The Christians Daily Sacrifice, Chapter 20 – Chapter 21
CHAP. XX.
ANd this is the next maine occurren… that falls out in the day,Callings, and following thereof. euen to follow our Callings.
And here obserue.
First, that to walke in a set calling for the common good, is the ordinance of God imposed on eueryevery Christian.Sect. 1. That it is Gods ordinance to walke in a calling 2. Thes. 3. 12. Gen. 3. 19 Ephes. 4. 28.
And that:
1 To communicate Gods prouidence in the gouernment of the world.
2 To maintaine a comely order in the administration thereof.
3 To imploy such varietie of gifts as God bestoweth on men aright.
4 To maintaine humane societies in the bond of peace.
5 To auoyde idlenes, and curiosity.
6 To preuent errors and distraction in religion.
7 To fit vsus to the ends of Gods prouidence.
8 That God may be glorified in ordering such infinite varietie of callings, both for the common, and each priuate good, and that especially for the life to come.
And this serueth:
1 To teach vsus to trie our callings by this, that they hauehave their warrant from the word of God, and that we be fitted thereto, and so to reiect the contrarie.
2 To sanctifie our callings by bounding them in the Lord. Ephes. 6. 1. because they are preserued by the same meanes by which they were ordained.
Secondly learne we:
That howsoeuer callings be the ordinance of God,Sect. 2. Callings to be expected by ordinary meanes. yet in these daies we are to expect them,
1 By the ministerie of men and
2 Our owne industrie fitting vsus thereto.
3 Submitting our selues herein to the rule of the word.
And that because:
1 Extraordinary callings belonged to the infancy of the Church and times of extremity, &c.
2 We hauehave a sure word better then any such extraordinary reuelation. Heb. 1. 2. Pet. 1.
3 The prouidence of God is subordinate to meanes.
5 God hath ordained this labor to humble vsus, and withall to comfort vsus in the right and vse of his blessings. Eccles. 1.
And this serueth:
1 To reproue presumption vponupon extraordinary callings in these daies, and corruption in the obtaining of them.
2 To teach vsus for outward callings to depend vponupon the meanes which God hath sanctified thereto, Namely;
1 The authority of the magistrate…
2 Our fitnes to the calling.
3 And it fitnes for vsus.
3 To condemne those that vnderunder pretence of Religion reiect humane callings.
4 And also to reproue such who wander vp and downe, betaking themselues to no calling.
5 To conuince also those that thinke callings are onelyonly appointed to get blessings, whereas indeede they both serue to get, and also to vse aright those that are cast vponupon vsus; wherein gentlemen are much faultie.
Thirdly, Obserue we:
That though it be the ordinance of God to hauehave a calling,Sect. 3. The right vse of our calling, specially to be stood vponupon. yet it is not the hauing of a calling, but the right vse thereof, whereby we glorisie God, and further our selues to happines. 1. Cor 9. 1. Cor. 7.
And this serueth:
1 For the condemnation of those that whē they are in a calling make no conscience thereof, esteeming it rather a reward of former seruice, then a place of further seruice.
2 For our instruction, that wee measure the worth of our calling by the right vse thereof, and onelyonly in the same expect the blessings.
Now that we may vse our callings aright, we must obserue these rules:
First,Sect. 4. How to vse our callings aright. our iudgements must bee further informed concerning our callings, and that by these directions.
1 That each one by profession, hath a general calling to be a Christian, which excludes not, but orders the ciuill calling. 1. Cor. 2. 20.
2 That the calling which God hath placed vsus in, is fittest for vsus. Phil. 4.
And this serueth:
1 Much for the maintenance of order, and the auoyding of confusion in church and common-wealth.
2 To preuent idlenes and distraction in our callings.
3 To secure vsus of good successe therein.
Thirdly, Learne we,
That all our actions bee warranted by our callings, as kept within the compasse thereof.
And that because:
1 Else they are not done in saith, and so cannot please God. He. 11. 2.
3 They doe exclude themselues out of the protection of the almightie. Psal. 91.
And this serueth:
1 To condemne al busie bodies and presumptuous vsurpers of other mens callings, vponupon what pretence soeuer. 2. Sam. 6. Ioh. 21. 21. 1. Pet. 4.
2 To discerne of the integritie of our actions; because euen a good action not warranted by a calling, is sinne.
3 To instruct vsus, that though we see no likel…hood of doing good, yet we must not draw backe so farre as our calling requireth. Ier. 1. 20. 19. Ezech. 2. 5. Esay. 6. &c.
4 To aduise vsus how we may not buse Gods prouidence, and so expose our selues to his iustice.
5 To comfort vsus in the ill successe of our endeauours, when wee hauehave done what becommeth vsus for the redresse thereof, that our labour shall not bee in vaine. 1. Cor. 15. Esay. 49. 3.
