deserving of any more, Solomon, in the book of Wisdom, gives a good reason why the manna, which resisted the violence of fire, dissolved and corrupted as soon as the first ray of the sun appeared. " It is, O Lord," says he, " that it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun to bless thee." (Wisd. xvi. 28.) Thus, in order to punish the indolence of those, who would not rise before the sun, to avail themselves of his benefits towards them, God permitted that the first beam of the sun should deprive them of food for the whole day. The same thing is beautifully represented to us by our Saviour, in the parable of the nobleman, who, going into a far country, to take possession of a kingdom, called his servants, and divided amongst them his money, that they might trade during his absence; and, at his return, having demanded an account of them, he appointed them governors of as many cities as they had gained talents: to him that gained ten talents, he gave the government of ten cities, and to him that gained five talents, he gave the government of five cities. (Luke, xix. 12.) This plainly shews us, that as this nobleman was pleased to recompense the fidelity and industry of tis servants with such excessive liberality as to give him who gained ten talents, the government of ten cities; so, Almighty God, if we faithfully correspond with the inspirations he sends us, will shower down his graces and blessings on us in abundance; but on the other hand, if we do not diligently follow the motions of grace, we will not only be deprived of what we have received, but we will be severely punished, as the unprofitable servant was, who did not lay out to advantage the talent he had received.
It is said of Apelles, that in whatsoever business he was engaged, he never let pass a day without exercising himself in his own profession, by painting something or other. For this purpose he always endeavoured to find out some time amid his other employments, and to excuse himself from going into company, was wont to say, " This day I have not as yet drawn one stroke with my pencil so that, by this means, he became a most excellent painter. In like manner, you will become a perfect religious, if you let no day pass without making some advancement in virtue: practise daily some act of mortification — correct some fault you were accustomed to commit^and you will quickly find, that your life will become every day more perfect. When you examine your conscience at noon, and perceive that you have done nothing that morning conducive to your improvement, that you have mortified yourself in nothing, that you have performed no act of
