Eight Sermons, Sermons · Sermon 3
How to walk with God in our Callings.
1 Cor. 7.20.
Brethren, let every man wherein he is called therein, abide with God.
IN this Chapter the Apoſtle ſpeaks to a Caſe of Conſcience, Whether it be lawful for the Believing Wife to depart from the Unbelieving Husband, wh…ch he reſolves Negatively, verſe 10. If the unbelieving will depart, let him depart, ſaith the Apoſtle, verſe 15 but a Believer may not depart; which he perſwadeth unto by divers Arguments. The firſt is taken from the profit or good that the believer may doe by his continuance, verſe 16. for what knoweſt thou O Wife, whether thou ſhalt ſave thine Husband. The ſecond is taken from the call of God unto that condition, v. 17. But as the Lord hath diſtributed unto every man, as the Lord hath called every man, ſo let him walk, and this is our duty: for ſaies he, ſo I ordain in all the Churches. Why, but ſuppoſe a man be called being a Servant, is he to abide therein? Yes, ſaies the Apoſtle, verſe 20. Let every one abide in the ſame calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a ſervant, care not for it, but if thou maieſt be made free, uſe it rather; for verſe 22. He that is called in the Lord, being a Servant is the Lords Freeman only ſaith he, ye are bought with a price; be not ye the Servants of men, ſerving men only, but the Lord in them. And ſo Brethren, let every man wherein he is called, abide with God by calling; ſo the Apoſtle doth underſtand that ſtate and condition wherein God hath placed us. We do ordinarily take the word calling for our civil imployment, and outward occupation; but the Apoſtle takes it here for our outward ſtate and condition, yet not excluding, but including the other, for there is no ſtate or condition that we are called unto, but ſome occupation, imployment, or calling, is to be uſed therein, and therefore in ſpeaking to one of theſe, I ſhall ſpeak to both and ſo the Doctrine is this.
That it is the duty of every man to abide or walk with God in his calling, take calling for your ſtate or condition, or take calling for your ordinary way of imployment; the Doctrine is true, that it is our duty to abide or walk with God in our calling. It is commanded in the 17 verſe, As the Lord hath called every one, ſo let him walk. It is commanded again in the 20 verſe Let every man abide in the ſame calling wherein he was called. And it is commanded again in the 24 verſe, Brethren let every one, &c. Surely therefore there is ſome great concernment in this, and the 20 verſe he ſaith, Let every man abide, but in the 17 he ſaith, as the Lord hath called every one, ſo let him walk; and ſaith the Text, here let him abide with God. Plainly then, it is the duty of every man to walk or abide with God in his calling. For the proſecuting of which Truth, I ſhall labour to ſhew you,
Firſt, That it is a great mercy for a man to be placed in a good, lawful, and honeſt calling. A good calling is a great mercy.
Secondly, That a man being ſo placed, is to abide therein.
Thirdly. That it is our duty to walk with God in our calling.
Fourthly, What a man ſhould do, that he may walk with God in his calling.
Fifthly, I ſhall give you ſome motives and encouragements to provoke you to this work of walking with God in your callings.
