The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 27
§. XXVII. A right ordered conuerſation towards our ſelues, and that firſt in our particular callings.
FOr the order of our life towardsThy duty in reſpect of thy ſ…lfe. our ſelues, I finde one generall rule of large comprehenſion, of infinite worth deliuered in the 1 Cor. 7. 24.
Brethren, let eueryevery man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God:
The words, beſides the compellation, hauehave two things conſiderable,
1 That eueryevery Chriſtian hath two callings, the one his calling of life and the courſe or way he hath to liue in, in this world. The other his calling to bee a Chriſtian.
For theſe words, wherein he is called, are made perfect by that in the 20. verſ. in the ſame calling, wherin he is called viz. to Chriſtianity by the Goſpell embraced.
2 What is charged vponupon vsus concerning both theſe callings,
Concerning our particuler calling, three things.
1 That eueryevery man hauehave ſome calling.
2 That eueryevery man abide in that calling, not thinking that Religion and a calling cannot ſtand together.
3 That hee abide therein with God.
Concerning our generall calling to be Chriſtians.
1 To abide therein with God.
2 In all eſtates and changes of conditions in that calling of life we liue in, Therein alſo to abide with God. This is called in the old Teſtament, walking with God the righteouſneſſe, perfection, faith and obedience of Enoch and Noah is expreſſed in this one word, hee walked with God Gen. 5. 22 and 6. 9.
Of theſe punctually andIn thy particuler calling. briefely: and firſt for our particuler callings. Where
Firſt, it is a rule of a wel-ordered conuerſation to hauehave ſome lawfull calling, or courſe of life in which we are to bee employed: this is charged on all Adams ſonnes, in the ſweat of thy face thou ſhalt eate thy bread, a painful eſtate of life in ſome imployment to the good of Church, Common-wealth, or family, are none exempted from▪ that come from Adams loynes, though not all with the hands to take paines Gen. 3. 19. and Chriſtianity hath determined all idle & vnprofitable liuing to bee a diſordered or inordinate liuing, and that if any brother obey not this word, that ſuch be noted and that wee hauehave no companie with him, that he may be aſhamed, 2 Theſ. 3. 6. 10. the greateſt Dames in Iſrael might not eate the bread of Idleneſſe, and the higheſt Magiſtrates ſubmit to this rule, who are appointed of God to their places, that the people may liue a quiet and peaceable life in all godlineſſe and honeſty, Pro. 31. 27. 1 Tim. 2 2. how ſhould any inferiour thinke to rage and liue without compaſſe, as if they were exempt from the Lords gouernment.
A Gent…eman to whom landsThe calling▪ of a Gentleman. and poſſeſſions are left, whereby he needeth not put his hand to labour, may not ſpend his time altogether in hawking, hunting, riding about, or vponupon his paſtimes and ſports, and what he luſteth, either they are called to beare office in the commonwealth, or not, if called to an office, let them waite on their office: and ſeeke abilities to diſcharge it. The ſtudy therefore of the lawes of God and the Realme is their calling, beſides the Religious gouerning of their families, & the vpholding of their eſtate. Further they are to ſerue then Prince and Country with body and good…, aduice and Counſell, both in peace and warre, if they hauehave or hauehave not office, here is enough to ſpend their houres, without gaming and reuell, to prepare themſelues hereunto, and yet they are to take notice, that it is their parts to ſee to the prouiſion for the poore, the good order of the place where they are▪ the diſcountenancing of ſinne and vice, the reconciling of perſons at variance, and the Going before others in workes of mercy, and all good duties, as patter…es for imitation, Here is your calling.
The womans calling ſee in, Pro. 31. and 1 Tim. 5. 13. 14.
The calling of diſabled poore is not to runne the curſed Ca…itiſh life of a vagabond, but in his place to truſt in God, and to waite on him without fainting for that reliefe which ſhall bee ſufficient for them, looking on that in Iam. 1. 9. the brother of low degree, let him reioyce in that he is exalted, to bee rich in faith and heire of the kingdome, but I ſpeake not of ſuch poore as are mentioned in, Ier. 5. 4. Who are fooliſh, that know not the way of the Lord, nor the iudgement of their God.
God (ſeeing how neceſſary this is) giueth ſix dayes to labour, one hee reſerueth for his immediate worſhip: hee hath made vsus to doe good, and imployment is a preſeruatiue againſt errors in opinion, weakneſſe and decay in Religion, and looſe behauiour, it is luſts extinguiſher, the tamer of our bodies, the very ſchoole wherein wee improoue all our graces: here we can reſt on Gods bleſſing with comfort, take vp our croſſes with patience, becauſe for both we hauehave the promiſe of God, who will keepe vsus in all our wayes.
Elſe, we our ſelues are theeues, and all our riches, Riches of vanitie, Pro. 20. 4. Epheſ. 4. 28.
2 Secondly, we muſt abide in our calling and keepe the ſtations wherein we are ranked by our Generall, attend here to theſe rules.
1 That we be diligent in our callings, not hauing cunning but painfull hands, not buſie in other mens matters, not pretending excuſe or fearing the difficulties of our callings, Pro. 20. 4. and 26. 13. not giuen to ſleepe and ſloth, Pro. 26. 14. 15. and then to be obſtinate in that courſe verſe 16. not hunting Alehouſes or the company of lewd perſons which is now called good-fellowſhip, by our baſe drunkards, Pro. 21. 17. not wandering from thine owne houſe, though it bee not to place of ill ſame: but diligence beſeemeth. Pro. 10. 4. and 13. 4. the ſlothfull ſhall be vnderunder tribute, and this diligence extends it ſelfe to watchfulneſſe ouer the opportunities of thy calling, Pro. 10 5. and 6. 6, 7, 8. Eccleſ. 9. 10.
