Ver. 4 the 1 7th Chapter of St. J O H N. i not to grow hi Stature ; fo Life was given to the Plants, that they might grow bulky, and increa(e in Stature : not meetly to tall Pleafures, that is the happinefs of the Bea(hs, to enjoy Pleafures without remorfe. God gave Men higher Faculties of Rea - fon and Confcience, to manage Come Work and Bufinefs for the Glory of'God, and his own eternal Happinefs, The Rule is general, that all Adam's Sons are to eat their Bread in the (wear of their Brows, to follow Come honefl Labour and Vocation: Adam s two Sons were Heirs Apparent of the World, the one imployed in Tillage, the other in Paflurage. The World was never made to be an Hive for Drones and Idle Ones. It is true, there is a difference between Callings, Come live by Manual Labours, others by more Noble Employments, as Magiftrates, Minifters, who ftudy for Publick Good: Manual Labour is not required of all,' becaufe it is a thing that is not required propter fe, as limply good and neceflary, but proper aliad, as for Maintenance and Support of Life, to eafe others, and to fupply the Ufes of Charity. Ephef. 4.28. Let him that fiole, ffeal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his Hands the thing that is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 'When the Ends of Labour cannot otherwife be obtained, then Handy - Labour is required. All others are to ferve their Generation according to the will of God, Alla t 3. 26. As Inftruments of Providence to ferve the Common Good, to promote the Welfare of their Family, Neighbourhood, Country. Thofe that fiend their whole Life in Eating, Drinking, Sporting, and Sleeping, are guilty of brutifh Idlenefs, one of Sodom's Sins. Ezek. 16.49. Behold, this was the Iniquity of thy Sifter Sodom ; Pride, Fulnefs of Bread, and abundance of Maitre was in her, and in her Daughters. And therefore thofe that are freed from Ser- vice, and Handy. Labour, are not freed from Work and Bufinefs. If any Man mu(I be allowed to be Idle, then one Member muff be loft in the Body Politick. A Man is born a Member of Come Society, Family, or City, and is to feek the good of it : he is 't vX( eae. We fee in the Body Natural, there is no Member but bath its Fun - &ion and Lire, whereby it becometh ferviceable to the whole. All have not the fame Office, that would make a confufion ; but all have their Ufe, either as an Eye, or as a Hand, or as a Tooth. So in the Body Politick, no Member may be ufelefs, they muff have one Funllion or another wherein to imploy themfelves, otherwife they are un- profitable Burdens of the Earth. Again, every Man is more or lets intrufted with a Gift, which he is to exercife and improve for the good of others, and at the day of Judgment he is to give up his Accounts ; as you may 'learn from the Parable of the Talents, Mat.25. If he hath but one Talent, it mutt not be hidden in a Napkin. Well then, if every Man hath a Gift, for which he is accountable to God, he mutt have a Calling ; t Cor. 7.17. But as God bath dillributed to every Man, as the Lord path called every Man, fo let him walk, and chufe his (late of Life. Betides, a Calling is neceflary to prevent the Mifchiefs of Idlenefs, and thofe Inconveniences that follow Men not employed. Standing Pools are apt to putrify, but running Waters are fweeteft; an idle Man is a Burden to Himfelf, a Prey to Satan, a Grief to the Spirit of God, a Mifchief to others. He is a Burden to himfelf, for he knoweth not what to do with his Time; in the Morning he fays, Would God it were Evening ; and in the Even- ing, would God it were Morning. The Mind is like a Mill, when it wanteth Corn, it grindethupon it felf. He is a Prey to Satan ; the Hosfe is emptied, fwept, and ,gar - nifhied : Andthenl,e goeth, and taketh with himfelf fven other Spirits more wicked than himfelf, and they enter in and dwell there, Mat. 12. 44, 45. The Devil findeth them at leifure. When David was idle on the Tarras, he was tempted to Adultery, Birds are feldom taken in their Flight,but when they pitch and tell on the Ground. He is a Grief to God's Spirit : Ephef. 4. 28. Let him that fiole, fleal no more ; but rather let him labour, working with his Hands, that he may have to give to him that needeth : with Veerf. go. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. Idle Men quench the vigor of their Natural Gifts, and lofe thofe Abilities that are bellowed on them. He is a Mifchief to Others ; 2 Theff, 3. is. For we hear there are fame that walk among you diforderly, peshiv iiyo*t.4vtss, &Mèo, acs tsessei olte4ms, working not at all, but are bufy-bodies. They that do nothing,will do too much ; no Work maketh way for ill Work, or for Cenfure, and bufy inquifition into other Mens A &ions, and fo they prove the Fire-brands of Contention, and unneigh- bourly Quarrels. There mull be a Calling, and a Work to do. 3. This Work it given them by God. He appoinjeth to every one his Task, and will be glorified by no Works, but what are by himfelf affigned to them in their Sta tion. (r) BY
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