First , that they acknowledge him to be the chief , to acknowledge that they hold all from him , that they have it not from themselves or for themselves , this is that which every Master expects from him to whom he committeth his treasure : And this would God have all men do . God speaks that truly that Benhadad spake proudly , and falsly to the King of Israel : thy silver is mine , and thy gold is mine , Psal: 24 : 1. and thy daughters and wives are mine , and thy vineyards and thy orchards are mine . So may God say truly , All are his , the earth ( saith David ) is the Lords and the fulness thereof . He is the great possessor of all things .

God ( as he possesseth all things ) so he letteth out parcels of his possessions to the sons of men . To some a larger portion of the earth than to others , yet they are but Tenants at will ; and Tenants upon certain conditions and reservations , wherein this great Lord bindeth those that hold any thing of him .

And the first Condition , Men do not waste his goods or Reservation that he ties all his Stewards unto , is this , that they waste not his goods , that they scatter them not abroad vainly or unprofitably . Now a man that hath riches , if he relieveth not the poor : a man that hath authority , and helpeth not the oppressed : a man that hath wisdome , and instructeth not the ignorant . In a word , A man that hath any abilities , if he be not of use unto others with it , this man scattereth his Masters goods , and is like that unprofitable servant , that hid his Talent in a napkin , and therefore was bound hand and foot , and cast into utter darkness . This was the accusation that was brought against this Steward here , that he had wasted the goods of his Lord ; that is , that he had spent them vainly , he was no honour to his Master , there came no profit to the houshold by it . That 's the first .

The second thing that this great Lord expects of all his Stewards , 2. That they do not abuse them to ill ends . is , that as they do not scatter his goods , nor vainly waste them , so that they should not abuse them to ill ends . There are a generation of men in the world that fight against God with his own weapons , and that use all their strength , and wisdome , and power , to maintain a faction of rebellion against him : that side with the wicked of the world against his Laws and Ordinances : and this is the greatest unthankfulness that can be . If a King should raise a servant to honour , and bestow offices and dignities upon him , and yet if he should raise an Army against him , and set himself against all his Laws , What greater unthankfulness ? What greater enmity ? Luke 19 : 27. Therefore it was the speech of that parrabolical King in Luke 19. ( which is Christ the King of the Church ) these mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them , bring them hither , and stay them before me . Such is the state of all those men that have wealth and abuse it , James 4 : 3. consume it upon their lusts , ( as Saint James speaks ) upon their pride , in excess in apparel , meats ; &c. that have wit , and spend it like Turtullus to cry down the wayes of God , to harden themselves and others in the course of sin : that have greatness and authority , and mis-imploy it to the crushing of good persons , and good causes : these and the like are Stewards that abuse their Masters goods , mis-imploy them to his dishonour , these Christ counteth his enemies , and he will not bear it .

There is a third thing that God expects of all his Stewards , 3 : To do him Homage . and that is this , that they should do him Homage , that they should appear at his Court dayes . Gods Sabbaths are Gods Court dayes , wherein he calleth and assembleth his servants together . He will have every one to wait there upon him , that they may know his will : as Cornelius bringeth his family together , and saith he , We are all present to hear what is commanded thee of God . Acts 10 : 33. So God ( I say ) will have his servants present at his Court dayes : and not only so , not only to be present there , to here his will , and to understand his mind , but to submit to his orders , to yeeld obedience to his Laws , to be governed by his rules . God hath certain rules to which he will have every man subject , there be rules for Magistrates , for Ministers , for Masters , for Parents , for Servants , for Children , for all : and he is a rebel , and carrieth not himself as Gods Steward , that doth not keep the rules that God hath set up in his own house . 4 : To return him fruit .

