A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 18
CAP. XVIII.
Of our daily exerciſe in the duties of our callings, and of diuers vertues required in them.
§ Sect. 1 That we muſt make choyce of lawfull callings.
HAuing thus begun the day by the performance of theſe religious duties, we muſt in the next place betake our ſelues to the duties of our lawfull callings. Neither can we ſufficiently approoue our ſelues vntounto God, if we doe not ioyne theſe with the other, for he will be ſerued, not onelyonly in the generall duties of Chriſtianity, but alſo in thoſe ſpeciall duties which are peculiar vntounto thoſe places and callings in which he hath ſet vsus, either in the Church or Common-wealth. Neither is it ſufficient for him who is called to be a Magiſtrate, Miniſter, Maſter of a family, or ſeruant, that hee performe thoſe duties which are common vntounto him with all Chriſtians, vnleſſe he alſo with like care and indeuour, performe thoſe ſpeciall duties which belong to his owne place and calling. And heere firſt is required, that our calling be lawfull, and agreeable to Gods will and Word; that is, ſuch an one, as our labours in it may tend to Gods glory, the good of the Church and Common wealth, and the furthering not onelyonly of our temporall, but alſo our ſpirituall good, and the eternall ſaluation of our ſoules; and not ſuch as being vnlawfull hindreth theſe ends; as thoſe that liue by vnlawfull Artes and Trades, Players, Gameſters, and ſuch like; for then the greater paines wee take in ſuch callings, the greater is our ſinne, the more wee diſhonour God, hurt our neighbours, and hinder our owne ſaluation. Secondly, that wee bee in ſome meaſure qualified with ſuch gifts as are fit for our callings; for thoſe whom God calleth vntounto any place, hee furniſheth them with ſuch competencie of gifts, as that they may profitably performe the duties required vntounto it. And if our calling bee lawfull, and wee thus fitted for it, then may wee ſay with the Apoſtle Paul, that wee are called by the will of God, and may with cheerefulneſſe 2. Cor. 1. 1.and comfort goe on in it, expecting his bleſſing vponupon our labours, and in the end of our liues, a rich reward for doing him therein faithfull ſeruice. Thirdly, our minds and hearts muſt be ſettled in our callings, ſo as we neither ſhift and change, vnleſſe it be vponupon waighty and neceſſary cauſes, nor intrude and buſie our ſelues in the callings of others; for this were to ouerthrow all order, and bring confuſion into Church and Common wealth; and to croſſe Gods wiſe prouidence in the gouernment of the world, who hath giuen variety of gifts, which he hath appointed to be exerciſed in variety of callings, that being helpefull and ſeruiceable mutually vntounto one another, humane ſocieties might be preſerued, & peace and louelove nouriſhed in them. And therefore as in a well-gouerned Army, eueryevery one keepeth his place and ſtation vntounto which his Generall hath deſigned him, & not only ſerueth him generally as a Souldier, but in that place and office vntounto which he is appointed and choſen: So muſt wee demeane our ſelues towards our great Commander, and not thinke it enough to performe good duties, vnleſſe we doe thoſe which belong to our callings; not out of fancie and fickle vnconſtancie, leauing our ſtation; but as the Apoſtle requireth, abide in the ſame calling wherein God hath placed vsus.1. Cor. 7. 20, 24.
§. Sect. 2 That we muſt be regenerate, before we can ſerue God acceptably in our callings.
But it is not ſufficient that we be ſettled in a lawfull calling, and that we painfully performe the duties that are required in it (for this a meere worldling may doe out of carnall and earthly reſpects, either for his owne pleaſure, credit, or profit) but that we ſo carry and demeane our ſelues in it, as that we may by our labours and indeuours glorifie God, further our own ſaluation, and aduance the good of the Church & Common wealth. VntoUnto which, diuers things are required, ſome whereof reſpect our perſons, and ſome the actions and duties which we performe. VntoUnto our perſons there is required, that we be regenerate and ſanctified. For our perſons muſt be accepted, before any of our workes can pleaſe God, and bee holy and righteous, before we can bring foorth the fruits of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe. For as vntounto the pure all things are pure: ſo vntounto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing, Tit. 1. 15. Pro. 21. 27. verſe 4.is nothing pure, but euen their minde and conſcience is defiled. And if the ſacrifices of the vvicked are abominable, and their very prayers are turned into ſinne; hovv much more are the ordinary vvorkes of their callings ſinfull and odious in Gods ſight? Neither can ſuch as are vnſanctified expect any bleſſing of God vponupon their labour, or that they ſhould proſper Pſal. 1. 3. & 112. 1, 2. &c. Pſal. 128. 1.in any thing vvhichwhich they doe or take in hand, ſeeing by Gods promiſe, this priuiledge is limited vntounto the righteous and ſuch as feare him.
