A Guide to Godliness, Book 6 · Chapter 18
CAP. XVIII.
Their obiection anſwered, who pretend that their multitude of worldly imployments will allow them no leiſure for religious duties.
§. Sect. 1 That earthly bleſſings are no hindrances vntounto godlines, but the immoderate louelove of them.
WHen the mind and heart are indiſpoſed to Gods ſeruice, and auerſe to religious exerciſes, the fleſh will neuer want excuſes to put them off, and withdraw vsus from them; neither is there any eſtate and condition, which will not miniſter diſtractions and diſcouragements. For if wee be poore, it will ſuggeſt, that all our time is little enough, though it be wholly ſpent in our labours, that thereby we may earne and furniſh our ſelues with things neceſſary for our maintenance: if we hauehave ſufficiency and plenty of all temporall bleſſings, they will ſteale our hearts from God, and ſo wholly fixe them vponupon earthly things, that they will finde little or no leiſure for ſpirituall exerciſes. And now they hauehave ſo many things to looke vntounto, the care of ſo many buſineſſes lying vponupon them, ſo many and waighty imployments, for the well managing of their worldly eſtates, if they will not ſuffer all to goe to loſſe, and the bleſſings of God to periſh through their negligence, that they cannot, like others who hauehave little to doe, ſpend much of their time in religious exerciſes; as prayer, reading and hearing the Word, meditation and ſuch like. Neither doe they thinke it neceſſary that they ſhould ſo doe, ſeeing God will excuſe, if not approoue and commend them, if they follow diligently the duties of their callings. And this carnall diſpoſition in worldly men, our Sauiour taxeth in the Parable of thoſe vnworthy gheſts, who being inuited vntounto the Marriage Math. 22. 2.of the Kings Sonne, pretend diuers excuſes, all which are borrowed from their worldly imployments. One had bought a piece of ground, and muſt Luk. 14. 18, 19.needs goe and ſee it; another had bought a yoke of Oxen, and muſt needs goe to prooue them; another had married a wife, and could not come. Yea euen Martha her ſelfe, though otherwiſe a vertuous and religious Luk. 10. 42.woman, being incumbred with worldly imployments, thought her neglect of hearing Chriſt, excuſed, and her ſiſter Mary, worthy blame, becauſe ſhe did not ioyne with her. For the anſwering of which obiection, let vsus firſt know, that Gods temporall bleſſings, which hee hath beſtowed vponupon vsus, are not in themſelues any cauſes to hinder vsus from the duties of Gods ſeruice, but our immoderate louelove of them, which makes vsus forget and neglect the Authour of our good, and to minde and affect the gifts, more then the giuer. For otherwiſe, the greatneſſe of our meanes and poſſeſſions would not, through multitude of imployments, bee diſtractions to hinder vsus from ſeruing God, but rather effectuall motiues to perſwade vsus vntounto it, which alſo being rightly and wiſely managed, would affoord vsus better leiſure for religious duties, ſeeing we are well prouided for, though we take but moderate care, and but ordinary paines in the workes of our callings. It is not our neceſſary buſines and imployments, which ſo wholly take vsus vp, that we hauehave no time to ſpare for Gods ſeruice; but ſuch cumberſome imployments which the inordinate and immoderate louelove of the world and earthly things impoſeth vponupon vsus, that by exceſſiue care and labour, our ſtate being managed to the greateſt aduantage, wee may become ſuddenly rich. It is not the comforts of this life which hinder vsus in the ſpirituall race, but the ſinne and worldly concupiſcence that doth ſo Heb. 12. 1.eaſily beſet vsus, which maketh them ſo waighty and cumberſome vntounto vsus. And therefore we muſt mortifie our carnall louelove of earthly things, if wee would not hauehave them to be hindrances in ſpirituall exerciſes. For if wee doe not immoderately affect them, we ſhall take little pleaſure, ſo to cumber and ouertoyle our ſelues in our worldly imployments about them, that we can finde no time for religious duties. Let vsus not inordinately louelove the world, and worldly things, if we would hauehave the louelove of the Father to 1. Ioh. 2. 