Perkins - BX9318 P47 1626 v1

.A 'TreatiftoJCallings. 773 points, it will appeare; that mo~men come A text in hand, the holy Ghoft mectes with this 010rt oftheir duties:for whereasttis the prolightnege, by commanding euery man to con· petty of vnfained loue , nottofeeke hisowne tinue conllant indoing the duties ofhis partithings ~ but the gOodofothers : thecommon cular calling; Let eHerJ 7!Mnabide in thllt1JOCdti. praaife of men isto imploy theirpaines for onwhertin he w.u caUed. And we muftbecare· themfelucs, accordingtothecommonfaying; fulltoauoidthree lets of Conftancie: AmEuery man for himfelfe,&God for vs al.Now bition,Enuy,Impatience, Ambition is a vice, are the euill daies, wherein menare louers of whereby any man thinking better,efhimfelfe, themfelues. Themooning caufe almoft in euethen there is caufe he !hould , becomes malery man that caufeth him todo the dutiesof his content with his particular calling, and feekes calling, isthe refpet'tofpriuatebenefit. It is for himfelfe an higher place, ancl a betterehardtofiodea man that labours in his calling ftate. Anexample of this Ambition we haue vpon loue to Gods glory and the gootl of his in our firft parents:who by Satansallurement, brethren. Thus we foe how Gods word giues liecame male-content with that eftatewherin dire~ion for theholy vfeofour calling<· they werecreated , & fought toattaine to the The fecond means to fanl\ifie ourcallings, B condition ofGod himfelfe. And this finne of and the workes tbereof,is Prayer.This prayer theirs cleaues faft totbe natete ofeuery man isthat, wherby wedonotonly prayvntoGod and by itwee are eafily carried to adiilikeoi· forthepardon ofoudins, and for the fupply o~r condition. Thus .4bfolom through Amoffuchgrac.s,as,ocernelifeeternall,but parbmon, wasmooued to feeke hisfathers king- "ticularly,for a blefsingvpon the labours ofour dQme,iudging bafely ofhis prefent efiate; for callings; whofe beginning mull beWith pray- <>utof naturall felfe-loue fpriogeth·AmbirioA. er, andindue feafonend wirhthankfgiuing. And for the better redrefsing of this vice in Theoommandemenr to thispurpofeis plaine, oor felues, euery man mufl enter into confide. Wliatf.eueryedoinwordordecd,d.al/intheif4'ne rationof his owne eltate: W< mull: bethinke "o{the LordJc[UI.giHingthank.ts roGod,Co/.3.17• our felues,that in refpet't <>four bodies we are The me~ning is, thac when we enterprife any bur dull: an"d afhes, and to dull wee ~ufi re. bufiues)either in fpeech or at'tio, we mult fi eft turne agairie: that in refpe6l ofthe difpofition callon GGd for his blefSing,&gluehim thanks ofourhearts,altogether fet vponfinne,we are in the end. v.,.;d(aith, Pfol ~>7·•· Exceptthe farre more wretchedthenanyotker creature. Lordbuildthe hoHfo,thry tabor in 7Jaineth4tbuild andalfo that of our felues wee haue not any it; and<xcepttbc Lordk!epetht Cirie,the watch- C fufficiency for the doingoftheleaft and fmal· mwk!epes thewatchi•vaine.JfP•Hibefore bee left dutieof the bafef.l calling in the world: took fhipping prai<d onthe!hoare,then much for ofour felues we are notfufficient to thinke more mulhvedoeit, in the nlaineand weighone good_thought, much lcfk to perfOrme a tie workesofour callings. Parent~ in their fagooddutte acceptable to God, in any callrng milies teaeh their childrento liiy, Father I pay WhJtfoeuer. And therefore we muQ confider yollbiej{eme, Mother I prayy•ub/effeme. Well, with our felues,that inour particular callings Gods Church is his family, and men that liue wee are but as weake inftraments in thehand thereinare thechildren ofGod ; heis the Faofthe Lord,who is the principall worker and ther and the Mafter Of chatfamily : tberefoie agent• Thefeand thelike meditations might let this praaife of earthly pate~ts teach vs, mooue vs to contentation in the calling in when we begin t~e at'tionsof <>urcalling, to which God hath placed vs. goe to oul' heauenly Father for his bleiSing. The fecond impediment to Conftancie, is This w<e mu!l: relliem6er to pM<life , and fo Eoutc, which is a pining away ofthe heart, !hall we fant'tifiethe'workes ofour callings. when we_f~e othero placed in better callings ,1'he fccond thing required, in doing the and condtttonsrben•our felues.This is a comwotlalofamans-callingingoodd!anner, and D monfinnc, anditisthecanli:ofmuchdilfentiwhtcb fcraes alfo for a oood continuance to on in the common wealth. It is one of v1f•- the.callihg, isG:on!l:&nc~. And it is nothing chia•tlhispolicies, toholdeitnecellario in a elfc,but a perfeuel'ancoln>good duties; whicb commot~-wealth, that men offundrydegrecs is the tnore needfull,becaafe ic 'is'no commcnand calimg•, !hould enuy and maligne eachodation for vs,to make choife ofa good and fit thcr.But cootrariwife iris amanifefrhindrace calling, and to entcr-iato-it, vnlelle wee goe eo conftaocyingood duties, aod hurtfull both rh!ongl\-ftitchi~>tllerluties thereof•. Foreuen to Church and comm<>n-wealth. And for the ' as the.fouldietin the field moft not change !>is bettcrredrefsing ofthis fault,weare toconfiphct~ wherein hee is placed by-theGencrall; der,tbat the gre.reft callings that bce,are not bnt mull abide by it,totheventringofhis life: ord~incd for the maintenance ofpride, & for fomuft the Cllriftian continue aixl abide in thepriuatc benefitofmen, but for thecomhiscalling,withoat changeor alrerailo. There mon good. Secondly, thatfuch as arc placed is'ac~rtaine lightnelfe in the nature of man , in thegreate!l callings,haue thegreatell char· W!tereby it commeth to palfe, that many like gcs, and therefore are toyceld vnto (!;od the better df other mens callings then of their greareft accompt. . · owne·: and hereupt:in·~re mooued vponeuery Thethird impediment ofConllancy isimlighroceafion toaltettheircalliog. But in the patience, whichisadifquietncsofminde;ari• . V nu fing~--

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