Firſt, therefore I ſay, A good calling is a great mercy; it is a great mercy for a man to have an honeſt, good, and a lawful calling: whether you take the word calling for the calling of condition, or for the calling of employment, it is a great mercy to be planted in an honeſt and a lawful calling. For,
Firſt, This was the condition of Adam in the State of Innocency; then the Lord ſet Adam for to Till the Ground; he gave him an imployment in the State of Innocency, and there was nothing given him in the State of Innocency, but mercy; whatever God called him to, or put him upon before the Fall, was mercy: now in that ſtate God put an employment upon him, Imployment did not come in by the fall. It is not a badge of that conqueſt that the Devil made upon us by the fall; Therefore an honeſt calling is a great mercy. For thereby,
2ly. A man is kept from idleneſs Idleneſs is the nurſe of all wickedneſs, our vacation is the Devils term. Homines nihil agendo, &c.Homines nihil agendo mala diſcan… …gere Sen. Ottum eſt vera hominis ſepultura. Sen. Men by doing nothing, learn to do evil. Idleneſs, ſaith the Heathen, is the burying of a living man. Hic ſitus eſt, when a great Senator of Rome would go live privately in his Country houſe, that he might be more retired, Seneca coming by, ſaid, Hic ſitus eſt, Here lyes ſuch a man, as you ſay over a Tomb, Here lyes ſuch a man, and there lyes ſuch a man, ſo ſaid he, Hic ſit us eſt Vacia, here lies Va cia, …or Idleneſs is the burial of a living man, but what more contrary to a man then to be buried alive. Now the honeſt lawful employment or calling will keep ever from idleneſs. Yea,
Thirdly, thereby alſo a man ſhall be kept from buſie bodiedneſs, and too much medling; the more …dle a man is, the more apt he is to be too buſie and medling with others matters Mark therefore I pray how they go together in 2 Theſ. 3.11 We hear that …here are ſome which walk among you diſorderly work…ng not all, being buſie bodies; working not at all, and yet overworking, being buſie bodies, how ſhould …is be cured? Why ſaith he in the next verſe, Now …hem that are ſuch, we command and exhort by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that with quietneſs they work and eat their own bread. Either a man muſt eat his own bread, or he will eat anothers; if he eat anothers conſtantly, that will be uncomfortable, if he would eat his own bread, then let him work; if he do not work when he ſhould, he will be at work when he ſhould not; he will meddle with others matters, and be a buſie-body. Now therefore I command and beſeech you in the Lord (ſaith the Apoſtle) that every one work. Thus ſhall a man be freed from buſie-bodiedneſs. Ye,
Fourthly, A lawful honeſt calling both of condition and employment is Gods ground. As no calling is the Devils ground; ſo a good and honeſt calling is Gods ground. As an unlawful Calling is the Devils ground; ſo a lawful Calling is Gods ground. An… Look when a Man is out of his Calling and place, h… may then ſay, what do I here on the Devils ground And look when a man is in his place and calling, the… he may ſay, what doſt thou here Satan, tempting me? This is none of thy ground, this is Gods groun… to me. And ſo it is indeed, for there God will appea… to men. God did appear to the Shepherds bringing the news of Chriſts Birth; But where di… he appear to them, but in their calling? They we… keeping Sheep, and ſuddenly they heard a noiſe o… heavenly Angels. He did appear to Peter and Andrew in their Callings, to follow Chriſt, but wher… did he appear to them, but in the way of their Callings? They were caſting their Nets into the Sea, an… Chriſt came and ſaid to them, Follow me, and I wi… make you fiſhers of Men. Calling ground, is appearanc… ground; there God appears unto his People, Surel… therefore it is a great mercy to be on this ground, to have an honeſt lawful calling and employment. And that is the firſt thing.
2. Now Secondly, A man having an honeſt and a good calling, he is to abide therein. Let every one abide therein, ſaith the Apoſtle, here again and again. Now for the opening of this, I ſhall briefly ſpeak unto theſe four things.
1. That there is an aptneſs in us to change or lay down our Callings.
2. That it is not abſolutely unlawful ſo to do.
3. Yet ordinarily a man is to abide in his Calling, and not readily to be removed from it.
4. I ſhall anſwer to ſome objections, or caſes of Conſcience about the change or relinquiſhment of our calling.
Firſt, Therefore there is an aptneſs in us to change or lay down our Callings, &c. Why ſhould the Apoſtle three times one after another, call upon us to abide in our callings. And if ye look into 2 Theſ. 3. ye ſhall find that as ſoon as the Apoſtle had commanded the Theſſalonians to work, and eat their own bread by working. verſe 10. he preſently adds, But ye Brethren, be not weary of well doing. Why ſo! But becauſe there is an aptneſs in us, and an itching diſpoſition to leave and deſert our Callings
2. But it is not abſolutely unlawful for a man to leave, or to change his Calling. This in ſome caſes thou mayſt do, ſays Pet. Mart. Modo teipſum non quaeras, vel temere agas; ſo that you do not ſeek your ſelf, nor be raſh therein. For poſſibly a man may be qualified for higher employments then his own calling beats. In this caſe David left his calling of a Shepherd, and became a King. Amos left the calling of a Herd-man, and became a Prophet. The Apoſtles left the calling of their fiſhing, and became Apoſtles. Poſſibly a man may be qualified for better and higher employments; and in that caſe it is lawful to change or leave his calling. Or, Si ad magiſtratum vel eccleſiae regimen accerſitus fueris juſta ratione, tum tuipſe no t…s qui te transferas ex una vocatione in aliam ſed a Deo promoveri…. S…c ab aratro ad conſilium voleres Romdis. Pet. Mart. in Cap p. 96.
