But Miranda’s perfection does not consist in this, that she spends so much time, or so much money in such a manner, but that she is careful to make the best use of all the time and money which she has. Do you this, and then you are like Miranda.
If she has two hundred pounds a year, and you have only two mites, have you not the more reason to be exceeding exact in the wisest use of it? If she has a great deal of time, and you have but a little, ought you not to be the more watchful and circumspect, lest that little should be lost?
CHAP. VIII.
Shewing that all orders of men and women, of all ages, are obliged to devote themselves to God.
1.I HAVE in the foregoing chapters shewn that all the parts of our common life, our employments, our talents and fortune, are to be made holy and acceptable unto God, by a wise and religious use of every thing, and by directing our actions and designs to the glory of God.
I shall now shew, that this holiness of common life, this religious use of every thing we have, is a devotion that is the duty of all orders of Christian people.
*Fulvius has had a learned education, and taken his degrees in the university; he came from thence, that he might be free from any rules of life. He takes no employment upon him, nor enters into any business, because he thinks that every employment or business calls people to the just discharge of its several duties. He did not enter into holy orders, because he looks upon it to be a state that requires great holiness of life, and it does not suit his temper to be so good. He will tell you that he never intends to marry, because he cannot oblige himself to that regularity of life, which he takes to be the duty of those that are at the head of a family. He refused to be godfather to his nephew, because he will have no trust of any kind to answer for.
Fulvius thinks that he is conscientious in this conduct, and is therefore content with the most idle, impertinent, and careless life.
He has no religion, no devotion, no pretences to piety. He lives by no rules, and thinks all is very well, because he is neither a priest, nor a father, nor a guardian, nor has any employment or family to look after.