given by inspiration of God, they are clothed with an infinitely higher authority, and, like other parts of Scripture, are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

In the text we have an account of Solomon's careful inspection of the field and vineyard of the sluggard. He did not satisfy himself with a cursory observation, but considered it well. He looked upon it and received instruction. He saw it in a sad situation. It was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down. Though silently, yet most emphatically it expressed the language and conduct of the sluggard; and pointed him out as averse to labour, and still inclined for a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep."

Having endeavoured to delineate the character of the slothful man; with Solomon, we now proceed to consider the state of his field and vineyard. Two things here deserve our attention: first, it was all grown over with thorns, and covered with nettles; and secondly, the stone wall thereof was broken down. Of each of these in order.

Before entering directly upon the wild and uncultivated state of the slothful man's vineyard, we might observe,

That it was the only thing about which he should have employed himself, and would have been enough to have occupied his time and attention. It was given him by the owner for this purpose, and to have gained the end was all that was required. Right care about the soul, working out his own salvation,

and fearing the Lord, is the whole duty of man. The duties incumbent on the professing Christian may be distributed into various branches, and may flow out in different channels; but concern about his own salvation may be considered, in one sense, as the root and spring. If he is negligent about his own, he can scarcely be expected to care for the souls of others, or do any thing to promote their eternal interest. Without faith and personal believing it is impossible to please God, or be properly concerned about men.

He would have found it enough to have employed his time and attention. There are two leading pieces of work requisite in every vineyard: the one is, as much as possible to prevent the growth of weeds, and root them out if they begin to spring up: the other is, with all pains and diligence, to cultivate the ground, plant it with proper herbs, or sow it with profitable seeds. Applied to the sinner, the first of these includes his inspecting the heart with the greatest vigilance and watchfulness, taking the strictest care to check and oppose the motions of sin, and the continued discharge of the great duties of self-denial and mortification. The second comprehends the diligent use of every mean to promote the growth of grace, watch over the growing fruit, and preserve it from being choked. Without a continued weeding, dressing, and nursing up the useful herb, no fruit can be expected. Without the attentive performance of all these great duties, the soul cannot prosper.

We might also observe that if properly cultivated by his own hand, the vineyard promised a rich and plentiful harvest.

The vineyard and field were not barren ground. Indeed the soul of the sinner, considered in itself, and its natural state, is like the heath in the desert, or the barren rock; but his vineyard does not mean his soul exclusively, but as he enjoys great privileges, precious opportunities, pressing invitations, and encouraging promises. The soul, with all these advantages, and every needed blessing brought near, is the sinner's vineyard. There is no duty required, but strength to perform it is promised. In metaphorical language every instrument for digging, planting, and pruning is brought to his hand, and the precious seed of grace too. He has only to stretch out the hand and take; or merely look and be saved. If unable to do even these, strength for them is also promised. In such a situation the sinner can have no excuse, unless sloth, or which is still worse, enmity, or a positive refusal to work in the vineyard.

It must be cultivated with his own hand. The contrary of what Christ was reproached with, in a limited sense is true of the Gospel hearer, "He may save himself, others he cannot save." It is not meant that we cannot be useful to others: but our endeavours with others are successful only in as far as they prevail with them to put their own hand to the work. We may advise others, and pray for them; but we cannot receive Christ for them, nor they for us. If a man has faith, he must have it for himself. Believing

is a personal act, and every one must surrender his own soul to God. Many other duties necessary to dressing the vineyard must be personal.

If cultivated in this manner it promises a plentiful harvest. Solomon saw no want in the field and vineyard of others. The slothful man's ground was equally fertile, and would, if properly managed, have been as fruitful. It is worthy of observation, that the man is not blamed for not reaping, nor even for not sowing, nor is any blame imputed to the soil. His radical error was that he did not prepare the ground, or rather that he did nothing at all. He slept away his time, and in all probability did not look at his vineyard, instead of working in it. But had he prepared the ground, and sown the seed, in due time he would have reaped. If sinners would shake off their sloth, bethink themselves, break up the fallow ground of their hearts, and be in the use of means, there would be reason to expect the Divine blessing. The Sun of righteousness would shine, the former and the latter rain would drop down, and the gentle dew of heaven descend, and make the sinner's soul like a well watered garden, or a field where the Lord doth bless; and there would be fruits of righteousness here, and in the end everlasting life. We shall now, as was proposed, proceed in the

II. Place, to consider the state of the slothful man's vineyard; "and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof." About

these thorns and nettles we may observe the following things:

1. They grow spontaneously in uncultivated grounds. They neither need to be sown nor planted. They draw to their own roots the sap which would nourish a better crop. The soul of the slothful is without any improvement. Corrupt nature has its full swing, and sinful lusts their full play without the least control. The strong man keeps the house in peace, and the poor sluggard is fast asleep. In this situation briers and nettles take root, and grow up, spreading their branches in the various sins of omission and commission. A sinner's heart without Divine grace is a sad sight," for out of it proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."

Every person must have observed that arable and fertile ground, not cared for, but uncultivated, and left to turn wild, produces a greater crop of thorns and nettles than places naturally barren. Just so; the richer the season of grace is, where the seed is not received in a good and honest heart, the weeds of corruption will grow with greater luxuriance. In this sense where grace has abounded, sin superabounds. The children of religious parents, on whom much pains have been wasted in vain, often exceed their neighbours in wickedness; and places enjoying a rich season of grace, and despising it, have brought iniquity to greater maturity, and have ripened faster for Divine judgments, than places less favoured. While the words of the prophet Ezekiel,