2 That we bee aduiſed and prouident in all our vndertakings, Pro. 21. 5. Prepare thy worke in the field, and afterwards build thy houſe. Nothing threatneth more an ill looſe in all a…aires; then precipitate beginnings. This haſtineſſe is either from leuity of minde or wilfulneſſe.
3 That we keepe within our compaſſe, not meddling with thoſe things that either our skil or our eſtates are not able to weld, Which proceedeth from a minde greedy of gaine; for the compaſſing whereof ſome hauing ventred in one action all their eſtates, they hauehave at once made ſhipwracke of all; the Lord being pleaſed to croſſe, ſome way vnexpected their ouer bold enterpriſes: ſo that, many times hauing thus deſired to ſet vp their gates, they hauehave come to that, I cannot digge, and to beg I am aſhamed.
4 That wee abide in our callings, not fleeting or changing our courſe of life without ſome euident warrantable cauſe, ſeeing the Lord firſt going out before vsus, leſt wee be like a bird that wandereth from her neſt, Pro. 27. 8.
5 Faithfulneſſe in words and dealings, no defrauding, deceiuing, cooſening, lying, diſſimulation, &c. Pro. 21. 6. 1 Theſ. 4. 6.
6 Cheerefulneſſe and contentation with our eſtates, auoyding paſſion, frowardneſſe, Pro. 11. 29, & 16. 32. & 19. 11. & 25. 28. & 17. 22. Eccleſ. 9. 7. 8.
3 Thirdly, we muſt abide with God in our calling and diligence and other praiſe worthy qualities in our labour, prooue vsus good laborers, but not good Chriſtians. Neither hauehave they any promiſe vnleſſe wee adde this. But dwell in the land and be doing good, and verily, Saith God, thou ſhalt be fed. Pſa. 37. 3. & 128. 2 & 34. 9. 10.
What is it to abide with God? A.
1 It is to begin all in him, and looke vp to him in all our wayes, in the morning to a…aken with him, giuing to God the firſt of our thoughts, our firſt words and the firſt fruites of the day, Pſal. 5. 3. 4. & 119. 147. Pro. 6. 22. the time neede not bee long, it may be in ſo much ſpace done …elnigh as one would ſay the Lords prayer ouer treatably: this will ſeaſon the heart, and remember for thy incouragement that place in 2 Chro. 19. 9. The eyes of the Lord runne to and fro throughout the whole earth, to ſhew himſelfe ſtrong in the behalfe of him whoſe heart is perfect towards him, then after thy awaking with God; it is to begin the day with ſolomne prayer, it is to looke vp to the Lord in all thy wayes through the whole day. Pſal. 119. 168. walking alwayes as in his ſight, this i… to remember God in thy wayes, an admirable preſeruatiue againſt all euill: and it hath the promiſe Mat. 6. 33. 1 Tim. 4. 3. 4. G…n. 24. 11. 12. 26 27. deſire therefore to ſee God in …ll; in his prouidence, in his workes.
2 It is to doe all our labours not for gaine and the deſire to be rich; but as dutie, and becauſe we are ſet of God in our places & doe ſerue God in doing our duty Col. 3. 24. Ioſ 1. 8. from whom alſo we exp…ct a reward: and ſo liue as Pilgrimes and ſtrangers, auoiding worldlineſſe, not ſetting our hearts on riches, if they increaſe Pſal. 62. 10. vſing the world, not louing it: not carefull any way about the ſucceſſe, or the after time but diligent and prouident, and refering the reſt to Gods bleſſing. 1 Cor. 7. 32. Pro. 27. 1. 2 Iam. 4. 13. 14. 15.
3 It is to practice our Chriſtian graces in our callings to the adorning of the doctrine of Chriſt our Sauiour in all things Tit. 2. 9. as piety, the feare to offend, faith, patience, obedience, truth, meekneſſe, innocency &c that the Lord may be ſancti…ed in our hearts and glorified in our liues: knowing we hauehave only ſo much and ſo many of theſe graces as we can expreſſe in the power and life of them in our liues. If thou faint, ſaith Salomon, in the day of aduerſity, thy ſtrength is ſmall. Pro. 24. 10.
4 It is to watch againſt the Temptations of our callings which are the ſins or the croſſes that meete vsus in our callings, 1 Sins that attend ſuch a calling are ſuch as wicked men, the men of this world hauehave vſed for gaines ſake, …ither out of couetuous deſires to increaſe their eſtate, or when they were hard beſtead to get out of miſery or avoid the inconueniences; thou muſt ſo order thy eſtate, that thoſe ſinnes may bee auoided. 2 The Croſſes and afflictions of thy calling. Know that no calling is without his trouble and gr…iuance, and therfore it is not for thee to be weary of thy ſtate and to deſire change, as if another calling would be freer from trouble, No, no: But rather arme thy ſelfe to beare and take vp thy croſſes, not harkening to the ill motions of thy fleſh, the wicked counſel of Satan tendred to thy heart to haſte to ill meanes, but reſt on God who giueth an iſſue to the temptation, that wee may be able to beare it. Thus of our behauiour in our particuler callings: in our generall calling now followeth.