Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BT770 .B39 1670

The Life of Faith. 479 at all. And many a one that think their fpiritual benefit is interrupted by their callings, do find all Gods Promifes ful- filled at !aft, to their fatisfó ion. Q,eti. 7. But is it not lawful tofet onesfeltonly to Religion, as John Baptiti, Anna, &c. did ? Anfw, It is a duty to be as religious is you-can : But it is alto a duty to labour in your calling, and do all the good you can to others. Theagedand impJtent that.cannot labour in a calling, are excufed from it : And they that give up thcmfelves to the Magifiracy, Mini(iry,Phyfck, &c. mutt meddle with no lower things, which would hinder them in the higher. But no man can be excufed from doing all the good he can tt> others, byany pretences 'of looking to his foul: For he can no way more Purely further his falvation ; no r cake hinder it more, than by finful negligence and (loth. Qieil. 8. But was not labour and toil a curfe upon Adam af- ter hie fin ? and.any man that can may labour to efoape a curie. Anfw. r. Adam in innocency was Pet to drefs and keep the Garden. 2. The curls was in the toil and the fruffration of his labour. 3. And even that is filch a curie, as God will not take off, or remit. Qáeti, g Dalynot Paulfay tofervants, Ifye can befree, ufe it rather? Anfw. Truc: But he faithnot, If you can be idle, ufe it rather. Afree man may workas hard as abondman. Q.rtti. ro. May not a man that bath Plural callings before him, cbufethe ea felt ? Anfw. Not meetly or chiefly becaufe it is eafie : but he mutt chufe the mofi profitable to the common good, be it eafic or hard, ifit be fuch as he can undergo. Yet he may ayoid fuch a calling, as by tyring his body, indifpofeth him to fpiritual things ; or by taking up all his time, will de- prive him ofconvenient Ieifure for things fpiritual. But he that only to cafe his flefh, doth..put by more profitable employ- ments, becaufe they will colt him labour, Both ferve his liet1i and cati offhis,duty to his God. H. The figns of wealthy - idlenefs are thefe : a.. When men tbinkitunnecefary for them to labour conffantly anddiligently, becaufe they are rich, andcan live without it; or becaufe they are great, and it is below them. The confutation or

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