SERMON IV.

LUKE, xvi. 8.

THE CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD ARE WISER IN THEIR GENERATION THAN THE CHILDREN

OF LIGHT.

A CERTAIN fteward, faid our Saviour, was

accused of difhonefty; and was required by his Lord to make up his accounts. Being unable, he was on the point of being difmiffed. He thought it neceffary therefore to take fome step to prevent his ruin. To work, or beg, feemed the only expedients now left; but to neither of these he was inclined. After fome hesitation, he fell at length on this expedient. He called his Lord's debtors together, examined their several accounts; and from each deducted about one half: giving them to understand, that for fo great a favour he expected

their kindness in the day of adverfity. On the forefight and ingenuity of this wicked man our Saviour grounds his remark, that the children of this world are wifer in their generation than the children of light.

The doctrine therefore pointed out by our Saviour is, that the children of light ought to fhew the fame earneftness in their fpiritual affairs, which the others do in their temporal.-I fhall endeavour therefore, in explaining the parable, to fhew you, firft in what the wifdom of the children of this world confifts; and fecondly how it fhould be exemplary

Io us.

In the first place, the children of this world impress upon themselves ftrongly the value of wealth, which is the great end they have in view, and which immediately governs all their actions.

It is neceffary for them therefore to make themfelves acquainted with every thing required in the business they pursue. Thus, for instance, before they fully enter into trade, they muft acquire the art of managing accounts. They must be well informed how to balance the difference between pro

fit and lofs. They must be inftructed alfo in the nature of fuch commodities as they are chiefly to deal in. Useful connections also are neceffary; and a knowledge of the laws and customs that re-. late to trade. But above all, habits of industry, and application must be formed.

Being thus qualified, the children of this world begin now to act at large. A prudent forefight directs all their actions. They weigh their words, as well as actions. Every unwary expreffion, that hath a tendency to offend their best friends, or injure their main purpose, is avoided. The very thought is checked, that doth not terminate in fome useful end. Every fcheme is maturely weighed, and all the confequences which may attend either the fuccefs, or the disappointment of it. In the mean time, they fubmit to many inconveniences and hardships in the prefent, to obtain good in the future. They run the hazard of dangerous voyages; they venture their money in purchases; they put it out to intereft; and fubmit to all these rifks for the prospect of future advantage. They caft up their daily gains, and fum up their yearly accounts, to fee how the matter ftands with regard to the whole. In fhort, they have, what they call,

the main chance always in view, and confider every circumftance of their lives, only as it tends to promote it.

To this prudent forefight the children of this world add a conftant vigilance against danger. Locks, bolts, and every kind of fecurity guard their treasures. All the defences of the law are employed. They eye every man with caution. It is their maxim to confider every man they deal with, as a difhoneft man, that they may always guard against fraud. Evening, which shuts up the labours of others, gives little repofe to them. Their midnight vifions are often disturbed; and the morning rises to new anxiety.-Among their greatest enemies they confider a love of pleasure. Every temptation of this kind must be given up: for a life of pleasure, and a life of business, they well know, are inconfiftent.

Thus the children of this world endeavour with indefatigable pains to pursue the plain, beaten path, the broad way, before them, and turn aside neither to the right hand nor to the left. If they ever do inadvertently make a false step, it is immediately corrected by additional care. If they have fuffered lofs in trade upon any article, no one fhall ever fee

them engaged, under the fame circumstances, with that article again. If any man hath deceived them once, nobody need caution them against that man a fecond time.

The last care of the children of this world is, after all their labours, to die rich. Though the thoughts of death are not very agreeable to them, yet as they must die, it is at least fome confolation, if they can leave their coffers full behind them. They have done their work: their great end is finifhed: their forefight, their cares, and their anxieties have been fuccefsful: they have heaped up thousands upon thousands, and their only confolation now is, that their names will be remembered among the wealthiest.

Such is the wisdom of the children of this world. They propose to themselves, you fee, one great end, and this they invariably purfue, not only through all the proper means, but in opposition to pleasure, difficulty, and danger. Jefus therefore commended the unjust steward, becaufe, as a child of the world, he had done wifely. If his end had been right, he had been a pattern of wisdom in the pursuit of it.

Let