15. Math. 6 24.abide in vsus; nor deuote our ſelues to the ſeruice of the earthly Mammon, if we would hauehave any time to ſpare for Gods ſeruice. Let vsus ceaſe from our Pro 23. 4, 5.carnall wiſedome, and not labour to bee rich, ſeeing riches make themſelues wings, and fly away, like an Eagle towards heauen. Let not this heauie Iudgement of God be drawne vponupon vsus by our worldly louelove, that we ſhould take pleaſure to labour in the very fire, and weary our ſelues for very vanity. Let vsus Hab. 2. 13.remember, that a feareful woe is denounced againſt him, that toyleth himſelfe to increaſe that which is not his, and ladeth himſelfe with thick clay; ſo as Verſ. 6.he cannot goe on cheerfully in the wayes of godlineſſe. And that, if to multiply and heape vp this worldly pelfe, we neglect the duties of Gods ſeruice, he will croſſe and curſe our indeuours; and then wee ſhall ſowe Hag. 1. 6, 7, 8.much, and bring in little; eate, but not hauehave enough; drinke, and not bee ſatisfied; clothe our ſelues, and not be warme; and put all the wages which we earne, into a bag with holes. For if God blow vponupon it, when wee looke for much, it will come to little; or if he doe not, he will bring vponupon vsus a more heauy Iudgement, by ſuffering vsus to inioy our riches, which wee immoderately louelove, that we may fall into tentations and ſnares, and into many fooliſh and hurtfull 1. Tim. 6 9, 10.luſts, which drowne men in deſtruction and perdition. For the louelove of money is the root of all euill, which while ſome coueted after, they hauehave erred from the faith, and pierced themſelues thorow with many ſorrowes. And this is that ſore euill which Salomon obſerued vnderunder the Sunne, namely, Riches kept for the Eccl. 5. 13.owners thereof to their hurt. Let vsus remember, that when we hauehave by all our toyle heaped vp riches, they ſhall (as the Wiſe man ſpeaketh) periſh by euill trauell; and he that hath moſt wearied himſelfe by getting wealth; As he verſ. 15.came forth of his mothers wombe naked, ſo he ſhall returne as he came, and ſhall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
§. Sect. 2 That we muſt not vndertake all imployments which the world and fleſh wil preſſe vponupon vsus.
Finally, let vsus know, that if we will vndertake all ſuch imployments as the world and the fleſh will impoſe vponupon vsus, they will play the cruell Pharaohs, and oppreſſe our ſoules with a much more cruell ſeruitude then that of Egypt. For if wee doe but make mention of ſurceaſing our labours for a while, that we may hauehave ſome time to performe that ſeruice vntounto God which he requireth, imputing this vntounto vsus as ſome idle and lazie humour, they will redouble our already too toyleſome taske, and preſſe ſuch deuout purpoſes out of vsus with their heauie burthens, and rather then we ſhould want imployment, to keepe vsus from ſeruing God, they will cauſe vsus to tire our ſelues, night and day, in gathering ſtraw, that is, about idle vanities which will not profit, to be afterwards ſpent to as little purpoſe, namely, that vponupon the foundation of riches thus ſcraped together, we may erect Pyramides and Towers threatening the skies, and manſion houſes and ſtately buildings, to continue our names vntounto poſterity. Yea in truth, there is not in the whole world ſuch a terrible bondage to the body vnderunder the moſt tyrannous Lords, as this is to the ſoule, which the fleſh and the world impoſe vponupon it. For in them it is lawfull for the ſlaue at ſome time to finde leiſure for reſt and ſleepe, for eating and drinking, that being refreſhed, hee may againe returne to his taske; whereas theſe more cruell tyrants weare out thoſe ſoules which are imbondaged by them with toyleſome labours, and yet will allow them no time for their ſpirituall repaſt, nor to refreſh themſelues and repaire their ſtrength, by reſting from their labours vponupon the Lords Sabbaths, or by feeding vponupon the Manna of the Word, in hearing, reading, and meditation, and by ſequeſtring themſelues from earthly buſineſſe, that they may by prayer and inuocation, ſolace themſelues in that ſweet communion which they hauehave with God in this holy exerciſe. But if wee would hauehave our ſoules to thriue in ſpirituall grace and ſtrength, wee muſt ſhake off the yoke of this tyranny, and neuer bee ſo wholly intent to aduance our worldly eſtate, as to neglect the taking of our ſoules repaſt in religious exerciſes, according to the counſell of Hierome to a vertuous Matrone: So (ſaith hee) take care of thine houſe, as that thou doe alwayes allow Ita habeto ſolicitudiuem domus, vt aliquam tamen vacationem animae tribuas, &c. Hieron. ad Celantiam.