2. Poſſibly a man may ſee the ſame hand of God leading him out of his calling, which did bring him in to it. So when Noah had the ſame Command to go out of the Ark, that he had to go in, then he went out, but n t before; thou…h the Waters were gone off the Earth. Now ſometimes a man may hear the ſame voice of God, leading him out of his calling, which did bring him in; and in that caſe it is lawful for a man to leave or lay down his Calling. Or,
3. Poſſibly the Porter that ſtandeth at the door of a mans Calling may let him out; there are Porters which God hath ſet at the door of every condition; if a m n be a ſingle man, and would change his condition, and his Parents are unwilling, then he may not go out of that calling or condition: For the Parents which are the Porters of the door do not open to him. There are …orters at the door of every condition, poſſibly this Porter may open the door, and then it is lawful for a man to change or lay down his Calling. Or,
4. Poſſibly a man may be forced through want, to change or deſert his calling. Paul though a Preacher and Apoſtle, was ſometimes forced to work with his hands.Idem statuendum est, cum aliqua gravi neceſſitate compelleris, & ſubeas novas conditiones. Pet. Mar. ibid. And though Muſculus was a good and excellent Preacher, yet he was ſometimes forced to work, and to dig in the City Ditch or moat, for his living. Poſſibly I ſay, a man through urgent neceſſity and want, may be forced to leave or deſert his Calling; and then, and in that caſe, it is lawful for him to do it: So that it is not abſolutely unlawful for a man to change or lay down his Calling. Yet,
Thirdly; Though it be lawful in ſome caſe to do ſo, yet ordinarily a man is to abide in his calling, and not readily to be removed from it: for a good calling is the Lords gift.
1. It is God that calls a man to that ſtate, condition or employment, Now a man ſhould not readily leave or deſert that calling or employment which God hath called him to, or owned and bleſsed him in. For how do I know whether God will own or bleſs me when I ſhall deſert that Calling, wherein he hath appeared unto me. 'Tis my Duty to follow God, and not to go before him; as God hath diſtributed to every man. As the Lord hath called every man, ſo let him walk. God doth diſtribute and carve our our callings for us. Has the Lord therefore called me to a place or employment, then am I with thankfulneſs to walk therein. 'Tis not for the private Souldier, ſaith P. Mar… to appoint his own ſtation; but look where he is ſet by his Commander, there he is to abide. Has the Lord therefore ſet me in this or that calling or employment, then am to wait on God, and abide in it, and not readily to be removed from it.
2. There is no calling either of employment or condition, but God may be ſerved and enjoyed therein. No calling or employment ſo mean, but a man may honourably ſerve, and comfortably enjoy God therein. Art thou called being a Servant, care not ſaith the Apoſtle; Why! For he that is cal ed being a Servant, is the Lords Free-man. verſe 22. Likewiſe alſo, he that is called being free, is the Lords Servant. I rem…mber I heard a Preacher ſay ſome 25. years ſince, that a man is never aſhamed of his Calling though it be never ſo mean, but a man is aſhamed of his ſin, although he be never ſo great. If ſays he, you call a man Tincker or Cobler, yet he is not aſhamed thereof, becauſe it is his Calling; but if you call a man Drunkard, or Adulterer, he is aſhamed thereof, becauſe that is none of his Calling. A man may honourably ſerve God in his Calling, though it be never ſo mean, and he may comfortably enjoy God in his Calling although it be never ſo great.
