4. Because we cannot keepe that which we have received, if we doe not labour to increase it; for as the vitall heat doth alwayes either increase or decrease, and he that goes up a sandy-hill, must still labour to get up, or else he will slide downe; so it is in a Christian life. 5. Because we should do that unto God, which we would have God doe unto us; for we would have God alwayes adde unto those benefits and blessings which he bestoweth upon us; we therefore should likewise adde unto those duties which we performe unto him. _Use_ 1. This may serve to condemne those, that rest satisfied with that which they have, and never seeke farther, and much more those, that by diminishing and losing, waste and consume that which they had, _Apocalypse 2.4._ This may be explained by the parable of the talents. 2. To exhort us, to exercise a holy kinde of covetousnesse in these spirituall things; for as covetous men joyne house to house, field to field, _Isaiah 5.8._ so should we also joyne faith to faith, obedience to obedience, charity to charity. Doctrine 3. _We must use our endeavours about these spirituall things with all diligence._ Now by all diligence is meant, 1. The greatest heedfulnesse of the minde. 2. The greatest earnestnesse of the will. 3. The greatest care, that is intimated by that phrase, whereby wee are commanded, to _seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof_. For when Christ had told them, _Matthew 6.31._ that they should not be carefull what they should eat, or what they should drink, he explaines this care, verse 32,33. by the phrase of _seeking_. 4. A diligence in the use of the meanes, whereby we may come to attaine that which we desire. And the reasons why we should use this diligence about spirituall things, are, _Reason_ 1. The dignity and excellency of these things above all earthly things, which worldly men are so busie about. 2. The difficulty, for in their nature they are above our strength, and there are many impediments also, as well inward as outward, which we cannot overcome, but by using all diligence. 3. The necessity of these things, without which we are miserable wretches. _Use_ 1. This may serve to reprove the slothfull and sluggish Christians, that are so remisse, so cold and luke-warme at least in these things, which require so great diligence. Here appeares the crossenesse of mans disposition: for when God hath forbidden us, to be over-carefull about worldly things, because all these things should be added unto us without such care; and hath commanded us, to be diligent and carefull about spirituall things, because we shall never be partakers of them without diligence; we on the contrary are carefull and diligent about the world, and neglect Heaven. 2. To exhort us, by all meanes daily to stir up our selves, and to provoke one another to this so necessary diligence. Doctrine 4. _Faith is the fountaine and beginning of all Christian vertue._