ſome leiſure and liberty to thy ſoule. Neither doe I ſay this, that I would withdraw thee wholly from thy charge; yea rather, I doe it to this end, that in this vacation from worldly buſineſſe, thou maiſt learne and meditate, how thou oughteſt to behaue thy ſelfe towards thy family and charge, when thou returneſt vntounto them. For howſoeuer wee muſt take care and paines about things concerning this life, in due time and place, yet ſo, as we doe according to our Sauiours counſell, giuegive the priority and precedency, both in our iudgements, affections, and practice, vntounto ſpirituall and heauenly things, as being of farre greater waight and Math. 6. 33.worth, ſeeking firſt the Kingdome of God, and his righteouſneſſe, and then temporall and earthly things in a ſecond and inferiour place.
§. Sect. 3 That no buſineſſe is of like moment, as by ſeruing God to ſaue our ſoules.
Neither is there any worldly buſineſſe of like moment and importance, as by ſeruing God, to ſeeke and aſſure the ſaluation of our ſoules. For this, as our Sauiour teacheth vsus, is that one thing neceſſary, in compariſon Luk. 10. 42.whereof, all other things muſt be neglected, though they were of as high a nature as Martha's imployment, to giuegive entertainement vntounto Chriſt himſelfe. Of which, if we were well perſwaded, and did eſteeme ſpirituall and heauenly things, according to their true worth, wee, who can in our greateſt imployments finde ſome ſpare time to ſpend about earthly trifles of ſmall value, would not onelyonly be ſtreighted and ſcanted of it for religious exerciſes. Let no man (ſaith one) thinke it a lawfull excuſe Jgitur nemo ſe excuſet public is actibus, nemo de occupatione militiae conqueratur, &c. Auguſt. in Pſal. 93. Pſal. 119. 72. Verſ. 127.to alleadge his buſineſſes of ſtate, nor complaine of his imployments in the warres; ſeeing with eueryevery faithfull man the Chriſtian warfare ought firſt to be vndertaken. And this was Dauids iudgement, who eſteemed the Law of the Lord better vntounto him, then thouſands of gold and ſiluer. The which was ſeconded by his affection; for as he profeſſeth, hee loued Gods Commandements aboue gold, yea aboue fine gold. So Salomon, or rather the eternall Wiſedome of God by him, teacheth vsus to eſteeme our ſpirituall trading for the good of our ſoules, aboue the merchandize of ſiluer, and the Pro. 3. 14, 15. & 8. 11.gaine of godlineſſe aboue fine gold; ſeeing it is more precious then rubies, and all things that we can deſire, are not to be compared vntounto it. So the Lord by Ieremie, reckoneth all worldly things in compariſon of this, as chaffe to wheate. Ier. 23. 28.And the Apoſtle eſteemeth thoſe things that were greateſt gaine vntounto him, no better then dung, yea, then loſſe, for the excellency of the knowledge of Phil. 3. 7, 8. Joh. 6. 27.Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore let vsus not labour ſo much for the meate that periſheth, as to neglect for it the meate which endureth to eternall life; as our Sauiour Mar. 8. 36.exhorteth vsus; for what will it profit vsus to gaine the whole world, and to Mat. 6. 19, 20.loſe our owne ſoules? To get earthly treaſures and riches, which the ruſt will fret and the moth eate; and to loſe thoſe heauenly and euerlaſting treaſures, which are not ſubiect to any caſualties? To compaſſe by our care and labour Diues his dainty fare and coſtly clothing; and by neglecting the ſeruice of God and the meanes of our ſaluation, to be caſt with him into hell, where is weeping and gnaſhing of teeth? For there (as one ſaith) Illi vtique omnes plangent, illi lugebunt, qui ita ſe curis vitae praeſentis inuoluunt, vt obliuiſcantur futuram, &c. Hyer. ad Celant.they ſhall waile and lament, who hauehave ſo infolded themſelues with the cares of this life preſent, as that they could find no leaſure to thinke of the life to come; whom the comming of the Lord ſhall take at vnawares, oppreſſed with the ſleepe of ignorance and carnall ſecurity.