Fourthly learne we;
That together with the following of our earthly callings, we must ioyne the generall calling of Christianitie: because,
1 In seruing of man wee must serue God.
2 And in prouiding for this life, we must also store vp for heauen. Luke 15▪ and
3 These things will not prosper vnles the better plough go to. Ag. 1.
And this serueth:
1 To condemne those that prophane their callings by neglecting the more necessarie.
2 To trie our estate in grace.
3 To comfort vsus in our base callings, because God may as well be serued in these as in the greatest, and
4 To humble men in eueryevery calling, the mightie, who thinke their calling either must not stoope to religion, or hath no leisure there to: the poore, who thinke their want to be a priuiledge from following their spirituall callings.
Fiftly, Obserue we,
That whatsoeuer shall be sufficient for the right vse of our callings, shall be reuealed vntounto vsus from the word, & thēce to be warrāted. Ac. 9.
And that because:
1 God is as well the ordainer of the meanes, as of the end.
2 And in his louelove he will hauehave vsus certaine what to doe.
3 And heereby presumption and distraction are happily preuented.
And this serueth:
1 To trie the fitnes and blessing of our callings.
2 To humble vsus in rega…d of our ignorance and presumption.
3 To comfort vsus if through want or ignorance we may faile in some point, be cause all is not reuealed at once, and to assure vsus of good successe therein. Psal. 73.
4 To prouoke vsus to seeke after knowledge as after treasures. Prouerbs 2.
5 To teach vsus not to presume vponupon good meanings and intentions in our actions. 1. Sam. 13.
6 To condemne all rash and licentious actions whatsoeuer.
Sixtly, We must be resolued:
That our callings are imposed, not to merite by them, but to bee humbled and exercised in them, in thankefulnes vntounto God, for his louelove vntounto vsus in Iesus Christ.
And that because,
1 Christ Iesus hath sufficiently deserued for vsus, and so we shall derogate from his sufficiency.
2 God doth not require it at our hands. Esay 1.
3 We are neuer able to performe it, but euen when we hauehave done all we can, wee are vnprofitable seruants. Luke 17. 10.
And this,
1 Condemneth all Popish and voluntarie seruice.
2 It encourageth vsus in our callings, seeing God requireth but what we can, nay, what he giues.
3 It comforteth vsus in our imperfections, and taketh away that flauish feare of hirelings and mercenaries.
4 It assureth vsus of our saluation.
Seuenthly, Learne we,
That though we faile in the best, yet notwithstanding we must not faile to doe our best in our callings.
And that,
1 By this faithfulnes, wee may witnes that our callings are sanctified vntounto vsus, in our obedience to God in them.
2 That they may be meanes of our enioying of heauen. 1. Tim. 6. 19.
3 That we may be also possessers of greater glorie in the heauens. Mat. 25. 26. &c.
And this serueth:
1 To condemne al time-seruing, and customary in our callings. Eph. 6. 5, 6.
2 Wee are prouoked to striue with the best for the best gaine, & in these things to seek after heauen.
And this is done:
By walking in our callings by faith and not by feare, that so both our persons and actions may bee approued.
And this is knowne:
1 Being warranted frō the word, in what we do, or intend. 2. Pet. 1.
2 Our consciences conuinced from the word to the same: and also
3 Witnessing with vsus in what we doe. And that,
1 With cheerefulnes, not making hast to be rich, but casting our care vponupon God, and committing the successe to him. 1. Pet. 5. Eccle. 9. 9.
2 With diligence, redeeming the time, and entertaining the meanes of Gods prouidence, and not being wilfully guilty of the neglect thereof. Ephe. 3. 16. 17.
3 In wisedome, doing the most necessary duety and submitting alwaies these earthly callings to the furtherance of the heauenly, and expressing our spiritual calling, euen in the vse of this, & so auoyding negligēce that we be not intangled with couetousnes.
4 In louelove & meeknes, making others partakers of the benefit of our labours.
5 In patience, not tying God so much to the outward blessing of our labors, as contēting our selues with the testimony of our good conscience therein. Heb. 13. 18.
6 With conscience, doing that which may be most profitable to Church & Cōmon-weale: wherby are condemned all vaine, and new fangled inuentions, as rather maintaining sin, then breeding any good to the Common-wealth. Zeph. 1. Esay 3. 19. 20.
7 In holines, sanctifying thē daily by the word & praier. 1. Tim. 4. 5.
8 With constancy, loboring against ambition, enuy, & impatiency, and assuring our selues that our meanest endeuours shalbe accepted in Iesus Christ.
9 To the glory of God, ayming at it in all things, and preferring it aboue all 1. Cor. 10. 31.
Admit…ing here these considerations:Sect. 5. How to leaue callings.
1 That we are not bound to our callings any longer then meanes & maintenance is supplied, but that in this respect we may leaue or change our callings; yea, for the publick good also the caling may be chāged
2 That we may intermit our calings.Sect. 6. How to intermit them.
And that,
1 For Religions sake, as to heare the word, &c. vnlesse some bond of couenāt, or necessary present occasion come betweene.