Object. But that is the reaſon why I would lay down my Calling, becauſe I cannot ſerve God ſo well therein. I meet with many Temptations, Provocations, and Impediments, which hinder me in the ſervice of God; if I were free from this Calling, then I ſhould be more free for God, and ſhould be more free from thoſe ſnares and provocations that I now meet with. But for anſwer:
A…ſw. Are you ſure of that? Luther tells us of a certain man that was given to anger, and to avoid provocation, he would go live alone, as an Hermit; and going to the Well with his Pitcher, ſomewhat diſpleaſed him, and he threw down his Pitcher, and he broke it in Anger, which when he had done, and reflecting on himſelf, and his own actions, he ſaid, Well, now I ſee it is not in my condition, but in my heart and ſelf, that doth cauſe anger and provocation; therefore I will return to my cal…ing again. And when men ſpeak at the rate of that Objection, What do th…y do? but lay the fault of their anger and provocation, upon their condition, and excuſe themſelves. But our Saviour ſaith, That that comes from within, that defiles the man, not that which comes from without. 'Tis not the condition or the place, or the employment or calling that defiles the man, but that that comes from within, that defiles the man. Mr. Greenham being asked whether a man might avoid the doing of a thing whereunto he is called;Greenham on Calling. becauſe he feels corruption in himſelf. He ſaid, In avoiding Society, you ſhall cover, but not cure your infirmities; and though you depart from men, you cannot go out of your ſelf, 'tis not the uſe of the Creatures, but the love of the Creatures, that hinder from good. I never look ſaid be, for a better eſtate then that wherein I am; but I oft prepare for a worſe. And I pray tell me, Beloved, was not Joſhua (when Moſes dyed, and he was to lead the people into Canaan) a man of great employment. Yet even then (ſaith the Lord to him) this book of the Law, ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou ſhalt meditate therein day and night. Joſh. 1.8. And was not David a man of great employments? yet, ſays he, At Evening, Morning, and at Noonday will I pray, yea ſeven times a day; yea I meditate on thy Law all the day long. Surely therefore our hinderance to good, doth not lye in our calling, place, or employment; but it lies within our ſelves. And therefore why ſhould we lay down our callings to be rid thereof.
Object. 2. But this is not my reaſon, I know that a man may ſerve God in the worſt of honeſt callings, but callings are made for maintenance. Now I have enough to maintain my ſelf and mine; and therefore why may not I now lay down my calling?
Anſw. Becauſe you are miſtaken. A calling is not onelyonly to maintain your ſelf and your …amily, but it is an ordinance of God to preſerve and keep you from Idleneſs: whereby you are not onelyonly to maintain your ſelf, but to help others. And therefore ye find that Paul ſaith, he wrought with his hands; not onelyonly to maintain himſelf but others. Acts 20.34. You know (ſays he) yea, your ſelves know, that theſe hands have miniſtred unto my neceſſities, and to them that were with me. He did not onelyonly work occaſionally to maintain himſelf, but others alſo. And if ye look into the 4th. chapter of the Epheſ. The ſame Church that he ſpake to in the 20th. of the Acts, ye ſhall find that he layeth his injunction on them and us. Let him that ſtole ſteal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. verſe 28. Surely therefore a calling is not onelyonly appointed to raiſe a maintenance for our ſelves and therefore though you can live, & have outward means enough to maintain both you, and others, yet you may not therefore leave or deſert your calling; it is that truſt that God hath committed to you, and you muſt make good your truſt.
Queſt. But though I may not leave my calling altogether, yet may I not leave it for a time, that on the week day I may go and hear and enjoy the ordinances.
Anſw. Yes ſurely, for man is not made for the calling, but the calling is made for man. Ye read of a converted Woman in the 4th of John, that when ſhe had a taſt of Chriſts Preaching, ſhe left her Pitcher or Pail, and went and called others to hear the ſame. And ſo, though you do not break your Pail or Pitcher, yet you may leave your Pail or Pitcher for a time, to tend on the words of Chriſt. Did not the Jews go up three times in the year to Jeruſalem from their ſeveral Habitations, Employments, and Callings. Is it not ſaid, Acts 2.46. That the converted Jews did continue daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from houſe to houſe. Indeed God will have mercy and not ſacrifice; but though ye may not leave or lay down your callings readily, yet for a time you may leave them, that you may attend on the ordinances. But though you may ſo leave your callings for a time, yet you muſt abide therein with God. And ſo I come to the 3d. General, which is this:
3. General. That it is our duty, or the duty of every man to walk with God in his calling, not barely to abide therein, but to abide and walk with God therein. For thus,
1. It was ſo from the beginning. Adam had a calling, even in the ſtate of innocency, but therein he was to walk with God.