§. Sect. 4 That they who neglect the duties of Gods ſeruice, cannot expect good ſucceſſe to their labours.
Secondly, let all ſuch know, that neglect the duties of Gods ſeruice, vnderunder the pretence of their great and waighty imployments, that they cannot in ſo doing reaſonably expect any good ſucceſſe of their toyleſome Pro. 10. 22. Deut. 8. 18.labours, or that they will anſwere their hopes, in the getting and preſeruing of that wealth, which they ſo much louelove and long after; for it is not their moſt carefull and painefull indeuours, but Gods bleſsing onelyonly that maketh rich; It is he alone that giueth them power to get wealth. And how can they expect this bleſſing from God vponupon their labours, when as they can finde no leaſure to craue it at his hands? how can they thinke that he will, notwithſtanding all their paines, proſper their worldly eſtates, vnleſſe it bee for a further and more fearefull Iudgement, when as they hauehave no care to ſerue and pleaſe him? Yea, why may they not iuſtly feare that he will blow vponupon their wealth, and cauſe it to vaniſh like ſmoake, and Hag. 1. 9.euen to melt like butter in the Sunne; or cauſe that riches, which is thus wickedly gotten, by neglecting all duties of Gods ſeruice, to bee as wickedly ſpent by their heires and ſucceſſours, ſeruing vntounto them as inducements and helpes to further them in all riotous and luxurious courſes, to their ruine and deſtruction, as the getting of them hath beene the cauſe and occaſion of many fearefull ſinnes, and of the vtter neglect of all religious duties, that ſo both they and their heires, though they runne contrary wayes, may yet meete together in hell and condemnation. Let them alſo know, that if before they goe about the workes of their callings, they would renew their Couenant with God, by renewing their faith and repentance; and ſo being reconciled, vndertake their imployments with peaceable minds and good conſciences; if they would firſt call vponupon the Lord for his bleſſing vponupon their labours, and reſigne themſelues and all their affaires to the gracious guidance of his good prouidence; If they would propound his glory, as the mayne end of all their labour, and as they liue the life of faith, ſo alſo they would labour in the ſtrength thereof; reſting vponupon Gods gracious promiſes, and wayting for a bleſſing vponupon all their affaires; if they would ſanctifie their 1. Tim 4. 5.workes by the Word and Prayer, vvithout which, euen thoſe things which are in their owne nature pure and honeſt, become impure and 1. Cor. 10. 31.prophane to the irreligious and vnbeleeuers, and deſire the aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit for the directing of all their labours to a right end; Finally, if they would by all theſe religious exerciſes ſharpen their tooles before they goe to worke, they ſhould not heereby finde their labours put backe and hindered, but profitably aduanced, and better atchieued, then if they vndertake them being blunt and dull; ſeeing by the ſharpeneſſe of the inſtruments, they ſhall ſoone redeeme the time which is ſpent in whetting them. Neither would this hinder our Chriſtian thrift, nor our godly and lawfull gaines, but much further and increaſe them; and repaire all wee loſe, by that time which wee ſpend in Gods ſeruice with much aduantage, through his powerfull bleſſing vponupon our labours, from which Fountaine alone, all lawfull proſperity ſpringeth and floweth. Whereas contrarywiſe, if neglecting theſe religious duties of Gods ſeruice, wee reſt vponupon our owne paines and prouidence, and as the Prophet ſpeaketh, ſacrifice vntounto our owne nettes, either God will curſe and Hab. 1. 16.croſſe our labours, and fruſtrate all our hopes, or if wee thriue by them in our worldly eſtates, all that wee get by this meanes, ſhall bee but like Naboths Vineyard to Ahab, which rooted out both him and all his poſterity; like the Iſraelites Quayles, which came out of their noſtrels; like Iudas his ſop, with which the deuill entred; or like cold water, giuen to gratifie thoſe who are ſicke of a burning feauer; ſeeing it but inflameth the heate of their carnall concupiſcence, and prepareth matter for their euerlaſting burning in the vnquenchable flames of hell fire.
