and all thefe Things shall be added unto you. Upon whofe Authority likewife St. Paul tells us, that Godliness has the Promife of the Life that now is, and of that which is to come. Nay, farther, there is great Reason to think, that God often bleffes the honeft Endeavours of the Virtuous in this World: But then there is no Appearance that the Rules of Justice are at all concerned in fuch Dispenfations; for the Righteous often fuffer, nay, under the Gospel they are called to suffer; for which Reason the Invitation to us is, To take up our Cross, and follow Chrift. But, to come to the Point of Rewards and Punishments, the Parable of the Tares in the thirteenth of St. Matthew is decifive. The Meaning of which Parable our Saviour has expounded: It represents to us the State of the World, in which the Good and Bad flourish together; and though Men ceafe not to call upon God for a Diftinction to be made between them, yet He, who seeth not as Man fees, has otherwise determined. this World he permits them to flourish and live together; but the Time is coming, that great Harvest of the World is approaching, when a full Distinction shall be made; when In the the Wicked shall be caft into a Furnace of Fire, and the Righteous fhine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Thus, you fee, Reason, Experience, and Scripture, all confenting to teach us not to look for the Reward of our Labour in this World, but to wait with Patience God's appointed Time, when the Great Judge of the World will do righteoufly, and recompenfe to every Man the Things which he has done. Let us look back then to the Text, and take from thence the proper Exhortation ari fing from this Conclufion: Since we plainly fee, that this World is no Place of Rewards and Punishments, let us not be fo foolish as to look for our Reward here, and be difcouraged if we receive it not. If we raife in ourselves fuch idle Expectations, and imagine that to be good is a certain Way to be rich, great, or profperous, we lay a Foundation for great Disappointments, and shall be in danger of growing fick of our Work, when our Hopes forsake us. But if we look to the appointed Time of Reward, and give ourselves up contentedly to the Providence of God in this World, and to that Lot, be be it what it will, which he has provided for us, our Hopes will never fail; we shall be stedfast and unmoveable, knowing that our Labour, however difficult here, fhall not be in vain in the Lord: For in due Seafon we Shall reap, if we faint not. VOL. III. DISCOURSE DISCOURSE VIII. VIII. ************ PART I. MATTHEW Xiii. 29. But he said, Nay; left, while ye gather up thẻ ** T Ö understand the Text we must look back as far as the twentyfourth Verfe of this Chapter, where our Saviour puts forth a Parable, comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a Man who fowed good Seed in his Field; but while Men flept, his Enemy camé and fowed Tares among the Wheat. When they both fprung up and appeared in the Field, the Servants, under a Surprize at the Disappointment, report it to their Master; O 2 Sir, |