Divine Conduct, Head 2 · Performance 5
The Fifth Performance of Providence.
V.
THus you hear, how instrumental Providence hath been, in ordering the Means and Occasions of the greatest Mercies for your souls. Let us now take into consideration,Providential performances with respect to our Civil Calling. another excellent Performance of Providence respecting the good of your bodies and souls too, in respect of that Imployment and Calling it hath ordered for you in this world; for it hath not only an Eye upon your well being in the world to come, but upon your well being in this world also; and that very much depends upon the Station and Vocation to which it calls you.
Now the Providence of God with respect to our civil Callings, may be displayed very takingly in the following particulars.
In directing you to a Calling in your Youth, and not suffering you to live an idle, useless and sinful life, as many do, who are but burthens to the Earth, fruges consumere nati, the Wens of the body politick, serving only to disfigure and drein it, to eat what others earn. Sin brought in sweat, Gen. 3. 19. but now, not to sweat increaseth sin, 2 Thess. 3. 12. He that lives idly, cannot live honestly; as is plainly enough intimated, 1 Thess. 4. 11, 12. But when God puts men into a lawful Calling, wherein the labours of their hands or heads is sufficient for them, it is a very valuable mercy: for thereby they eat their own bread, 2 Thess. 3. 12. Many a sad Temptation is happily prevented; and they are ordinarily furnished by it, for works of mercy to others, and surely it is more blessed to give, than to receive.
In ordering you to such Callings and Imployments in the world, as are, not only lawful in themselves, but most suitable to you. There be many persons imployed in sinful Trades and Arts, meerly to furnish other mens lusts: they do not only sin in their Imployments; but their very Imployments are sinful: they trade for Hell, and are Factors for the Devil. DemetrJus and the Crafts-men at Ephesus, got their Estates by makeing Shrines for DJana, Acts 19. 24, 25. (i. e.) little cases, or boxes with folding leaves, within which the Image of that Idol sate enshrined. These were carried about by the People in Procession, in honour of their Idol. And at this day, how many wicked Arts and Imployments are there invented, (and multitudes of persons maintained by them) meerly to gratifie the pride and wantonness of a debauched age?
Now to have an honest lawful imployment, wherein you do not dishonour God in benefiting your selves, is no small mercy.
But if it be not only lawful in it self, but suited to your genJus and strength, there is a double mercy in it. Some poor Creatures are engaged in Callings, that eat up their time and strength, and make their lives very uncomfortable to them: they have not only spending and wasting Imployments in the world; but such as allow them little or no time for their general Calling: and yet all this doth but keep them and theirs alive. Oh therefore, if God have …itted you with an honest Imployment, wherein you have Iess toil than others, and more time for Heavenly Exercises, ascribe this benefit to the special care of Providence for you.
In setling you in such an Imployment and Calling in the world, as possibly neither your selves nor Parents could ever expect you should arrive to. There are among us such persons, as on this account are signally obliged to Divine Providence. God hath put them into such a way, as neither they nor their Parents ever projected. For, look as the Flower-de-luce in the Campass, turns now this way, then that way, and never ceases moving, till it settle to the North point; just so it is in our setlement in the world. A Child is now designed for this, then for that, but at last setles in that way of Imployment which Providence designed him to. How strangely are things wheeled about by Providence! not what we, or our Parents, but what God designed shall take place. Amos was very meanly employed at first, but God designed him for a more honourable and comfortable Calling, Amos 7. 14, 15. David followed the Ewes, and likely never raised his thoughts to higher things in the dayes of his youth; but God made him the Royal Shepherd of a better flock, Psalm 78. 70, 71. Peter and Andrew were imployed as Fisher-men, but Christ calls them from that to an higher Calling, Matth. 4. 18, 19. to be fishers of men. Pareus when h… was fourteen years old, was by the instigation of his Step-mother, placed with an Apothecary; but Providence so wrought, that he was taken off from that, and sitted for the Ministry; wherein he became a fruitful and eminent Instrument to the Church. James Andreas was by reason of his Fathers inability to keep him at School, designed for a Carpenter; but was afterwards by the perswasion of friends, and assistance of the Church-stock sent to Stutgard, and thence to the University, and so arrived to a very eminent station of service to the Chruch. A master builder OecolampadJus was by his Father designed for a Merchant; but his Mother by earnest entreaties, prevailed to keep him at School: and this Man was a blessed Instrument in the reformation of Religion, I might easily cite multitudes of such Instances; but a taste may suffice.
In securing your Estates from ruine, Job 1. 10. Hast thou not made an hedge about him, and all that he hath? This is the Enclosure of Providence, which secures to us, what by its favour we acquire in the way of honest industry.