§. Sect. 5 That the duties of our particular callings, muſt giuegive place to the generall calling of Chriſtianity.
Thirdly, let them know, that the duties of our particular callings, muſt giuegive place to the generall calling of Chriſtianity, when as both of them (as they ordinarily may) will not ſtand together. For by theſe duties we draw neere vntounto God, and hauehave communion with him, and no calling muſt call vsus from God, or withdraw vsus from this bleſſed fellowſhip. They are the ſpirituall repaſt of our ſoules, by which they get ſpirituall ſtrength, and liue the life of faith; and therefore if wee ſo highly prize the health and life of our bodies, that wee thinke no buſineſſe ſo important, that ſhould make vsus neglect the meanes of preſeruing them, as eating, drinking, reſting, ſleeping, and ſuch like; why ſhould wee imagine any to bee ſo waighty and neceſſary, as that for the following of it, wee ſhould neglect the health and welfare of our precious ſoules? Let vsus conſider, that our callings were made for vsus, and not we for our callings; for our good and benefit, and not for our hurt and ruine; for the glorifying of God, and furthering of our ſaluation, and not for his diſhonour, by neglecting his ſeruice, and like ſnares to intangle vsus, that wee cannot proceed in ſuch holy duties, as will make our calling and election ſure. When two things come together, which differ in their degrees of excellency and neceſſity, we can eaſily reſolue, in earthly things to giuegive priority and precedency vntounto that, which exceedeth the other in worth and vſe. O would wee could bee thus wiſe in this caſe; and ſeeing ſpirituall and heauenly things, and imployments about them, which tend to the euerlaſting ſaluation of our ſoules, doe as much exceed our earthly affaires, as heauen, earth, and thoſe things which are permanent and euerlaſting, ſuch as are momentany and of ſhort continuance; I would wee could be ſo wiſe for our owne good, as to giuegive thoſe duties which excell, the firſt place and preheminence. God hath ſo graciouſly reſpected our infirmity and weakeneſſe, that whereas hee might hauehave challenged the greateſt part of our time for his immediate ſeruice, as being aboue all other imployments moſt honourable and profitable, hee is content that wee ſhould conſecrate vntounto him one day of ſeuen, and one or two houres of eueryevery day, out of foure and twenty, or ſome ſmall part of the Morning and Euening, leauing vntounto vsus all the reſt for our buſineſſes and imployments, which reſpect the good of our bodies and eſtates. And being left ſo rich, will wee yet ſteale? will wee incroach vponupon Gods right, who hath dealt ſo bountifully with vsus, and leaue him nothing, that deſerueth all? Doe wee thinke it abſurd to neglect the duties of our particular callings all the weeke, vnderunder pretence of ſpending our whole time in regious exerciſes, as hearing the Word, Prayer, Meditation; and yet imagine it to bee an excuſe which will paſſe for currant, if neglecting all duties of Chriſtianity, which are much more excellent and neceſſary, wee can ſay for our ſelues, that wee are ſo wholly taken vp with worldly imployments, that wee can ſpare no time at all for holy duties? Yea, doe wee thinke it vnequall, that the duties of piety and Religion ſhould incroach a little vponupon that long time which is allotted to the duties of our callings; and ſhall theſe ſpoile the other of their right, ſeeing they hauehave ordinarily ſuch ſcant allowance, though they bee in their nature much more excellent, and to vsus more profitable and neceſſary? O let not the world and our owne carnall louelove of earthly vanities ſo much beſot vsus; but let vsus as willingly and cheerefully allow that ſhort time required to religious duties, which aduance our ſpirituall eſtate, inrich vsus with ſauing graces, preſerue our ſoules in good plight and liking, further our ſaluation, and aſſure vsus of heauenly and euerlaſting happineſſe; as wee doe a farre longer time to worldly imployments about our