Again fourthly ; God expects this from all his Stewards , that whensoever he sendeth his Bayliffs for rent , that they return him the fruit of his own ground . Every soul is Gods ground , from which God expects some fruit or other , and he sends his Bayliffs , his Servants , continually to gather these fruits from men . When he sends a poor man to the rich , there 's a Bayliff sent to him , to gather some fruit of his wealth . When he sends an oppressed man to those that are in authority , there 's a Bayliff sent to him , to gather the fruit of his power and greatness . When he sends an ignorant man to those that have wisdom and knowledg , there 's a Bayliff sent to him , to gather the fruit of his Knowledge . And so we may say of all things whatsoever : whatsoever endowments of body , or mind , or estate , any man hath , if another need it , that other is Gods Bayliff , sent to him to call for his rent , to call for the fruit of his ground , and thou must return it by such a one , for thou art but a Steward : and you know how fearful the proceedings of the great King was in Matt. 21. Matt. 21.33 . He sent his servants to the Husbandmen , to those to whom he had let out his ground , to receive the fruits of it , and there was none ; what was the issue of it ? He was full of wrath : and cometh upon the Husbandmen and slew them . So when God shall send the poor to thee for relief , and thou helpest him not : shall send the ignorant to thee for instrustion , and thou informest him not : shall send any one to thee that may have use of thy gifts and abilities , and thou doest not imploy them that way , thou deniest the great Lord the fruit of his own ground , and art of the number of those Husband-men that must expect this at his hands to be slain in his wrath .

Ye see the Point opened , That all men are Gods Stewards , both in respect of what God hath bestowed on them , and what God doth expect from them .

I come briefly now to make some use of this .

Are all men Gods Stewards ? Vse . Then certainly there is some work required of every man in the world by vertue of this title put upon him , that he is Gods Steward . It concerns therefore , Every one to look to his place .

There are two things required of every Steward . Two things required of a Steward .

First , a dispensation .

Secondly , a right ordering of his dispensations .

First a Dispensation . 1. Dispensation For a Steward ye know is appointed for laying out , he is made for others , not for himself , for the good of the Family in which he is set , not for his own benefit . God hath made every creature to be for the use of others , and not for it self : those heavenly bodies , the Sun , and Moon , and Stars , their motion and influences are for us , for the service of the world : the Earth with the fruits of it ; the Beasts , and all are for the service of man . So every man in his several place , hath some work to do for others , some abilities given him for the service of others . Rom: 13 : 4. Hence it is , that the Magistrate is said to be the Minister of God for the peoples good . Hence it is , that Ministers are said to be the servants of the Churches . I am a debtour ( saith Paul ) to the Jew , and to the Gentiles , Rom: 1 : 14.1 Tim: 5 : 8. to the Greeks , and to the Barbarians . Hence it is , that a Master of a Family is said to be worse than an Infidel , if he provide not for those of his own house . And every other Christian ( though he stand not in these relations to others ) he hath some gifts or other , that are to be laid forth for the use and advantage of others , and every private person in the world , he may be of some use or other in the place in which he is set . Hence it is , that the name of Brother is common to all Christians , and ye know Joseph acknowledged that he was preferred to those honours , and that authority and place , for the good of his Brethren , for his Fathers house : so should all Gods ' people acknowledge other Christians their Brethren , and that whatsoever parts they have , they have them for the good of the Family . Hence it is , that Christians are called Members one of another ; Every Member is of use to the whole body , so must every Christian be of use to another , to some by the riches of the body , to some by the riches of the mind , to some by the abilities of their estates , every one according to the treasure he is intrusted with , and the Talent that is committed to him .

This is the first thing , that men must make conscience to do , to be dispencers of their goodness , of any thing they have , to be communicative , to defuse and extend themselves to others , as occasion shall be offered . And indeed where there is any goodness in a man , he will express it this way , by doing all the good to others he can .

Secondly , 2. Right ordering of his dispensations . it is required of a Steward , that he consider of the manner , and right ordering of his dispensations .

There be two Rules for that .

That he dispense Faithfully . Wisely .

Who ( saith the Lord in that 12 Luke 42. ) is a faithful and wise Steward , Luk. 12.42 . whom his Lord shall make ruler over his houshold , &c. Gods Stewards ye see must in their dispensations be faithful and wise .

First , they must be faithful .

Fidelity appears in this , 1. Faithfully . when they have a right End , and a right Rule to walk by .