§ Sect. 3 That we muſt performe the duties of our callings in faith.
VntoUnto the actions alſo and duties of our callings, that they may be acceptable vntounto God, diuers things are required. And theſe are either ſuch vertues and graces which goe before, as being the cauſes of all our good actions and proceedings, or ſuch as doe accompany and attend vponupon them. Of the former ſort, the firſt and principall is a true and liuely faith, whereby I vnderſtand not only a iuſtifying faith which aſſureth vsus of the remiſſion of our ſinnes, and of the louelove and fauour of God, and which by vniting Hab. 11. 6. Iohn 15. 5. Rom. 14. 23.vsus vntounto the true vine Chriſt, doth inable vsus in him to bring forth the fruits of righteouſneſſe, without which we cannot pleaſe God, nor doe any good thing, ſeeing all wee doe is ſinne; but alſo a particular act of this faith, whereby we are perſwaded that our callings and the duties which wee performe in them being pleaſing vntounto God, the Lord wil giuegive a bleſſing vponupon all our labours and indeuours. For which purpoſe our faith muſt hauehave a warrant and ground out of Gods Word, both inioyning theſe duties, and promiſing a bleſſing vntounto the performance of them. And thus ſhall wee Hab. 2. 4.liue the life of faith, which is ſo often commended vntounto vsus in the Scriptures, when as therein wee doe not only the religious duties of Gods ſeruice, but alſo the duties of our callings, whereby wee ſhall bee incouraged to goe forward in them with all alacrity and cheerefulneſſe, when as we are aſſured that God will bleſſe thoſe labours which himſelfe hath required; and not bee diſmayed with thoſe croſſes and troubles which befall vsus in them, ſeeing we are ſure, that by Gods bleſſing and gracious aſſiſtance, wee ſhall ouercome them, and hauehave a good end and iſſue of all our labours.
§ Sect. 4 That the duties of our callings muſt proceede from LoueLove.
Secondly, the duties of our callings muſt proceede out of vnfained louelove towards God and our neighbours, which is the fountaine of all true obedience, and not principally from ſelfe-louelove or louelove of the world, which being poyſonous rootes of all ſinne, will taint all our workes and actions which ſpring from them. They muſt ariſe from the louelove of God, which moueth thoſe in whom it is, to conſecrate wholy vntounto him their liues and labours, in all things deſiring to ſerue him, who ſo loueth vsus, and whom we ſo louelove, both in the immediate duties of his worſhip, and alſo in the ordinarie duties of our callings. And this is done, when as wee labour in them, not firſt and chiefly for worldly gaine and aduantage, thereby to pleaſe our ſelues; but in obedience to Gods Commandement, who requireth theſe duties of vsus, ſtudying in all things to pleaſe him, and that our actions both for the matter and manner may be approued and accepted in his ſight. Secondly, wee muſt performe the duties of our callings out of louelove towards our neighbours, ſeeking in them their good 1. Cor. 13. 5. Gal. 5. 13.as well as our owne, ſeeing true charity ſeeketh not her owne, but is alſo ſeruiceable vntounto others: which if wee doe, then will we not wrong them, to benefit our ſelues, nor gaine by thir loſſe; wee will not depriue them of ſome great good, to get vntounto our ſelues ſome ſmall aduantage; neither will we be ſo wholy intent and greedily gripple in following our owne buſineſſe, but that wee will ſpare them ſome of our time, and afford them our beſt helpe, when their neceſſity ſhall require our aſſiſtance, and reaſon, charity and conſcience ſhall binde vsus to afford it.
§. Sect. 5 That they muſt be directed to right ends.