corruptible bodies, and fickle eſtates, and the compaſſing of ſuch earthly things, as in compariſon are vaine and of no worth, and in reſpect of their durableneſſe and continuance, momentany and mutable. And if at any time we be brought into ſuch ſtraights of time, that the one of neceſſity muſt giuegive place to the other, let thoſe exerciſes which are of the more noble nature, hauehave the precedencie; and being much more excellent in worth, and yet bounded with much narrower limits of time, let the better be preferred before the worſe, and that which is onelyonly poorer in time, borrow from that which out of its plenty hath more to lend. Wherein wee hauehave the poore Luk. 2. 15.ſhepheards for our examples and precedents, who neglected their ſheepe, to ſeeke and finde out their Sauiour; In Mary, who ſpared time Luk. 10. 40.from her worldly, though weighty imployments, that ſhe might nouriſh her ſoule with the bread of life; and in our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, who being ſcanted of time, for the publique duties of his calling in preaching the Word and working miracles; yet rather choſe to borrow time from his reſt and ſleepe, then he would neglect the Religious duty of priuate prayer.
§. Sect. 6 That we hauehave time ſufficient for Religious and ciuill duties, if it be wiſely huſbanded.
Fourthly, let vsus conſider, that we are not ordinarily thruſt into ſuch ſtraights, but that if we will, we may eaſily finde ſome conuenient time for both ſorts of duties; thoſe which are religious belonging to Gods ſeruice, and thoſe which are ciuill, about our ordinary callings. Neither is there any vocation ſo laborious, which if it be wiſely followed, will not affoord ſome fit time for holy exerciſes. For tell me, thou who complayneſt of thy little leiſure, and thy ſhort time for thy great imployments, if thou be ſo niggardly thrifty in expending it, that thou haſt none to ſpare from the workes of thy calling to any other vſe or purpoſe; Doeſt thou not borrow from them, ſo much as would ſerue religious duties, not one houre in the foure and twenty, to be deuided betweene thy morning and euening deuotions? Doeſt not thou, who complayneſt of this waſte, in that time which is beſtowed vponupon Chriſt and the duties of Gods ſeruice, ſpend much more vponupon thine own luſts and ſinfull pleaſures, either in ſuperfluous ſleepe, or complementall inuitations or viſitations, or in vaine diſports and vnprofitable paſtimes, or in fruitleſſe, if not carnall & corrupt communication and idle chat, or ſitting longer at thy meales then either health or profit, neceſſity or ciuility doth require? And is thine hap ſo hard, that thou art at liberty for all other purpoſes, and art only pinched in the ſtraits of time, when thou ſhouldeſt ſpare a little for Gods ſeruice, and the eternall wel-fare of thy precious ſoule? Surely if this be thy caſe, thy ſtate is miſerable; for he that wanteth time for Gods ſeruice, will alſo want it for his own ſaluation. He that can finde no time for the Lords worke, ſhall neuer hauehave time to receiue his wages. He that can finde no leiſure to inrich his ſoule with ſpirituall grace, ſhall thereby alſo loſe the opportunity of attayning vntounto heauenly glory. Doe not then for ſhame abuſe thy ſelfe any longer with ſo vaine an excuſe, as though thou couldeſt finde in thine heart to be godly and religious, if thou couldeſt finde any time for religious exerciſes. For either thou muſt confeſſe, that thou ſpendeſt no time worſe, or acknowledge thy folly in not preferring the better: either that the duties of Gods ſeruice, which concerne his glory, & thine own ſaluation, are leſſe excellent and neceſſary then any of thine ordinary imployments, or elſe that thou art as vnwiſe as prophane, in ſpending ſo thy whole time in thoſe, as that the other for want of time ſhould be quite excluded. But rather learne wiſely to deuide thy ſelfe and leiſure between them, allotting conſtantly to either their due portion, and thou ſhalt finde conuenient time both for religious and ciuill