October 26 — On the Remedies against Spiritual Sloth

Consider, first, that the sovereign remedy against spiritual sloth, is the daily practice of consideration, particularly by meditating on those moving truths, which either represent to us the infinite goodness of our God, his love for us, the passion of his Son, and those innumerable motives we have to love him, and to be fervent in his service; or else denounce to us his many judgments, both in time and eternity, upon the obstinate oppofsers of his grace, and the rebels to his love. O, what heart can be so far hardened by sloth, as to stand out against such meditations as these, when frequently repeated! We have a God to serve, and a soul to save. This God is infinitely good, and good to us. He is all goodness, beauty, truth, and all perfection: he is infinitely lovely; and he is our ancient and eternal Lover; his Son came down from heaven for the love of us; he employed his whole life in seeking our salvation; he even died for the love of us; we have received and daily do receive mny great benefits from him; his thought is always upon us. And shall not the consideration of all this goodness and love of his for us, oblige us to be fervent in the love of him, and diligent in his service? If we love him, and serve him as we ought, he will be our Protector here, and our Reward exceeding great hereafter If we neglect his love and service, he threatens us with eternal evils; and death, judgment and hell are always following us at our heels. And shall not the remembrance of all his promises on the one hand, and of all his threats on the other, effectually rouse us up out of our slothful indolence, and spur us on to lalx)ur in earnest for the securing our eternity?

Consider, secondly, that another remedy against sloth is often to reflect, that the short time of this life is given us by our Maker for nothing else but to labour therein, and to labour for an eternity; that we can have no other stock to live on for eternity, but what we provide and send before us, by working well, during the twelve hours of this short day of our mortal life; that every mor ment of this time is precious; it is even"worth an eternity; because, by the good employment of every moment, we may add to our eternal stock, and consequently to our eternal glory; that what vpe lose by sloth, is lost for ever, and that the loss is irreparable; that the night will be quickly with us, in which no man can work, and therefore tht we must husband well this short, this precious time, and spend it to the best advantage, labouring by good works to make our calling and election sure, 2 Peter i. 10. O, what a strict account sh one day be demanded of us, of the employment of this whole time? And where shall the slothful hide their heads at that day 1

Consider, thirdly, and set often before your eyes, in order to overcome all spiritual sloth, the life and death of the Son of God, the great Pattern of a Christian, who was never idle, but always employed in doing the will of his Father. O, how happy is the Christian, that endeavours to be always employed in this manner! Read, also, and meditate often on the lives of the saints, and excite yourselves to fervour in the service of God by their example, and by the consideration of their eternal glory. O, what pains do the children of this world daily take, what dangers do they expose themselves daily to, for the sake of a little dirt, which they must leave behind them to-morrow! And is it not a shame that Christians should not do as much for a happy eternity? Remember also, on all occasions, that the eye of your great Master is always upon you, and therefore take care to please him, not only by ever doing something, because such is his will and appointment, but also by labouring to perform all your actions with that perfection, which becomes works done for the service of so great a King.

Conclude to arm thyself by these and such like considerations, against all the mischiefs that are otherwise to be apprehended from this pernicious vice of spiritual sloth; and, that thou mayst keep thyself farther off from its approaches, beware of all tepidity or lukewarmness in the service of God. Often reflect upon the sentence that was passed upon the barren fig tree, (Luke xiii,) and fear, lest, if thou also content thyself with a show of leaves, without bearing good fruit, the Lord of the vineyard may order thee also to be cut up, and cast into the fire.