Chap.23 about our Calliugs,and Vocations. zis and affeClions ; as Citizensof Heaven;and pilgrims on earth , longing after the joyes of our own countrey, Phil.3.20. Coll.3.1,z. efpecially in themidff of our ordinary bufineffes, we fhould oft lift upour hearts ro God , cravinghis Melling in and giving him praife at the end of our work,not forgetting Chrifls Counfel, Mat.6.33. Secondly, we muff fanfifie them by theWord and pray- er : The firll is done whenwe labour ro fee our warrant our of Scripture for all v e do : doing allthings both for fubflanceand manner as Gods Word requircrh and direcleth : The fecond is done when byprayer we delire Gods bletfing upon all our labours , and returnehim thanks when we have obtained it, COI. 3. I7. For its Gods bleffngonly that makes rich, Prov. so. zz. Dent. 8. 13.18. He gives,and he takes away, Job i.2t. s Sam. z.8. Pfal. 1 13.7. albra- hamand Lot by Gods Welling waxed rich, Gen. 13. ç,6. and lfaác, Gen.z6.3.1 z. and ¡acob,Gen.3z.to. w idiom vhichallourlabourisin vain , TM. 127.i,1. Godwill blow upon it, Hag.r.6,9. ç. There are fundry virtues to be exercifed in the right and religious per- formance ofthe .duties ofour callings : As, (I) Knowledge, and judgement, whereby we are enabled to difcerne be- tween good, and evil , right, and wrong, without which wewalk in darkneffe , and (hall be apt to commit many errors. (z) Affiance in God,whereby-we call our felves upon his promïfe, and pro- vidence in the ufe of lawful means : as Pfal.37. ç. Commit thyway to the Lord, . till in him, and he (hall brine it topalfe. Forwhich end remember that God takes care ofthe fo les, cloatlts the lilies, Mat.6.z5,28. (3) Get and ufe agood confciznce both towards God and man , as Paul, Act.z4.x6. Heb.13.18. this will' keepus from all fecret fins,and craftyconvey- ances, wherebywe are naturally apt towrong our neighbours for our private advantage. (4) We mull get contentation, being in all things contented with Gods good pleafure, judgingthatcondition bell wherein he hathplacedus , indiffer- ently welcoming poverty, or riches, profperiry or adverfity , gain or lotie , becaufe they are rent ofGod, Phi/.4.i z. If we get this, we 'hall not be difcon- tented with the bafeneff of our callings, nor envyothers their great pre- ferments, their leffe labour , andmore gains, &c. It will alto keep us from bare covetoufnefs, knowing thatgodlineffe is thegreateflgain, I Tim. 6.6. Hence, Neb. 13. ç. (ç) We mull poffefs our fouls with patience,which we have needto do,con- fidering that we are daily fubjeâ tomany croffes, and mifcarriages which would otherwife difcourage us from going on. (6) We mull have our hearts replenifhed with thankfulnefs to God being always ready, when we obfervehis love in bleffing our labours , to render hint the praife of all, Gen, 3z. to. Not facrificing to our ownnets, as Hab.l.l6. But feeing all comes fromGod , to returne all praife to God, I Car.4.7 (7) We mull perform theduties ofour callingwith alacrity, and cheerful- nelle, doing it heartilyas to the Lord, Col. 3. 23, 24. who will reward our la- bours with an heavenly inheritance:and this willmake all our labours more eafie, and to be more acceptable to God. - (8) We mull obferve juflice inall theduties of our callings, doing nothing in thembut what may advance our neighbours good as well as our own, r Thef. 4.6. dealingwith others as we would that they fhoulddeal with us. Mr. Downams guide to Godlineffe. CHAP.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=