exerciſes; & when thy ſpirituall man, like Mary, hath choſen the better part, let not the fleſh by its murmuring pull thee from it. And if the duties of our callings importune vsus for a greater allowance of time, that we may diſpatch them, let vsus not incroach vponupon Gods right, and rob our ſoules of that leyſure and liberty which is required to ſpirituall exerciſes, but let vsus rather borrow it from our fleſh, which may better ſpare it; as either from our ſuperfluous ſleepe, or vaine paſtimes, or fruitleſſe diſcourſes, or ſome other thing as worthleſſe and vnprofitable. And if wee hauehave not yet time enough for our multitude of imployments, our beſt courſe is to imitate wiſe Pilots and Mariners, who will lighten their ſhippe of ſome part of her lading, that they may ſaue the reſt and beſt part of their goods from danger of ſinking. And like wiſe trauaylers, when wee finde our ſelues ready to faint vnderunder our burthen, let vsus caſt away the refuſe which may beſt be ſpared, that wee may bring our chiefe treaſures and choyſeſt iewels to our iourneyes end. For if our Sauiour Chriſt would hauehave vsus to forſake father and mother, wife and children, yea euen our owne liues, rather then they ſhould hinder vsus from being his Diſciples; If he Luk. 14. 26.would hauehave vsus to pluck out our eyes, and cut off our right hands, if they offend vsus, and hinder our iourney to heauenly happines, becauſe it is better that Matth. 5. 29.ſome of our members ſhould periſh, then that the whole body ſhould be caſt into hell: then how much rather ſhould we caſt off ſome of our worldly buſineſſes, when they ſo encumber and turmoyle vsus, that they allow vsus no leyſure for ſpirituall exerciſes, nor to performe thoſe religious duties, which being neglected, depriue vsus of all aſſurance of eternall ſaluation?
§. Sect. 7 That none are exempted by God from the duties of his ſeruice, vnderunder pretence of any other buſineſſe.
Finally, let thoſe who excuſe their neglect of Gods ſeruice, by pretending their multitude of important buſineſſes, which allow them no leiſure for Religious exerciſes, know and remember, that the Lord exempteth none, no, not Kings themſelues, from performing of them, whoſe imployments notwithſtanding exceede thoſe of other men, both in weight and number, as hauing not onelyonly the charge and burthen of their owne families, but of the whole Church and Common-wealth lying vponupon them. For euen they are commanded to hauehave with them continually the Booke of Gods Law, and to reade and meditate Deut. 1. 17, 18, 19.therein all the dayes of their life, that they may learne to feare the Lord their God, and to keepe all the Words of his Law and his Statutes, to doe them. Let them alſo conſider the care of Gods ſeruants in all ages, to yeeld vntounto him this ſeruice and obedience. So that though their buſineſſes and imployments hauehave beene neuer ſo manifold and weighty, yet when they hauehave beene moſt encumbred, they euer found time ſufficient for the Religious duties of Gods ſeruice. Who euer had more, and more weighty imployments then Ioſua, both in warre and peace; as hauing not onelyonly a Kingdome to conquer, and many mighty and warlike enemies to ſubdue, which was afterward to be deuided amongſt all the tribes, but alſo a ſtiffenecked people vnderunder his gouernment, vntounto whom, vponupon all weighty occaſions he was to adminiſter iuſtice? And yet, as the Lord charged him, that the Booke of the Law ſhould Ioſ. 1. 8.not depart out of his mouth, but that he ſhould meditate therein day and night, that he might obſerue to doe according to all that was written therein; ſo did he anſwerably yeeld his obedience, profeſſing before all the people, that though they ſhould all neglect theſe duties, yet he and his houſehold Ioſ. 24. 15.would ſerue the Lord. Who could ſpare leſſe time then holy Dauid from his important imployments, both in warre and peace? And yet all this could not hinder him from Religious exerciſes, but vponupon all occaſions he meditated in Gods Law both day and night; Pſal. 88. 