2 We may also intermit our callings to serue the publicke good, or to minister to the present and vrgent necessity of our neighbour, our present case allowing it.
3 Recreation also requires a vacancie from our callings. So that
1 Our recreation bee in things lawfull.
2 That it be moderate.
3 And that vpō the daies of labor.
4 That it further not onelyonly the particular, but the generall calling.
Fourthly, Necessitie also may impose a surceasing of our calling.
As when:
1 By sicknes we are detayned, or some such inuincible casualtie.
Thirdly, we must resigne vp our callings.
And that:
1 When God cals by death.
2 When other meanes warranted by the conscience, guided by the word do, require and: that,
3 With testimonie of a good conscience. 1. Sam. 12. 3.
4 By giuing vp our account for them vntounto the great iudge. Heb. 13.
Thus are wee to performe our callings.
The benefite whereof is exceeding great.Sect. 7. Benefit of callings. For:
1 Hereby wee shall be sure to be fed. Psal. 37.
2 We shall be better fitted to our generall callings.
3 We shall lay vp a good foundation for heauen. 1. Tim. 6. 19.
4 We shal exercise herein many spirituall graces. 1. Cor. 7. as patience, faithfulnes, &c.
5 Hereby we shal perceiue Gods power, and holines, euen in these base and meane things, and bee prouoked to seeke him in greater blessings. Mat. 6.
6 We shall be humbled, and so prouoked to hunger after our dissolution.
And thus farre concerning our behauiour in our callings.
CHAP. XXII.
THe next maine incident to the day,Of the right vse of the creatures. is the vse of the creatures.
And these are of two sorts.
1 Such as serue for the necessary preseruation of life, as food, apparell.
2 Such as serue especially for the better being of the soule, as company.
Concerning food and sustenance, obserue these rules.
1 That eueryevery creature is good, and that there is no more holines in the one, thē in the other. 1. Tim. 4. 5. …, though each Christian hath a right to all the creatures, yet is he to be restrayned in the vse of them.
And that by these limits:
1 The bond of Religion, which enioynes some times an intire abstinence from the creature, that so we might be better fitted to spirituall duties. 1. Tim. 5. 23. 1. Pe. 5. 8. Ion. 3.
2 The bond of Christian policie may restraine vsus the vse of some creatures on some daies, for the benefit of the Common-wealth, to which we ought to obey for conscience sake. Rom. 13. 5.
3 The bond of nature restraines vsus that we may not eat but for necessitie. Eccles. 10. 16. Mat. 12. 1.
4 The bond of conscience and equity also enioynes vsus, that we may not lawfully eate, vnlesse we hauehave labored for it. 2. Thess. 3. 12.
5 The bond of our callings binds vsus so to eate, as our Chr…stian calling… may be furthered and out Ciuil callings will maintaine. 1. Tim. 5. 8.
6 The bond of Charity will…s vsus not to eat our morsels alone, but to prouide and reserue somewhat for the poore. Iob 29. 31. Psalme 16. Neh. 8.
7 The bond of Sobriety restraines …s from faring deliciously eueryevery day, & from far-fetcht dainties, but to vse our liberty as if we vsed it not, auoiding vnnecessary prouocations of gluttony. Esay 5. 9. 10. Luk. 16. 1. Cor. 7. 23.
8 The bond of contentment, which wisheth the seruant not to enuie at the more liberall fare of his Master, but each to bee content with the portion that is fit for him. 1. Tim. 6. 6, 8.
Thirdly, we are to renue our right in the creature by daily sanctifying them vntounto vsus by the word & praier. 1. Tim. 5. 1. Sam. 9. 13.
And that:
1 By acknowledging our selues vnworthy of them. Gen. 32. 10.
2 Giuing God the glory of them with thanksgiuing. Mat. 26.
3 Seasoning them with holy and religious thoughts, and cheerefull yet profitable conference. Iudg. 14. Luke 14.
4 Offering the strength of them vntounto God in our callings.Sect. 2. The benefit thereof. 1. Kings 19. 8.
The benefit hereof is:
1 We shall auoyd superstition, and that damnable doctrine of diuels. 1. Tim. 4. 2.
2 We shall be better enabled to spirituall duties. Matt. 26. 30.
3 we shall vse our Christian libertie aright. Rom. 14.
4 Wee shall further nature to grace.
5 We shall eate of our owne, and so be blessed. Psal. 128. 1.
6 We shal prouide safely for the time of famine, and eate to liue. Psa. 33. 19. Psal. 37.
7 We shall make vsus friends of this Mammon of iniquitie, and ease our selues wel of an heauy burthen. Euke 16.
8 We shall be readie to die, and prepared to the meate that shall endure for euer. Iohn 6. 27.
And thus much concerning our food.Of company, and The like may we conceiue concerning our apparell.