The Gentlemans Calling, Part 3
A Prayer.
O Thou most Righteous and Impartial Judge, who despisest not the mean, nor acceptest the persons of the Mighty, Make me always to remember and seriously to consider, that none of those outward priviledges I enjoy among men, can exempt me from thy severe Tribunal, but that I shall one day be brought to Judgment, as for all that I have done in the flesh, so particularly for those special and peculiar Advantages, whereby thou hast discriminated me from my meaner brethren: And oh let these Terrors of the Lord timely perswade, yea constrain me to a careful imploying of all I have received, to those ends for which thou hast bestowed them. Lord, grant that the Knowledge thou hast given me may have such an efficacie on my Practice, that it may always guide, never upbraid me. And as thou hast opened thy hand wide to me in temporal Plenty, so enlarge my heart in Thankfulness toward thee, and in Compassion and bounty toward thy poor members: I am not straitned by thee, O let me not be straitned in my own bowels; let neither Covetousness nor Riot make me poor in the midst of Riches, but grant me that true Enjoyment which consists in a Charitable dispencing of them, that forsaking all the unsatisfying nauseated pleasures of Luxury, I may purchase to my self that more solid transcending delight of succoring the distresses of my fellow Christians. Lord, suffer not my Wealth to be only a lading with thick clay, nor the rust of it to bear witness against me, but rather make me of the number of those that need relief, then of those who want hearts to give it. And since in thy gracious Providence thou hast placed me in a condition of ease and vacancie, O let me not pervert it into a life of Idleness and Sensuality, let me not be less, but better busied then other men. O never suffer me to incur the guilt or reproach of being more remiss or indifferent in my entercourse with Thee, then others are of their traffique with the World, of having less care of my own and other mens immortal souls, then they have of their corruptible bodies; but make me so industriously to husband every minute of that precious Time thou lendest me here, as may be in order to a blessed Eternity both of my self, and as many more as thou shalt put within my reach. O let not any persons ever have cause to accuse their Relation to me, for betraying them to Sin here, or Misery hereafter; but grant that all that are under my care or power, may receive such wholsom influence from me, as may nourish all Christian Practice among them; And, Lord, grant that my Example may be such to all, that I never prove to any an occasion of Falling: Let me never contribute to that power and empire which Vice has gotten in the world, but with a steady courage oppose all Impiety, how customary or successful soever; Let me think nothing Honorable, but what bears Thy stamp and impress on it, but engage, and animate, and inflame my benumm'd breast, to the most eager and vigorous endeavor of recovering discountenanced Vertue to some esteem and reputation among men. And, O Lord, grant that by an assiduous Practice of all Duty, I may arrive to such a gust and relish of it, as may utterly supplant any sensual delights in my own heart, and may also qualifie me experimentally to assure others how sweet the Lord is, that I may be an effectual (though unworthy) Instrument in thy hand of drawing many to the Obedience of Christ, and that renouncing all the vain torturing Ambitions of this world, I may aspire to no other honor but that of being approved by Thee as a good and faithful Servant; That by thy mercy having my Infirmities covered, and my Sincerity accepted, I may at last be admitted into the Joy of my Lord, through the merits of Jesus Christ my blessed Saviour and Mediator.
Amen.
For more particular Concernments, the Reader may be referred to the Devotions at the end of [The Whole Duty of Man.]
A Table of the Contents OF THE TREATISE.
Section Page
I. OF Business and Callings in general. 1.
II. Of Varieties of Callings. 8.
III. The Particulars of the Gentlemans Advantages above others. 12.
IV. The Branches of His Calling founded in the first Advantage, that of Education. 20.
V. Of the Second Advantage, Wealth. 54.
VI. Of the Third Advantage, that of Time. 95.
VII. Of the Fourth Advantage, that of Authority. 117.
VIII. The Last Advantage, that of Reputation. 130.
IX. The Conclusion. 158.
The Devotions:
A Confession. 167
A Thanksgiving. 169
A Prayer. 171
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Allestree, The Gentlemans Calling (1660)