2. And if a man do not walk with God in his calling, how can he walk with God at all. A man is not ſaid to walk with God, becauſe he prays in the morning or evening; walking is a conſtant thing. Now it is the duty of every man to walk with God; and therefore 'tis his duty to walk with God in his calling.
3. Thereby a man is diſtinguiſhed from the world and the men of the world. A man is not therefore one of another world, becauſe he deſerts his calling that he may give himſelf unto his devotions: For then the Moncks, and Nuns, and Anabaptiſts, ſhould be men and women of another world; he is a man of another world, that doth uſe the world as if he uſed it not. Chriſt himſelf was in the world, but not of the world. And if you would not be of the world, you muſt not go out of the world, but you muſt walk with God in the world. Hereby you ſhall be diſtinguiſhed from the world, and men of the world. Now it is our duty ſo to walk, as it may appear that we are not of this world. Therefore it is our duty to walk with God in our callings, not not onelyonly to abide therein, but to walk with God therein.
At bodie ſumma habetur pietas, ſiquis domi relictis liberis & uxore aut etiam grandaevis pa…entibus, vel Hieroſolymam adeat, vel in monaſterium; vide quo impudentiae ventum eſt in eccleſiam Chriſti, nec in pari pro ſus dementia decipiunt hodie & Catebaptiſte, relictis enim uroribus liberis & familiis, tanquam attoniti & fanatici homines circumſitant, atque ita ſe pomaria regni Chriſti propagularos dejerant; tum interim rem familiarem concoquent ſubvertantque, totam & eccleſiam Christi miris modis obturbent. Bul …ing. in 1 T…m. 5.8.
4. This is that which will ſweeten and elevate your callings, every thing is raiſed or depreſſed as God is preſent with it, or abſent from it. Bethlehem was but a little City, therefore ſays the Prophet Micha. Chap. 5.3. Thou Beth…lehem, though thou beſt little amongſt the thouſands of Judah. Yet, Mat. 2. its ſaid. And thou Beth-lehem art not the leaſt; Why! becauſe Chriſt was born there. Look what place or Town, or condition that is, where Chriſt is, though it be little in it ſelf, yet it is raiſed by him. The more therefore that you walk with God in your calling, the more your calling is ſweetned and elevated. And yet farther,
5. Every man is, as he is in his calling, a man hath no more grace then he may or can uſe in his calling; and though I have all parts and gifts, ſo as I can remove Mountains; yet if I be not gracious in my calling, all is nothing; my parts and gifts are but as ſounding Braſs, and as tinckling Cymbal. My calling is that ground whereon I am to plant all my gifts and graces If I have grace, it will appear in my calling; if I be wicked, it will appear in my calling; every man is as he is his calling. Surely therefore it is not onelyonly o r duty to abide, but to abide and walk with God in our callings. And that is the third General.
Now by way of Application I might ſpeak ſomething in reference to every branch of the Doctrine. If a good calling be a great mercy, then why ſhould not Parents provide honeſt callings for their Child, and Children be thankful to God and their Parents for ſuch proviſion? And if it be our duty to abide with God in our callings, then why ſhould not every man be contented with his condition whatever it be, though it be never ſo mean? And if it be our duty to walk with God in our callings, then why ſhould we not make it our buſineſs (not to be rich by our callings) but to walk with God in our callings. But you will ſay in the 4th. place:
4. General, Queſt. What ſhould a man do that he may walk with God in his calling? This is of daily concernment. How ſhould we therefore ſo walk in our callings, that we may walk with God in our callings?
