The True Christians T est, Part 1 · Meditation 79
MEDITAT. LXXIX. Of Worldly Buſineſs.
UNder this Phraſe, The World, is comprehended alſo the Work, Employment and Buſineſs of the World.
To prefer the Buſineſs of this World before God, denominates a predominant Lover of the World.
God has indow'd Man with active Principles, deſigning him for Buſineſs.
To be active, is to be like God, who is life it ſelf. He is not an idle Spectator, enjoying himſelf, and minding nothing elſe; neither doing good nor evil, (as ſome prophane men in the Prophet imagin'd him,) but he is good, and doth good.
An idle and unactive life is unmanly and infamous. No ſtation does exempt men from Buſineſs, Gentlemen and Ladies have their Callings: There is Buſineſs accommodated to all ſorts of men. Having already of Idleneſs, I will ſay no more of it here, but this, A good man muſt needs love Buſineſs, as it is a Vehicle of Grace: For how can a man exerciſe Righteouſneſs, Mercy or Charity, without Buſineſs?
The neceſſities of humane life are ſo many, either our own own or other mens, that it is impoſſible any man ſhould be idle, but who is of an idle, ſenſual temper.
To prevent miſtakes, I will firſt conſider what is not to prefer the buſineſs of the World before God.
To be diligent and induſtrous in our Callings, with a good deſign, is not it.
To be more in worldly Buſineſs, than in heavenly, is not it. God himſelf has allow'd ſix dayes to one.
To employ our hands in working, more than in lifting up to Heaven, is not worldly. If we ſpeak properly, To obſerve due meaſures, and propound right ends in worldly Buſineſs, is Conformity to the Will of God, and heavenly.
God acted like himſelf in the Creation of the world, as well as in the Redemption of it; and ſo do godly men, in employing themſelves about worldly Objects, as well as ſpiritual. The Angels are as well in Heaven when they are employ'd upon Earth, in preſerving the goings of the Saints, as in their moſt immediate Contemplations.
To give the Precedency to worldly Buſineſs, as to Management and Action, is not ſimply, and always it. A leſſer Buſineſs, and more ignoble, may be prohic & …, more neceſſary than a greater, and preferrible to it. The Neceſſities of the Body may take place of the Conveniences of the Soul.
To do every thing in its proper ſeaſon, is a point of high Wiſdom, and indeed Religion. Let us always remember that Religion is in the due management of worldly Buſineſs, as well as otherwiſe.
To do Works of Neceſſity or Charity on the Lord's day, is not it.
To have a reverend eſteem for that day, is good and neceſſary: Religion flouriſhes in a Kingdom, or a Soul, as that is obſerved. But yet there may be a Superſtition in it; which our Saviour, by his Example and Doctrine has endeavor'd to heal. The Sabbath was made for man, and muſt give place to him: But let all take heed they do not create Neceſſities, or pretend them, as I doubt too many of the foreign, the Phyſical and Chyrurgical Tribe do.
To put ones ſelf upon Buſineſs; to offer ones ſervice for the good of a Neighbor; to meddle in other mens matters uncall'd, by way of aſſiſtance or advice; to prevent Sin or Miſchief (as Lot;) to reconcile Differences (as Moſes) is not it. I do not think that either Lot in his Nay, my Brethren, do not ſo wickedly; nor Moſes, in his Wherefore ſmitest thou thy Fellow? were Pragmatical, as it ſeems they were then interpreted.
There is ſuch a Fault as Pragmaticalneſs; but a Generous Activity, and Publick-Spiritedneſs, which proceeds from an Univerſal Love, is unjuſtly branded. Yea, I will ſay it is baſe Cowardice in ſome men of Abilities, to hide themſelves from Buſineſs, and from the Neceſſities of Mankind, (that is, from their own fleſh) under this pretence, That they will not be Buſie-bodies.
It is better to offer ones ſelf ten times where there is no Need, than to deny Aſſiſtance once where there is.
Bleſſed are the Peace-makers, ſaid the great Peacemaker.
And I cannot but account it a baſe humor, to reproach Active men for Buſie-bodies.
It's true, Chriſt Jeſus would not meddle with things not belonging to him; but as to the things belonging to him, he ſought opportunities for Buſineſs; He went up and down doing good.