In making your Calling sufficient for you. It was the prayer of Moses f…r the Tribe of Judah, Exod. 33. 7. Let his hands be sufficJent for him: and it is no small mercy, if yours be so to you. Some there be that have work, but not strength to go through with it; others have strength, but no imployment for it. Some have hands, and work for them; but it's not sufficient for them and theirs. If God bless your labours, so as to give you and yours necessary supports, and comfort in the world by it, it's a choice Providence, and with all thankfulness to be acknowledged.
Object. 1.Object. IF any that fear God shall complain, That although they have a Calling, yet it is an hard and laborious one, which takes up too much of their time, which they would gladly imploy in other, and better work. I answer,
(1.) It's like,Sol. Wisdom of Providence foresaw this to be the most suitable and proper Imployment for you; and if you had more ease and rest, you might have more temptations than now you have: the strength and time which is now taken up in your daily labours, wherein you serve God, might otherwayes have been spent upon such lusts wherein you might have served the Devil.
(2.) Hereby it may be, your health is the better preserved, and natural refreshments made the sweeter to you, Eccle…. 5. 12. The sleep of a labouring man is sweet to him, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich, will not suffer him to sleep.
(3.) And as to the service of God, if your hearts be spiritual, you may enjoy much Communion with God in your very Imployments, and you have some intervals and respits for that purpose. Have you not more spare hours, than you imploy to that end?
Object 2.…bject. 2. BVt all my labours will scarcely suffice, to procure me and mine the Necessaries of life. I am kept short and low to what others are; and this is a sad affliction.
Though the Wisdom of Providence hath ordered you a lower,…. and poorer condition than others, yet (1.) Consider how many there be that are lower than you in the world: you have but little of the world; yet others have less. Read the description of those persons, Job 30. 4, &c. (2.) If God have given you but a small portion of the world; yet if you be godly, he hath promised never to forsake you, Heb. 13. 5 (3.) Providence hath ordered that condition for you, which is really best for your eternal good. If you had more of the world than you have, your heads and hearts might not be able to manage it to your advantage. A small Boat must have but a narrow Sail. You have not wanted hitherto the necessaries of life, and are commanded, having food and rayment (though none of the finest) to be therewith content. A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked, Psal. 37. 16. better in the AcquisitJon, sweeter in the FruitJon, and more comfortable in the Account.
Well then, if Providence hath so disposed of you all, that you can eat your own bread, and so advantagiously directed some of you to imployments, that afford not only necessaries for your selves and families, but an overplus for works of mercy to others, and all this brought about for you in a way you did not project; let God be owned, and honoured in this Providence. Will you not henceforth call him, My Father, the Guide of my youth? as it is Jer. 3. 4. Surely, it was the Lord that guided you to setle as you did in those dayes of your youth: You reap at this day, and may to your last day, the fruits of those early Providences in your youth.
NOw see that you walk answerably to the obligations of Providence in this particular; and see to it in the fear of God, that you abuse not any of those things to his dishonour, which he hath wrought for your comfort. To prevent which, I will here drop a few needful Cautions, and shut up this particular.
Be not slothful and idle in your VocatJons. 1. Cautio…It's said, Augustus built an Apragapolis, a City void of business; but I am sure God never erected any City, Town or Family to that end. The Command to Adam, Gen. 3. 19. no doubts reaches all his posterity: and Gospel-Commands back and second it upon Christians, Rom. 12. 11. and 1 Thess. 4. 11. If you be negligent, you cannot be innocent. And yet,
Be not so intent upon your particular Callings,2. Cautio… as to make them interfere with your general Calling. Beware you lose not your God in the Crowd and hurry of Earthly business. Mind that solemn warning, 1 Tim. 6. 9. But they that will be rich fall into TemptatJon, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destructJon and perditJon. The inhabitants of O Enoc, a dry Island near Athens, bestowed much labour to draw in a River to water it, and make it fruitful; but when the Sluces were opened, the waters slowed so abundantly, that it overflowed the Island, and drowned the Inhabitants. The application is obvious. It was an excellent saying of Seneca, rebus non me trado, sed commodo. I don't give, but lend my self to business.
Remember alwayes,…. Caution the success of your Callings and earthly Imployments is by Divine blessing, not humane diligence alone, Deut. 8. 18. Thou shalt remember the Lord they God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth. The Devil himself was so far Orthodox, as to acknowledge it, Job 1. 10, Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hand, &c. Recommend therefore your affairs to God by prayer, according to Psal. 37. 4, 5. Delight thy self also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. And touch not with that which you cannot recommend to God by Prayer for a blessing.
Be well satisfied in that Station and Imployment in which Providence hath placed you,…. Caution and do not so much as wish your selves in another, 1 Cor. 7. 20. Let every man abide in the same Calling, wherein he was called. Providence is wiser than you, and you may be confident hath suited all things better to your Eternal good, than you could do, had you been left to your own option,