Chap.z; about our Callings,and Vocations. ZÍI Fourthly, The promife of plenty, comfort, and bleflìng is made to the dili- gent, Prov.lo.4. and 13.4. and 1z. 27. HencePfal.128.1,2. Ifa.3.to. Mr. Rey- nerf Precepts. Fifthly, Man is born to travel', and labour, rob. 5.7. Quell. what elfe may move us to diligence in our particular cal= lings ? Anfw. Remember that God who hath fet us in our callings , hath promi- fed alto to be with us therein , togive us good fucceffe, to help us to bear our the tedioufneffe which fin bath brought upon our labour, to give us his pro- te&ion in; thefe our wayes , to feed and maintaine us by his bleffing upon our labour , in the houfe in the field , in our flock , and flore , whereas poverty arrefieth the idle perfon , Prov. 28. 19. and 10.4. See allo, 7of. 1. 8. Secondly, whereas all other creatures live to themfelves, manwas appoinrèd to live to others as well as to himfelf ; the Church, his Countrey, family th poor : Every one challengetha part in him. Thirdly, an honeft calling is á School ofChriflianity. For, i. As we fend little children to School to keep them out of harmes way , and unhappy turnes : fo diligence in our callingsfenceth us againff Satans ten- rations : and it's a bridle to reflraine our own leud deliires , abating wicked luffs, abandoning loofe commpany, and fitting us for the Lords coming,when we are in his fervice. z. in this School we perform duties for the Lords fake, we have daily praelife and encreafe of graces, fueh, as faith, obedience , patience, meek- nefle, conliancy, truth, invocation, 'thankfgiving, and by experience of Gods goodneffe for the time pall, we are thebetter enabled to depend upon him for the time tocome. 3. In this School alfówe learn to be teachers of others, and to be patterns to others of the right ufe of the world , whilefi our felves ufe it daily, as nor ufingit : whilefl we fo play thegoodhusbands , as that we keep our felves from being worldlings: notlaying afide our heavenly minds, whilefi we are about our worldlybufinefíes. Fourthly, confider the danger of toufe that fiand idle all the'day long , gaf- fing their time in voluptuoufneffc. Patti faith', that fuch as live in pleafxre aredead while they live: They are out of Gods proreelion , never out of Sa- tans mares: their heart, like the field of the fluggard, its overgrown with the nettles of lulls, &c. As :lift frets iron unufed, and moths garments unworne,. fo good things are fhaken our of the hearts of idle perfons ; their fouls are but as fait tò keep their bodies from flinking : Ir !hall one day,. be, faid to them , Take. that unprofitable fervant Gc. Mat. z 5, 30. Tailor on Titus. Quell, U3'íay not amatnchange bis particularcalling ifhe di[like it and li'le another better :r Anfir. =Every one.oughtto continue conliantiy,and confcionably in his par- ticularcalling,wherein their calling to grace did find them if it be warrantable , and lawful, as wefee, 1Cor.7 so. No comfortable changeof a calling can be madeburinthefe cafes: f. Ofprivate neceffity, when a man is difenabled ro followit,or cannot get a fubfiftancc ,by it. z. Or.for thecommon good, and that truely fo, not hypocritically pre- tended , and for by-refpeéts. If any ratan then upon the giving of his name to :religion , [hall grow into negleél, diftafte , or derelielion of his hones} iaarticttlar calling, we mayever-flrongly fufpe6thim ofhollowneffe, and E e z hypo-, IV.
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