Works, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. How a Christian may exercise himself to Godliness in his Dealings with all men. As also a Good Wish about that Particular.
FIrst, Thy duty is to make Religion thy business in thy Dealings with all men. True Godliness payeth its dues to men, as well as its duty to God, nay it cannot do the latter without the former; Upon these two poles all Religion turnes, and upon these two feet it walketh. That Mans holiness is lame; which always keeps home and doth not walk abroad and visit his Neighbours. Its a sign of a sickly temper for a man to sit always brooding in a Chimney-Corner, and not to dare to stir out of doors. Sure I am, thy Religion is of a sad distempered constitution, whatsoever hopes it may give of healthiness in Family duties, if it goeth no farther, and doth not appear in the open air of thy converses with strangers. Religion bindeth the Christian to his good behaviour towards all men; True holiness will provide things honest, not onelyonly in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men, 2 Cor. 8. 21. The Kings Coin hath his superscription without the ring, as well as his Image within it. The Saints civil as well as his spiritual actions have divine impression stamped on them, and he is walking with God in his trading with men. As thy heart must be pure, so thy hands must be clean, or thou canst never reach heaven, Psa. 24. 3, 4. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart. To be voyd of conscience in thy civil actions, speaks thee to have no right to the beatifical vision; he that comes short of Heathens, must needs come short of Heaven. And truly to be careless in making Godliness thy business in them, will very much hinder thy progress in holiness; If all the passages of the body be not open, there is no thriving in health.
The Ostrich is very swift, and said to outrun the horse.Job. 39. 18. He mocketh the Horse and the Rider; but what is the reason? truly this, he hath two helps of speed, his Wings and his Feet, whereas other creatures have but one; the Hawk hath wings, the Hare and Horse have feet, but he hath and useth both Wings and Feet, and hence is so nimble in his flight. The right Christian maketh haste and runneth the way of Gods commandments, because he doth use not only the wings of Religious performances for that end, but also the feet of his ordinary actions. When some are only for holy duties, and others onelyonly for honest dealings, he outstrips them all, marrying them both together, and making them like Husband and Wife, serviceable each to other. Tis true, his piety is the Husband which hath the command and dominion; but his dealings with men as a dutiful wife, further his weal by their obedience and subjection. No Christian ever made more haste in Heavens way then Paul, 1 Cor. 15. 10.I laboured more abundantly then they all (saith he) but how came it about? VVhy, through divine assistance, he exercised himself to keep a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards all men. Acts 14. 16.The stream must needs be the swifter for the meeting and uniting of the waters of grace out of both those channels. The bark which covereth the tree, seemeth to be of little worth, compared with the body of the tree; yet if that be peeled off, the tree dyeth. Though righteous dealings seem to be but the bark and outside of Religion, yet if once thou castest them off, thy Religion, as thriving as thou thoughtst it to be, will quickly wither and come to nothing; the heart-blood of thy godliness may be let out by a wound in thy hand.
I shall lay down a Motive or two to quicken thee to conscienciousness in thy dealings with all men, and then acquaint thee wherein it consisteth.