The Gentlemans Calling, Section 1
SECT. I. Of Business and Callings in general.
1. HE that by sloth and improvidence dissipates and consumes that Stock which is properly his own, falls justly under the blunt censure of folly, and usually under the sharper and more smarting penance of poverty and want: But he that is but a deputed manager, if he neglect his depositum, is liable to a heavier weight both of obloquy and discipline: The weakness of the one may possibly meet with somewhat of pity; but the falseness and treacherie of the other is the object of an universal detestation, and is oftentimes very severely sentenced by those, who, if they would impartially reflect, would find themselves deeply involved in the same guilt.
2. God has placed Man in the world not as a Proprietary, but a Steward; he hath put many excellent things into his possession, but these in trust to be not only kept, but negotiated with, and by traffick improved to the use of the true owner: Yet herein dealing as a most bountiful Master by not only promising transcendent rewards in the future to his fidelity, but even annexing at the present (as to the Heifer that treadeth out the corn) a most liberal subsistence, interweaving his Interest so with his Duty that the discharge of it is his onelyonly means of being happy even in this world.
3. This certainly is the state of mankind in general; every (I mean Rational) person having something of this kind intrusted to him: No man that hath understanding, be that of a higher or lower size, but hath variety of abilities of one sort or other, and withal that actuating power, which should set them on work; and then surely he that hath not been excluded from the receits, must not pretend an exemption from the disbursements, the tasks, but is under a strict obligation of improving what he hath thus received, of bringing in fruit to the granary, as well in order to his own account and joy in the auditing of the harvest, as also to the glory of God from whom alone he derives (and must impute) both the seed, and irrigation, and the very increase. And he that on these grounds and according to these measures decently administers his province, sedulously attends his duty in this matter, will find himself placed in such an active state of business, that he shall have little cause to suspect himself neglected, or forgotten by God and Nature, or placed in the world without a Calling.
4. From what is thus indispensably required of all men, no one rank or individual of that species can plead an immunity: And therefore till those whom birth, education and wealth, and the common d…alect of the world hath made known by the stile of Gentlemen, shall think fit to expunge the latter part of that title and disclaim the nature of men, as they are willing to do the duty, they must certainly retract this error, and acknowledge they have their shares in this common obligation.
5. Nay indeed if they could so far imitate the Prince of the morning, as to succeed to that rank which he was willing to leave, I mean to ascend above humanity and assume the nature of Angels, yet even thither would this pursue and overtake them. Among all the orders of that divine Hierarchy they would not find one patron or president of Idleness: For as the spirituality of their essence renders them more agile and active, so that activity is perpetually exercised in imploying the divine abilities they have received, to the glory of God the donor, and that not only in bearing a part in that Celestial quire which incessantly sings his praises, but in the more laborious and servile offices of being ministring spirits, yea even to those to whom both in respect of nature and innocence they are …itely superior. And this they do with perfect alacrity and cheerfulness, thinking it their greatest honor and dignity to be thus busied; their regitive power over the world, saith Gerson, is not so suitable an ingredient for a Magnificat of their composing, as that greater dignity of receiving, and performing God's commands: An evidence how much the measures of honor differ between the Courtiers of heaven, and earth; the inhabita…s of that refined, and this gross region. Thus then the prospect lies before the Gentleman; if he choose either to look level on the same nature with himself, or direct his eyes upward on that of the glorious spirits that encompass Gods throne, he will not in all the records of earth or heaven find ever a patent for sloth, any clause of exemption in this universal law.
6. Nay if this man in honor would bid farewel to his birthright, and become like the beasts that perish, Ps. 49. 20. if he could be content, in pursuit of this one fancied priviledge of a Gentleman, to renounce all the real ones of a man, and make Nebuchadnezzar's punishment his option, yet neither the field nor forrest could give him sanctuary, afford him any number of associates to aid, or but countenance him in his muting against this divine decree, they would rather be his tutors and monitors to obey it: For what rank even of the most savage animals is there, which we can indict of the not imploying those faculties they have received? Are they not generally in a perpetual and regular motion to those ends for which they were created? in continual exeircise of those powers with which they are ndued? yea some of them with such improvement to all their necessary purposes, that it hath raised a doubt whether they act by instinct or reason, by fancy or judgment: Pythagoras is discernibly on their side; and Aristotle that was less kind to them, seems by one saying to have yielded the cause, when of those creatures which he saith want reason, he confesseth that fancy supplies its place. I need not take part in this dispute; whatsoever their faculties or talents are, none can doubt of their use of them, or whether this their uninterrupted obedience to the law of their creation reflects the proportionable glory on their Creator.
7. To descend one degree lower yet; The very inanimate creatures afford their consort to this divine harmony; every one of them perform those offices, fail not in the exercise of all those (not unactive) qualities God hath put into them: The Sun hath received a power of cherishing and enlivening terrestrial bodies, and it folds not up its rayes, but communicates and dispenceth them freely; the Earth has received a power of fructifying, giving sap and verdure to that which grows upon it, and it withholds not that vital moisture, but like a tender nurse sends it forth liberally to all that expect nourishment from her breasts; and so proportionably do all other parts of this great body; and that all this serves to illustrate the glory of that omnipotent wisdom which hath placed them in this so excellent a subordination, is most visible without the help of a perspective. When the Queen of Sheba saw the magnificence and regularity of Solomon's Court, she brake out into an admiration of his wisdom: And surely a far greater occasion is ministred to all those who contemplate the admirable order of the Universe, with all transportation of soul to magnifie and adore the Divine Disposer of it, as we see frequently exemplified to us in the sublime raptures of the holy Psalmist, who never better approves his right to be called the sweet singer of Israel, then on this ravishing theme.
8. And now can it be fancied a priviledge and dignity, to be the one jarring string in this great instrument? to discompose this divine melody, and become the onelyonly unprofitable useless part of the creation? Shall those whom God hath made little lower then the Angels, subdue and debase their natures beneath the very lowest rank of creatures? and shall this (not humble but) sordid exinanition be look'd upon with reverence, courted as a preferment? This certainly is such an absurdity, as wants nothing to its confutation, but merely to be consider'd: And therefore if Gentlemen would but soberly reflect, there is little doubt but they would resigne at once their claim, and their value of this so defaming a piece of honor, so abasing an exaltation.
9 We can let down our thoughts but one step lower, and that is into the bottomless pit; and from thence sure none will desire to fetch a president; yet if he did, even that black region could not afford it: For though it must be confessed, those accursed spirits accord not with the former instances, in respect of the end of their actions, yet they do in the activity it self; theirs is a busie state, though to an ill purpose; Sathan goes to and fro in the earth, Job 2. 2. and he walks about seeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet 5. 12. yea he imploys all his faculties too, makes diligent use of all that acuteness and dexterity which either his nature or experience have furnished him with, towards that end he pursues; so that it were a wronging, a calumniating even of the very Devil, to charge him with idleness; which though it be a sin which yields him such liberal crops, that he may well seek both to plant and cherish it in humane nature, yet he cannot offer such violence to his own, as to become an example of it.
10. We may hence make a measure, how scandalous, reproachful a thing this is, which neither Heaven Earth, nor Hell it self will owne, but is like an illegitimate birth, disclaimed by all: How unreasonable, nay how infamous will it then be, for those to take up this exposed brat, to foster this vice in their bosoms, who have of all others the greatest and most particular obligation to detest it, as having received the most of those Talents which engage them to action. And that such is the Gentlemans condition, a slight inspection will serve to demonstrate.