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CONNEXION BETWEEN DILIGENCE AND PROSPERITY
THE dispensation under which the Jews lived being of a temporal nature, their advancement in respect of temporal prosperity was, for the most part, proportioned to the regard which they, and their rulers, shewed to God. The account given of Uzziah may serve almost as a general history of God’s conduct towards them [Note: Lev_26:3-45.]: when he walked humbly before God, “he was marvellously helped till he was strong [Note: ver. 8, 15.]:” but when, by his pride and disobedience, he had provoked God’s heavy displeasure, he was given over to “destruction.” The dispensation under which we live is altogether spiritual; and God observes the same rule of procedure towards us in spiritual things, as he maintained towards them in temporal things.
Respecting the prosperity of our souls the text calls us to notice two things;
I. Its dependence on God—
[However diligent Uzziah was in seeking the Lord, it was God, and God alone, that “made him to prosper,” And whatever means we may use, our advancement in the divine life must be traced to the same source. Our first inclinations to good originate with him. The contiunance and increase of holy dispositions is in like manner the effect of his grace. If he were for one moment to suspend his communications, we should be as incapable of bearing fruit to his glory, as a branch is when severed from the tree. Let it only be inquired wherein prosperity of soul consists [Note: A subjugation of our passions; a victory over the world; an abiding sense and enjoyment of the divine presence.]; and it will immediately appear, that he must be the author of it in all its parts — — —]
II. Its connexion with our diligence—
[The fruits of the earth are given us by God; yet he bestows his bounties on those only who use the proper means for the attainment of them. So does he also require exertion on our part in order to our spiritual advancement. The means are inseparably connected with the end: they are connected in God’s decree [Note: Eze_36:37. Mat_7:7-8.]—in the very nature of things—and in the experience of all the saints; and the more diligently we use the means, the more will both “grace and peace be multiplied unto us.”]
From this subject we may derive matter,
1. For reproof—
[How awfully does this reprove the careless sinner! for if all our prosperity of soul be inseparably connected with diligence in the ways of God, it is obvious that they who neglect the word of God and prayer must be in a perishing condition. The backslider too must feel himself condemned by the fact recorded in the text. It is plainly intimated that Uzziah, through his remissness, experienced a sad reverse. And such a reverse will all experience who relax their diligence in the ways of God. Let us watch therefore against secret declensions: and, if we have already declined, let us “repent, and do our first works [Note: Rev_2:4-5.],” and “strengthen, by exertion, the dying remnants” of grace within us [Note: Rev_3:2.].]
2. For encouragement—
[We cannot command success, either in temporal or spiritual pursuits; yet in both it is found true, that “the diligent hand maketh rich.” In some instances indeed God is found of them that sought him not; and persons may use the means of grace without receiving any sensible increase of grace or peace. Nevertheless this is not God’s usual mode of proceeding; nor does he ever continue either to bless the indolent, or to withhold his blessing from the diligent. He never will suffer any to seek his face in vain [Note: Isa_45:19.]. Let this then encourage all to persevere in the use of means, “knowing assuredly that their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.”]