Thirdly, as our labours muſt ariſe from theſe cauſes, ſo they muſt bee directed to right ends. As firſt and principally to Gods glory, which in 1. Cor. 10. 31.all wee doe, wee muſt labour to aduance. Neither is God onelyonly glorified when wee profeſſe and practiſe religious duties, but alſo when wee walk conſcionably in our callings, and with all diligence performe the duties required in them in obedience to his Commandements. Secondly, we muſt propound vntounto our ſelues in them the good of the Church and Common wealth, which wee are to preferre before our owne priuate, and ſo carry our ſelues in all things, as that we may be profitable members in theſe ſocieties. In which regard wee muſt not ſeeke to gaine by the common loſſe, but neglect our owne particular, when as it will not ſtand with the publike and generall good. Thirdly, we muſt in all our labours ayme ſo at our owne profit, as that we ioyne therewith the welfare and benefit of our neighbours, whom by the Law of charity wee are to louelove as wee louelove our ſelues; and not raiſe our gaine out of their loſſe and diſaduantage, as it is the common cuſtome of the world. But as wee profeſſe our ſelues members of the ſame body, ſo muſt wee, as becommeth members, ayme chiefly at the preſeruation of the whole, and then at the ioynt good one of another, not thinking thoſe goods well gotten, which are rayſed and gayned out of our neighbours loſſe.
§. Sect. 6 That the duties of our callings muſt bee performed after a right manner, and firſt, with heauenly mindes.
And theſe things are to bee obſerued in the labours of our callings, in reſpect of their cauſes both efficient and finall. In the next place our care muſt be, that we performe them after a right manner; vntounto which is required that wee be exerciſed in our earthly buſineſſe, with heauenly mindes and affections, and not ſuffer our worldly imployments ſo wholly to take vsus vp both in ſoule and body, as that thereby wee ſhould bee hindred from hauing our conuerſation in heauen. But like Citizens of heauen, and pilgrims on earth, whilſt our bodies are trauailing in worldly imployments, we muſt hauehave our mindes, hearts and affections lifted vp in ſpirituall and heauenly meditations and deſires, contemplating and longing after the ioyes of our owne countrey, and not ſo much minding the things beneath, as the things aboue, where Chriſt ſitteth at the right Phil. 3 20. Col. 3. 1, 2.hand of God. Eſpecially, we muſt not neglect in the middeſt of our ordinary buſineſſe, to lift vp our hearts often vntounto God, either crauing his bleſſing in the beginning of our worke, or giuing him thankes and praiſe in the end; and not ſuffer our thoughts to be ſo wholly ſet vponupon our bodily imployments, and earthly obiects, as not ſometimes to fixe them vponupon ſpirituall and heauenly things. For it worldlings and citizens of the earth, are ſeldome or neuer ſo intent vponupon their workes and preſent imployments, but that their minds and hearts will take liberty of wandring after thoſe carnall pleaſures wherein they moſt delight; let it be a ſhame for vsus, who profeſſe our ſelues Citizens of heauen, ſo wholly to mind earthly obiects, as neuer to finde leaſure to thinke of the ioyes of our owne Country, or of the ſpirituall meanes whereby wee may be inabled to attaine vntounto them. As therefore we are to auoide Monkiſh ſloth and idleneſſe, giuing ouer the painefull labours of our callings, vnderunder pretence of contemplation; ſo are we with no leſſe care to auoyd the contrary extreme, of turning worldlings, and being earthly-minded; hauing our mindes and hearts ſo wholly fixed vponupon worldly things, as that we can finde no leaſure to thinke vponupon thoſe which are ſpirituall and heauenly. But we muſt be ſo imployed in the duties of our callings, as that we neglect not the generall duties of Chriſtianity, and the exerciſes of Religion in their due time; nor be ſo intent and earneſt in purſuing momentany gaine and worldly profit, as that in the meane time, through ſpirituall ſloth, we ſuffer any of Gods ſauing graces, heauenly thoughts, or holy affections and deſires, to bee cooled and quenched in vsus. Wee muſt ſo play the good husbands, as that we doe not forget Chriſts counſell; Firſt ſeeke the Kingdome of God, Mat. 22. 2, 3, 4.and his righteouſneſſe, and not be ſo taken vp with our Oxen, farmes, and earthly matches and marriages, as to neglect the meanes whereby wee may bee fitted to come as worthy gheſts to the marriage of the Kings ſonne. Wee muſt chuſe with the Philoſopher, rather to neglect our Ariſtippus apud Plut. de tranquil. animi.farmes then our ſoules; and ſuffer ſome weedes to grow in our fields, rather then to hauehave our mindes ouergrowne with vices, or to loſe any good opportunity of weeding them out, or of ſowing in them the ſeeds of Gods graces.