1. & 119. 55, 62. Pſal. 55. 17. & 119. 64.and thrice in the day at leaſt, did in a ſet and ſolemne manner call vponupon him; beſides his often prayers and prayſes vponupon ſpeciall occaſions. Who could hauehave leſſe leyſure then Daniel, that hauing the care of managing the chiefe affaires of a mighty Monarchy impoſed vponupon him, had all his actions ſo curiouſly ſcanned by his many, mightie, and malicious enemies, that ſmall negligences would hauehave beene aggrauated againſt him as great faults? And yet notwithſtanding all theſe buſineſſes of State, and thoſe that concerned his owne particular, he could thrice a day ſequeſter himſelfe from Dan. 6. 10.them all, and in a ſolemne manner deuote himſelfe to the Religious duties of Gods ſeruice. Yea, was there euer any man ſo ſeriouſly imployed, in ſuch important affaires of his publique calling, as our Sauiour Chriſt, ſo as he could ſcarce ſpare any time from his preaching, working miracles, and ſuch diuine exerciſes, for the releeuing of his body, and ſatisfying of his hunger? And yet rather then hee Luk. 6. 12. & 21, 37.would want time for his priuate prayers and deuotions, hee borrowed ſome from his ſleepe. And therefore, vnleſſe we would not be numbred among the faithfull, let vsus follow their examples; if wee would be eſteemed Chriſts Diſciples, let vsus imitate his practice, and not thinke our ſelues excuſed in the neglect of Religious duties by our worldly buſineſſes, which are incomparably leſſe in number, and lighter in value and true worth, then thoſe wherein many of Gods Saints and ſeruants hauehave bene dayly imployed, from which notwithſtanding they borrowed time ſufficient for ſpirituall exerciſes. The which admonition, as it generally concerneth all Chriſtians of eueryevery calling; ſo eſpecially Students and Profeſſours of Diuinity, who are more apt then others, to excuſe their neglect of Chriſtian practice in pious & Religious duties, becauſe they are ſo wholy taken vp with their ſtudies and ſpeculations, that they hauehave little or no leyſure for the other: The which they thinke not only iuſtifiable, but alſo commendable, becauſe their mindes are continually exerciſed in the theory and ſpeculation of religious obiects, and in diuine ſtudies and contemplations. But ſuch are to know, that nothing more hindreth the Religious practice of Chriſtianity, then when we ſpend our time, and ſuffer our ſelues to be wholy taken vp with ieiune ſpeculations, & ſuch ſtudies as are onelyonly mentall: Becauſe being exerciſes and labours of the minde and ſoule, they toyle and tyre it, and ſo ſpend all the vertue and vigour of the powers and faculties belonging vntounto it, and waſte and exhauſt the ſpirits, that no ſtrength remayneth for practique duties, nor any ability to performe any exerciſes of Religion and deuotion. Yea, aboue all other imployments, they moſt alienate the minde, and withdraw the heart and affection wholy from them. For whereas thoſe who are exerciſed about bodily labours, as riding, trauayling, working in their arts and trades, plowing and ſuch like, may often hauehave leyſure, without any great diſtraction, to lift vp their hearts vntounto God in ſhort Prayers & Meditations, in prayſing God, and ſinging Pſalmes, not for cuſtome, but for conſcience ſake, not to make themſelues merrie and paſſe the time with leſſe tediouſneſſe, but out of a pure deſire to glorifie God; or to entertaine one another with Religious diſcourſes and holy conferences; thoſe whoſe mindes are taken vp with litterall ſtudies and ſpeculations, can no more intend the ſpirituall exerciſes of Chriſtian deuotion, then they can at the ſame time ſuppe and blow, becauſe the powers of the minde being finite, cannot intend many things at once. The which (as I thinke) is a chiefe cauſe, why the acuteſt Schoolemen and greateſt & moſt learned Doctors in high myſteries and curious ſpeculations, are oftentimes moſt cold in deuotion, and moſt negligent in the practice of holy duties, although they are able to teach them vntounto others.