Here you see a life that is wholly intent upon the improvement of the talents, that is devoted wholly unto God, is a state of happiness, prosperous labours, and glorious success. Here are not, as in the former case, any _uneasy passions_, _murmurings_, _vain fears_ and _fruitless labours_. The man is not toiling, and digging in the earth for no end or advantage; but his labours prosper in his hands, his happiness increases upon him, the blessing of five becomes the blessing of ten talents; and he is received with a _Well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord_. 21. Now, as the case of these men in the _parable_ left nothing else to their choice, but either to be happy in using their gifts to the _glory_ of their Lord, or miserable by using them according to their _own humours_ and _fancies_; so the state of Christianity leaves us no other choice. *All that we have, all that we are, all that we enjoy, are only so many talents from God: if we use them to the end of a pious and holy life, our five talents will become ten, and our labours will carry us into the joy of our Lord; but if we abuse them to the gratification of our own passions, sacrificing the gifts of God to our own pride and vanity, we shall live here in vain labours and foolish anxieties, shunning religion as a melancholy thing, accusing our Lord as a hard master, and then fall into everlasting misery. We may for awhile amuse ourselves with _names_, and _sounds_, and _shadows_ of happiness, we may talk of this or that greatness and dignity; but if we desire real happiness, we have no other possible way to it, but by improving our talents, by so holily and piously using the _powers_ and _faculties_ of _men_ in this present state, that we may be happy and glorious in the _powers_ and _faculties_ of _angels_ in the world to come. How ignorant therefore are they of the nature of religion, of the nature of man, and the nature of God, who think a life of _strict piety_ to be a _dull_ and _uncomfortable_ state, when it is so plain and certain, that there is neither comfort nor joy to be found in any thing else? CHAP. X. _The happiness of a life wholly devoted unto God, farther proved, from the |vanity|, and the |ridiculous|, |poor| enjoyments which they are forced to take up with, who live according to their own humours. This represented in various characters._ 1. WE may see yet more of the happiness of a life devoted to God, by considering the poor contrivances for happiness, and the contemptible ways of life, which they are thrown into, who are seeking after happiness by other methods.