§. Sect. 7 That the duties of our callings muſt be ſanctified by the Word and prayer.
Secondly, vntounto the performing of the duties of our callings after a right manner, there is required that we ſanctifie them by the Word and 1. Tim. 4. 5.prayer. The former is done, when as we doe nothing but that for which we hauehave our warrant out of the holy Scriptures, and vſe them as the rule and ſquire, according to which we frame all our actions, doing that which the Word of God requireth, and leauing that vndone which it forbiddeth and condemneth. The which is to be obſerued, both in reſpect of the matter and workes themſelues, and alſo the manner and circumſtances, doing all things both in ſubſtance and forme, as it requireth and directeth. The latter is performed, when as by prayer wee deſire Gods bleſſing vponupon all our labours, and render vntounto him praiſe and thankſgiuing, when wee hauehave obtained it, and hauehave ſucceeded and proſpered in the workes of our hands. And this the Apoſtle requireth in all our affaires; Whatſoeuer yee doe in word or deed, doe all in the name of the Lord Ieſus, giuing Col. 3. 17.thankes to God, and the Father by him. The neceſſity whereof will plainely appeare, if we conſider, that it is Gods bleſſing onelyonly which maketh rich, and cauſeth vsus to thriue and proſper in all the vvorkes of our Pro. 10. 22.hands. That it alone inableth vsus to build goodly houſes, and cauſeth our Deut. 8. 13, 18.heards and our flocks, our ſiluer and gold, and all that wee hauehave to multiply: and that hee onelyonly giueth vsus power to get wealth. That it is he, vvho at his pleaſure giueth and taketh away, maketh poore and rich, bringeth low, and lifteth Job 1. 21.vp, rayſing the poore out of the duſt, and lifting vp the begger from the dunghill, to ſet them among Princes, and to make them inherite the Throne of glory; 1. Sam. 2. 8. Pſal. 113. 7.As we ſee in the example of Abraham and Lot, who by the bleſſing of Gen. 13. 5, 6.God vponupon their labours, waxed ſo rich, that the land was not able to beare them that they might dwell together; and of Iſaac, who being a ſoiourner and ſtranger in the land, proſpered in all his labours, and ſowing the ground, receiued in the ſame yeere an hundred fold, becauſe the Lord bleſſed him. And in Iacob, who paſſing ouer Iordane like a poore Pilgrim, Gen. 26. 3, 12.with his ſtaffe in his hand, at his returne backe againe was multiplyed in Gen. 32. 10.wealth. Whereas contrariwiſe, if Gods bleſſing be wanting (as wee are not likely to hauehave it vnleſſe we craue it) all our labours and indeuours will be ſpent in vaine; For except the Lord build the houſe, they labour in vaine Pſal. 127. 1, 2.that build it; except the Lord keepe the City, the watchman waketh but in vaine; It is in vaine for vsus to riſe earely, to ſit vp late, and to eate the bread of ſorrowes, not affording our ſelues a good meales meate, out of our earneſt deſire to become rich. For if wee neglect Gods ſeruice, the Lord will blow vponupon our labours, and then though we ſow much, we ſhall bring in little; wee ſhall Hag. 1. 6, 9.eate, but not hauehave enough; we ſhall drinke, but not be ſatisfied; clothe our ſelues, and not bee warme; and earning wages for our worke, we ſhall not bee the richer, but put it all into a bag with holes. Or if our labours proſper for the increaſing of worldly wealth; yet Gods bleſſing being wanting, it ſhall doe vsus more hurt then good, bringing with it no ſound comfort and contentment, but carking care, feare, and griefe; whereas the bleſsing of the Lord maketh rich, and hee addeth no ſorrow with it, as the Wiſeman ſpeaketh. Pro. 10. 22.And if we thus performe the duties of our callings, in louelove towards God, and in obedience to his commandement, and deſire by prayer his bleſſing vponupon our labours, and yeeld him praiſe when he hath vouchſafed to giuegive it, then ſhall we therein doe ſeruice vntounto God, though our condition and the workes of our vocation be neuer ſo meane and baſe, as well as in hearing the Word, or receiuing the Sacrament, or in performing the moſt excellent duty which he hath commanded, ſeeing though they differ in the matter, yet not in reſpect of our minde, and manner of doing them. And ſo we may be aſſured, not only that the Lord will proſper vsus in them, and giuegive them ſuch good ſucceſſe in this world, as ſhall be moſt fitting for his glory and our ſpirituall good, but alſo will richly reward them, among other duties of his ſeruice, with euerlaſting ioy and happineſſe in the life to come. The which argument the Apoſtle vſeth to perſwade ſeruants to walke faithfully in their calling, obeying their masters, according to Col. 3. 23, 24.the fleſh, and herein performing their duty, with all cheerefulneſſe and ſingleneſſe of heart, as vntounto the Lord, and not vntounto men; knowing that of the Lord they ſhould receiue the reward of the inheritance, becauſe in ſeruing their maſters, they ſerued him.