Anſw. I anſwer Negatively and Affirmatively,
1. Negatively. If you would walk with God in your calling, you muſt not be ignorant of the way of your calling. For if you take up a calling,Q. Quaenam requiruntur ad honestam vocationem honesté exercendam? R. 1. Requiritur peritia. 2. Attentio ad officia propria. 3. Sedula diligentia. 4. Providentia in opportunitate commoda obſervanda. 5. Fortitudo & conſtantia in difficultatibus ſuperandis. 6. Moderatio appetitimis lucri. 7. Religioſ… ſanctificatio omnium labo…um Ames Caſ. conſc. lib. 5. cap. 46. and are ignorant of the way and myſtery thereof, you may tempt God therein. Th… wiſom of the wiſe (ſaith Solomon) is to direct his way, his own particular way. Every man ſhould be the maſter of his Art. Poſſibly a man may ſtep into a calling both of condition and employment, before he knows the way and the manner of it. But as in Marriage, though the parties meet in the fleſh without any ſanctified means; yet if God afterwards give them grace to live holily together; he ſheweth that not onelyonly their corrupt meeting is pardoned, but that now they are bleſſed. So, though a man enter into a calling without gifts at the firſt: yet if God afterwards furniſh him with able gifts, he doth not onelyonly ſhew his former ſin in running into that calling is pardoned, but that he is bleſſed. But if a man be not the maſter of his Art, and gifted for his calling, then he leaves God therein, and do…h not walk with God.
2. If you would walk with God in your calling, you muſt not be negligent in your place and calling. Diligence in our callings, is commanded, commended, and rewarded in Scripture. Its commanded, Whatever is in the power of thy hand to do, do it with all thy might. Be not ſlothful in buſineſs, go to the Piſmire O Sluggard. Its commended, He that is diligent in his buſineſs ſhall ſtand before Princes. And its rewarded, For the diligent hand maketh rich. Now if God doth command, commend, and reward Diligence in our calling. Then ſurely you cannot walk with God, and be negligent therein.
3. If you would walk with God in your calling, you muſt not deal unjuſtly or unrighteouſly in your dealings with men. God hath ſhewed thee O man, what is good, ſaith the Prophet. Micah 6.8. And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Plainly then a man cannot walk humbly with God, that doth not deal juſtly and righteouſly with men in his calling.
4. If you would walk with God in your calling, then you muſt not be too familiar with your calling. God hath given you a calling that it may be a Nurſe to you, and your grace. Children ſometimes are ſo fond of their Nurſe, that they regard not their Parents; and if you be too fond of your calling, you will forget the God of your calling. Let him that marrieth be as if he married not, ſays the Apoſtle, and he that uſeth the world, as if he uſed it not. You will go with an Apron into your ſhop, that you may keep your Cloths clean. And hath not your Soul as much need of an Apron when you are in your ſhop and your calling. If the Ivy clings too cloſe unto the Oak, it hindereth the growth of the Oak. So if your callings cling too cloſe to you, …nd you to your callings, it will hinder your ſpiritual growth. The world may be well uſed at a diſtance; it is not evil to meddle with the world, but to mingle with it. Would ye therefore walk with God in your place, then you muſt not be too familiar with the world and the things thereof. Thus Negatively. Now Affirmatively.
Affirmatively. 1. If you would walk with God in your place and calling, then ou muſt obſerve what thoſe ſnares and temptations are, that are incident unto your calling, and take heed thereof; ſuch there are for ſ…ys the Apoſtle in chap. 7. verſe 32. He that …married, careth for the things that belong to the …ord, how he may pleaſe the Lord; but he that is married, careth for the things of the world, how he may pleaſe his wife. And this ſaith he verſe 35. I speak for your own profit, not that I may caſt a ſnare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that you may attend upon the Lord without diſtraction. Plainly then there are Snares and Temptations that are incident unto all, and the beſt conditions and callings; and if we would attend unto …od without diſtractions, we muſt obſerve what theſe Snares and Temptations are, and take heed thereof.
