02. Because more is done for him than for others

Because more is done for them, than is done for others.

There is that done for them, which none but he who made them could do. They are loved, they are atoned for, they are prayed for, and they are provided for, more than others. Now where there is a superaddition of privilege, there should be a superaddition of practice. We naturally expect more splendour from the beaming of the sun, than from the burning of a candle; and we look for more moisture from the dissolving of a cloud, than from the dropping of a bucket. The same heat that melts the wax, will harden the clay. The juice which distils into a rose, is returned in a sweet perfume; but that which drops upon a nettle, is returned in an ill savour. If the mercies of God be not load-stones to draw us to heaven, they will be mill-stones to draw or sink us in perdition.

'To whom much is given, of them much shall be required.' The blessings we enjoy are not the fruit of our merit, but the fruit of God's mercy. By how much the more grace we have received, by so much the more glory we are obliged to return to the giver. He does not exact much, where little is bestowed; nor accept little, where much is received. A drop of praise is an unsuitable acknowledgement for an ocean of mercy. 'Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel—You only have I known of all the families of the earth.' But was their return according to the benefit? No, surely; otherwise he would not have added, 'Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.' They were more known to God than others, therefore they should have acknowledged him more than others.

Those who have tasted the goodness of God, can never speak good enough of God. Reason teaches, that those should bless most, who are most blessed. What are carnal men to Christian men? The power of God appears in the formation of one; but the stupendous grace of God shines illustriously in the transformation of the other. In creation, God has given the productions of the earth for our bodies: but in redemption he has given himself for our souls. Thus, it appears to be a greater favour to be converted than to be created; yea, it were better for us to have no being, than not to have a new being.

When you were sailing to destruction, before sin's dangerous blast, then the most blessed gales of mercy sprang up, and changed your course. When you lay in the blood of transgression, then God beheld you with bowels of compassion. His heart pitied you, and his hand helped you. Now, where there is distinguishing mercy, there ought to be distinguishing duty. The husbandman who holds the largest farms, will pay the greatest rent: and he who sows the most precious seed, will expect the choicest crop. Now read the great husbandman's complaint against his vineyard: Now will I sing to my beloved, a song of my beloved, touching his vineyard: my well-beloved hath a vineyard on a very fruitful hill; and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine; and built a tower in the midst, and also made a wine-press therein. Here is an inventory of God's goodness to his vineyard. Now, what follows? He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. He looked that they should be better to him than others, because he had been better to them than he had been to others.

God had made them flowers of paradise, while others were left as the weeds of the wilderness.

While others were Satan's thoroughfare, they were God's choice inclosure.