§. Sect. 8 Of the vertues which muſt accompany vsus in the duties of our callings.
The next thing to be conſidered, is the vertues which ought to accompany vsus in the right and religious performance of the duties of our callings. For howſoeuer all vertues and graces are neceſſary vntounto the perſon that muſt thus walke acceptably before God, and ſcarce any can bee wanting to the well-performing of any good action; yet there are ſome which more ſpecially and properly belong to theſe duties of our callings, and doe ſo immediately concerne them, that they can in no good ſort bee done of vsus, vnleſſe in ſome meaſure we be qualified with them. As firſt, knowledge and iudgement, whereby we muſt be inabled to diſcerne betweene good and euill, right and wrong, which muſt be our light to guide vsus in all our wayes, and our loade-ſtarre to direct vsus in all our courſes, which if it bee wanting, we ſhall walke in darkeneſſe, and be apt to fall into many errours. Secondly, affiance in God, whereby we caſt our ſelues vponupon his promiſes and prouidence in the vſe of lawfull meanes; the which the Pſalmiſt requireth of vsus; Commit thy way (ſaith he) vntounto the Lord, truſt alſo in him, and Pſal. 37. 5.he ſhall bring it to paſſe. The which we may more eaſily doe, if wee rightly conſider our Sauiours argument which he vſeth to the ſame purpoſe; for if the Lord take care to feede the fowles of the aire, which take no care for themſelues; and clotheth the lillies of the field, which neither toyle nor ſpin, how much more will hee prouide for vsus all things neceſſary, who reſt vponupon him in the vſe of all lawfull courſes, and take moderate care, and Mat. 6. 25, 28.conuenient paines to ſerue his prouidence? which affiance, if it bee wanting, we ſhall be ſubiect to innumerable diſcouragements, macerate our ſelues with carking care, and ruſh, vponupon all occaſions, into the vſe of vnlawfull meanes, when lawfull are wanting; thereby ſhifting for our ſelues, becauſe we hauehave no aſſurance that God will prouide for vsus. Thirdly, wee muſt be accompanied with a good conſcience both towards God and towards men, and willing with the Apoſtle, to liue honeſtly, wee muſt with Act. 24. 16.him keep it in all things. For hauing alwayes in our company this Monitour Heb. 13. 18.and Iudge, it will notably preſerue vsus from all ſecret ſinnes, and craftie conueyances, whereby we are naturally apt to wrong our neighbours, that we may benefit our ſelues; from all halting, diſſembling, and double dealing, when as it may be ſo cunningly and cloſely carried, that reſpect of our credit, worldly ſhame, nor legall puniſhment are no ſufficient bonds to reſtraine vsus from them; and from ſloth and vnfaithfulneſſe in performing our duties; when no eye of man can take notice of it. Fourthly, we muſt hauehave contentation for our companion, whereby we are in all things contented with Gods good pleaſure, and thinke that eſtate and condition beſt for vsus in which he hath placed vsus, giuing indifferent welcome to proſperity or aduerſity, pouerty or riches, gaine or loſſe, becauſe they are meſſengers alike of his ſending; and though ſome more then others doe in rougher tearmes deliuer his meſſage, yet when we doe entertaine them aright, they all aſſure vsus of his louelove, as being meanes to further our ſaluation. And of this we hauehave an example in the Apoſtle Paul; Who had learned Phil. 4. 