2. If you would walk with God in your calling, then you muſt live by Faith in your callings. For by Faith Enoch walked with God. And the life that I live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the Son of God. Thereby you ſhall be kept from Covetouſneſs, and love of the World. This is our Victory whereby we overcome the world, even our Faith. Thereby you ſhall be contented with your condition whatever it be; thereby you ſhall be able to leap over a Wall, and over all thoſe difficulties that you meet within your callings; thereby you ſhall live ſweetly and graciouſly in your calling, and walk with God. Now if you would live by faith in your calling, then you muſt have an eye to Gods commandment, promiſe, and providence. Firſt, you muſt go to your callings as to Gods ordinance otherwiſe you cannot look with both eyes to God, but with one eye to the world, and with the other to God. But you ſee that he hath taught us, That you cannot look with one eye to Heaven, and with the other eye to the Earth; but if you will look to the Heavens, both eyes will look to Heaven. So if you will look to God, you muſt look with both eyes to God. The way th… fore to look with both eyes to God in your calling, is to go to your calling, as to Gods ordinance; and becauſe Faith and the promiſe, are as Buckle and Claſp, the one cannot be without the other. Therefore you muſt obſerve thoſe promiſes that are made to your calling, and reſt thereon. And becauſe God doth ſometimes guid us by his eye in the way of our callings, therefore you muſt have an eye to providence; and whatever you do in the way of your calling, y…u muſt quietly leave the iſſue of it, and ſucceſs to God. And thus ſhall you live by faith in your calling, and ſo walk with God in your place.
3 If you would walk with God in your calling, then whatever you do therein, do all to the glory of God. Whether you eat or drink (ſaith the Apoſtle) do all to the glory of God. If I work in my calling for mine own profit onelyonly, then I walk with my ſelf therein; but if I do all for Gods glory, not mine own profit, then I walk with God in my calling
4. If you would walk with God in your particular calling, then be ſure that you ſo manage your calling, that your general calling may not be an hindrance, but an help unto your particular: And thus your particular calling may be no hindrance, but an help to your general calling. Wo to that calling which eats up Prayer! The particular and general callings are joined together by God. Thoſe that God hath joined together, let no man put aſunder. Be ſure therefore that your general calling be an help to your particular, and your particular no hindrance to your general. Thus ſhall you walk with God in your calling, and in the fifth place.
5. If you would walk with God in your calling, then be ſure that you turn as God turns, ſweetly complying with his diſpenſations in the way of your calling. If two men walk together, when one turns, the other turns; and if one do not turn as the other turns, they cannot walk together; but if one turns as the other turns, then they walk together. So in our walking with God, it may be Gods diſpenſations in my calling is comfortable, then am I to rejoice and to praiſe the Lord. It may be God turns and his diſpenſation is ſad, in the way of my calling, then am I to humble my ſelf before the Lord, and to comply with his diſpenſation; which if you do in your calling, then ſhall you walk with God therein. Yet,
6. If you would walk with God in your calling, then you muſt judge of things in your calling, as God judges, and meaſures things by his Buſhel. We are very apt to meaſure, and judge of things in our callings, by the verdict of the means and ſecond cauſes; if the means and ſecond cauſe ſmile, then we ſmile, though God frown; if the means and ſecond cauſe frown, then we frown, though God ſmile; if the ſecond cauſe be big, and promiſe a great mercy or bleſſing to us, then in the ſtrength of the ſecond cauſe, we promiſe it to our ſelves, though God threatens the contrary; if the ſecond cauſe or means threaten a miſery, then in the ſtrength thereof, we threaten our ſelves with that miſery, though God promiſe the contrary bleſſing. That is not to walk with God in our callings. He that walks with God in his place and calling, muſt judge and meaſure things according unto Gods verdict. But,
7. If you would walk with God in your place and calling, then you muſt ſpiritualize your particular calling with heavenly things, and the things of God, not put all upon a morning and an evening prayer; but your particular calling muſt be ſprinkled with holy Meditations, and gracious Speeches. Thus it was with Abrahams Servant when he went for Rebeccah, He ſprinkled his Service, with meditation, prayer, and godly speech. And if ye look into the 5th. of Judges, ye ſhall find that upon a glorious Victory that God gave to his people, its ſaid verſe 11. They that are delivered from the noiſe of the Archers, in the Places of drawing of water, there ſhall they rehearſe the righteous acts of the Lord. Not onelyonly at their Church-meetings, and in prayer or duty, but while they are drawing of water. Thus our particular calling is to be ſprinkled with heavenly things; and if you do thus, then ſhall you walk with God in your calling. And oh that there were an heart in us all, thus to walk with God in our callings. This is every mans work, and every days work. Now therefore that you may do it, give me leave by way of motive, to leave theſe few conſiderations with you.
