although not particularly interested, are always very curious and inquifitive, and highly pleafed with the free communication of evil report, whether it be well or ill founded. However this might be, we read that immediately after his difmiffion from his mafter's fervice, confidering that all was now difcovered, and not caring to acknowledge his guilt in humility and forrow, nor to offer any atonement for the foul crime which he had committed, without any apparent remorfe or compunction of mind, he thought chiefly how he might ftill convert his present opportunities

to his future advantage: he confidered, that having loft his place, and confequently his accustomed livelihood, fome future means of support must be discovered: having been ufed to lead an idle life, he inftantly rejected the idea of gaining his future fubfiftence by hard labour, and his pride would not suffer him to afk alms, "I cannot dig, to beg I am ashamed.”

How aptly may thousands of persons apply these words to themselves, "I cannot dig, to beg I am ashamed:" how many inconfiderate parents bring up their children to no other real purpose than to waste their fubftance in idle-nefs and diffipation! Brought up in indolence and pride, ignorant of useful knowledge, but perhaps accomplished enough in their carriage and conversation, unused to think, unused to deny themselves any pleasure or gratification; they wander through life either as infignificants, or elfe becoming dupes to their knavifh companions who once were dupes, and who, like themselves, owed their ruin to a badly pointed education, they finish their career in a jail, or by a violent death. If we vifit the doleful prifons in this metropolis, we shall there find many unhappy young

men

men of this description, who have full reason to lament that they were not born in the wilds of Africa, rather than of Chriftian parents (in this land of liberty) who ignorantly, indeed, but effectually have contrived their ruin.

The steward, it must be observed, had reserved fomething for himself. He had ftill power in his hands, that mighty engine of corruption, by which bad men thrive, and by which the meek and lowly are oppreffed; by which folly prevails over good sense, and by which vice holds virtue in captivity. By his power, therefore, he called together his lord's debtors, and by remitting to each of them a part of the debt, he secured to himfelf their future kindness and friendship. Nay, it is probable that he endeavoured to perfuade them, that he was deprived of his place merely because of his good nature and generofity towards them. He might tell them, that he faved nothing in his service, but that he had spent all with them; and that he remitted to them a part of what they owed to his lord, because his lord was wealthy, but of a fordid and a narrow spirit; and because he regarded their interest more than his own.