12.both, how to be abaſed and how to abound, to be full and to be hungry, to exceede and ſuffer want. VntoUnto which if we attaine; then ſhall we not be diſcontented with the baſeneſſe of our callings, nor enuie others their greater preferments, their leſſe labours and more gaines; we ſhall not bee ſet vponupon the racke of ambition, aſpiring daily after higher dignity, ſeeing the place in which we are, being of Gods appointing, is moſt fitting for vsus. Neither can any calling be thought too baſe for vsus, wherin acceptable ſeruice may be offered vntounto God, yea wherein he ioyneth with vsus as our helper and aſſiſtant, and rewards the paines which we take in them, with no leſſe wages then an heauenly inheritance. We ſhall be preſerued from that deadly dropſie of vnſatiable auarice; for our conuerſation may bee without Heb. 13. 5. 1. Tim. 6. 6.couetouſneſſe, if we come to thinke godlineſſe the greateſt gaine, and can bee content with ſuch things as we hauehave. And conſequently, we ſhall walke honeſtly in our callings, when being contented with our eſtate and condition, we will vſe no indirect and vnlawfull meanes, nor fraudulent, violent, or vniuſt courſes, to inrich our ſelues with other mens goods. And goe on in our duty with much comfort and inward peace, when our heads are not vexed with carking cares; nor our hearts affrighted with the terrours, nor gnawed on with the worme of an euill conſcience. But of this I hauehave ſpoken largely in another place. Fifthly, we muſt poſſeſſe our ſoules Chriſtian warfare 2. part. l. 2. cap. 19.with patience, if we will, as we ought, walke in the duties of our callings; for beſides that our labours in themſelues are tedious and troubleſome; we are daily ſubiect to many croſſes and miſ-carriages in them, which will diſcourage vsus from going on; or if we doe, being conſtrained by neceſſitie, yet with much diſcontentment and diſquietneſſe of minde, murmuring and repining, if we be not armed with patience, and reſolution to ſuffer with meekeneſſe, whatſoeuer God ſhall be pleaſed to ſend. Sixthly, we muſt hauehave our hearts repleniſhed with thankefulneſſe vntounto God, and bee ready at all times when we obſerue his louelove in bleſſing our labours, to lift Gen. 32. 10.them vp, rendring vntounto him praiſe and thankeſgiuing. And acknowledging that we are leſſe then the leaſt of Gods mercies, we muſt giuegive him the whole glory of them, and not ſacrifice vntounto our owne nets, nor attribute our well-proceeding and good ſucceſſe to our owne policie and skill, induſtry Hab. 1. 16.and abilities, but knowing that whatſoeuer we hauehave, we hauehave receiued it from God, wee muſt take all occaſions of rendring vntounto him the praiſe 1. Cor. 4. 7.which is due vntounto him. Seuenthly, wee muſt performe the duties of our callings with alacrity and cheerefulneſſe, and whatſoeuer we doe, we muſt doe it heartily, as vntounto the Lord, and not vntounto men, who will richly reward our labours Col. 3. 23, 24.with an heauenly inheritance. For as he loueth a cheerefull giuer, ſo alſo a cheerefull labourer, in all things more reſpecting our inward affections then our outward actions. And as it is acceptable to God; ſo will it bee moſt comfortable vntounto vsus, making all our labours eaſie; when our hearts and hands are conioyned in doing them. Eighthly, we muſt obſerue Iuſtice in all the duties of our callings, doing nothing in them, but that which may aduance our neighbours good as well as our owne. And this will make vsus auoyd all vniuſt and vnlawfull courſes, which are commonly vſed to gather wealth; all fraud and deceit, extortion and oppreſſion; 1. Theſ. 4. 6.all vnprofitable labours, which tend to the hurt, rather then the good of the Common-wealth; and deceitfull dealing, in thoſe that are lawfull. Finally, by this Iuſtice wee ſhall bee mooued to giuegive eueryevery man his due, and to doe no man wrong in the carriage of our callings; but ſo deale in them with others, as we would hauehave others in their callings to deale with vsus.