1. If you walk with God in your particular calling, God will walk with you in your general calling. Is it not a g…eat mercy to meet with God in your prayers and duties; if you go up to him in your particular callings, he will come down to you in your general.
2. Then ſhall your calling be a bleſſing to you indeed, and you ſhall have another further and greater reward then the wealth of your calling. Colloſ. 3. Servants obey your Maſters in all things, not with eye ſervice as men pleaſers, but in ſingleneſs of heart, fearing the Lord. verſe 22, And whatever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. verſe 23. Knowing that of the Lord ye ſhall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye ſerve the Lord Chriſt. It ſeems then by this Scripture, that though a man be a Servant, yet therein he may ſerve the Lord, and walk with God; and if he do ſo, he ſhall not onelyonly have wages from his Maſter; but of the Lord he ſhall receive the reward of the Inheritance. Now he is beſt paid, which the Lord pays; the Lord will not onelyonly give him his outward wages, but an everlaſting inheritance. Oh what a good thing it is to walk with God in our callings. Yea.
3. Thereby the knots and difficulties of your callings ſhall be taken of, and your way made eaſie; that God whom ye walk with in your callings, will lift you over all the ſtiles that are in your callings. If a Child walk with his Father in the Fields, when they come at an high Stile, the Father lifts him over it. So if you walk with God in your callings, then he will lift you over all the Stiles and Difficulties of your callings. Yea,
4 Thereby you ſhall be kept from the ſins and temptations of your calling. A mans calling is like to a great Logg, or piece of Timber in a green field; look upon the field, and you ſee it all green and handſome, but take up the Logg, or Timber that lies in the midſt thereof, and there you find Worms, and Sows, and Vermin that do breed under it. So look upon a mans carriage, and generally it is very green, civil, and handſome; but if ye look under his calling, you ſhall find nothing but Sows, Worms, and Vermin. Now this walking with God in your calling, will keep you from the Vermin of your callings. Yea,
5 Thereby ſhall your way of godlineſs be convincing and winning. As God hath diſtributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, ſo let him walk and abide with God, ſaith the Apoſtle in this Chapter; Why ſo! For what knowest thou, oh Wife, whether thou ſhalt not ſave thine Huſband; or, how knoweſt thou, oh Man, whether thou ſhalt ſave thy Wiſe? Yea, ſays the Apoſtle Peter 1 Pet. 3.1. Likewiſe ye Wives be in ſubjection to your own Husbands, that if any obey not the word, they alſo without the word, may be won by the converſation of the Wives. It is not therefore a morning or evening duty, though that is good, that is ſo winning; but a conſtant walking with God in our places and callings, is convincing and winning. Yea,
6. Thereby alſo you ſhall be fit to die, and leave all the World with eaſe. The more a man runs his heart into the world in his calling, the harder it will be to die; and the more a man walketh with God in his calling, the fitter he will be to die, and to leave all the world with eaſe. Now therefore as you do deſire, That you may be fit to die, That your ways of godlineſs may be convincing and winning, That the knots and difficulties of your callings may be taken off, That your callings may be a bleſſing to you indeed, And that God may meet and walk with you in your general calling, labour more and more to abide and walk with God in your particular calling, Which that you may do, Labour to be maſter of your Art, Be diligent in your place, Deal not unjuſtly with men in your calling, be not too familiar with your callings, but keep your due diſtance from them, Obſerve what the Temptations and Snares are, that are incident, and take heed thereof, Labour more to live by Faith in your calling, Let not your general eat up you… particular, nor your particular deſtroy your general. Whatever you do in your calling, do all to the glory of God, Be ſure that you turn as God turns, Give when he gives, Meaſure all things in your callings, by his Buſhel, And be ſure that you always ſprinkle your outward employments with ſome heavenly refreſhments. And thus Brethren, Let every one wherein he is called therein abide with God. For it is the duty of every man to abide and walk with God in his calling. And thus I have done with this Argument, How to walk with God in our callings.