328 Of the ,Work affign'd to every Man, Vol. I. but bath made it our Duty fo to do. It is one of the Preceptsof the Gofpel, which the Apoftle chargeth the Bifhops andTeachers of the Gofpel to inculcate frequently upon Chriftians, that they which have believed in God, fhould be careful to maintain good Works, that is, to employ themfelves in the Works of an honeft Calling, for neceffary ufes ; that is, for the Support of their Families, and the reliefof thofe who are in want and neceflity. And the Apoftle lays great weight and ftrefs upon this, as a very great Duty, Tit. 3. 8. This is a faithful Saying, and thefe things I will that thou affirm conflantly, that they which have believed in God, might be careful tomaintaingood Works. Thefe things are good andprofitable unto Men ; that is, of general Benefit and Advantage to Mankind. So that"tio Man's Calling is a hindrance to Religion, but a part of it ; and by performing the Duties of Piety in their proper Seafons, and fpending the reft ofour Time in any honeft and ufeful Employment, we may make our whole Life a perpetual ferving ofGod ; we may glorify God in our eating and drinking, and in all other lawful and ufeful A&ions of Life. In ferving the Occafions and Neceuties of Life, withSobriety and Temperance, and in managing our World- ly Commerce with Juftice and Integrity, we may ferve God, and perform con- fiderable Duties of Religion. So that provided we do nothing that is finful, and manage the A&ions and Concernments of thisLife, with a due regard and fubferviency to the great lnte- refts ofEternity, we may do the Work of God all the while we are providing for our felves, and employed in the Works ofan honeft Calling : For God, who bath defigned this Life in order to the other, confiders the Neceflities of our prefent (late, and allows us to make Provifion for it. There are fame Perfons indeed, whofe Birth and Condition fets them above the common Employmentsof Life, and the Works of an ordinaryCalling : But thefe alfo have a Work given them todo 5 for God hath fent no Man into the World tonopurpofe, and only to take his Pafime therein ; neque cairn ita generali fumas á Natura, ut ad ludsem& jocum, fa5li efe videamur ; fed ad feveritatem potias, & qucedamfludia graviora atque majora ; for we are not (lays Tully, de Of Lib. z.) fo framed by Nature, as if we were made for (fort and jell, but for moreferions Employ- ments, and for greater and weightier Bufinefs ; and thofe who are tied to no parti- cular Calling, may allow fo much larger Portions of their time to Religion,and the Service of God ; and God likewife expects from them, that they fhould be ufeful to Mankind in Come higher and nobler way, according to the Publicknefs of their Station and Influence. Such Perfons may be ferviceable to their Country, and the Affairs of Government, and in the care of Publick Juflice, and may employ their Time in preparing and rendring themfelves more fit for this Service. They may find a great deal of work to do in the good Government of their Families, and in the prudent Care andManagement of their Eftates, and in reconciling Dif- ferences among their Neighbours, and in confidering the Necefíities of the Poor, and providing for their Supply. So that betides the proper Work of Religion, and the more immediate Service of God, every Man in the World, how exempt foever his Condition be from the common care and drudgery of Humane Life, may find work enough wherein he may ufefully employ all his time, and provide for his own, and for the common Benefit of Mankind and God expe&s it as a Duty from fuch, that every Man fhould employ himfelf in force Work or other, fuitable to the Station in which God hath placed him in this World. II. The Work which God hath given us to do in the World, confifts in do- ing what we can to further and promote the Salvation of others. This chiefly lies upon as, who are the Miniflers of God, and to whom the Word of Reconcilia- tion is committed. We are more efpecially Commiflìon'd and Appointed for this Work, and are Ambaffadors for Chri.ff, to befeech Men in his Read to be reconciled to God. We are fent by God in a more peculiar manner, and appointed for this very Work, to watch for Mens Souls, and to be the Inkruments and Means of their Eternal Happinefs. And therefore we who are fent by God in a more peculiar manner, and have this Work affigned us .to do in the World, ought
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