Contentment Leading a Christian, Treatise 1 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Of Crosses in our Callings, and Contentment therein.
NOw wee come to the externall tryalls, which concern our own selves; and they are reduced to three heads, as respecting,
1 Our Callings:
2 Our Estates:Grounds of Contentment in our Callings.
3 Our Persons:
The Crosses of severall Callings. are sundry and burthensome, which sometime so distract men, that they are ready to cast off all. But godlinesse worketh contentment against them, on these grounds.
1 It judgeth aright, which are 1true Crosses of the Calling indeed, and not rather vices of the person exercising it. It wil be sure it be a crosse. For some men thinke so well of themselves, as they grow discontent with their calling, as not sufficient or good enough for their deserts, and so affect higher places, which oftentimes they are crossed in. But this is the ambition and vice of the person, and not a cross of the calling. Againe, it is common, that men thinke themselves greatly crossed, if they see one whom themselves judge equal, or inferior to themselves, to be placed in an an higher place then themselves, & so vexe themselves, and are troubled if they rise not to his pitch at the least. But this is but the envy of the person, not the crosse of the calling. But if godlinesse step in, it will teach that callings are dispensed, not for the private, but publicke and common good: and that the greater place a man is in, the greater is the charge, and the straiter the account.
2 It teacheth a man, that every 2one must walke in a personall calling, in performing the duties, of which he must avoyd both idlenesse, which omitteth the duties of it, and sloth which doth them negligently, It is a generall law, In the sweat of thy Gen. 3 19. Iob 5. 7. Psal. 19. 5.browes shalt thou eat thy bread, and, man is borne to travell, as the sparkes fly upward. All creatures move us to paines and labour. The Sonne whose Tabernacle, is in Heaven, commeth forth as a Bridegroome, and ejoyceth as a mighty man to runne his race unweariably. The Moone keepeth her courses, and never ceaseth. The earth bringeth forth her fruit abundantly, and is not wearied. The Pismire is a patterne of paines, and the wise man sends us unto her, Prov. 6. 26. Yea, the Angels themselves have their personall offices, in the service of the Lord. To come to our selves: Adam in innocency had a personall duplicate page duplicate page calling: and the second Adam, Christ himselfe had a calling, in which hee diligently laboured, till they said hee was mad.
3 God hath tyed to severall callings severall crosses, and to all callings, 3 Alleallings have their crosses: why.some for speciall purpose: first, because the special course of life must be a schoole of all vertues, and a Christian mans calling must be an exercise of faith, humility, patience, constancy; which could not be without troubles. Secondly, to teach men to begin their calling with God, that they may bee able to say, God … me here; and then the troubles will be lighter. Thirdly, that the Christian in his p…vate course should not want admonitions and motives, to joyne his generall and speciall calling together. Fourthly, that he should sanctifie it by the word and prayer, which is a daily arming of himselfe against these troubles.
4 Godlinesse beateth backe impatience and discontent, when a man 4is opposed and reviled by men for doing his duty. A great tryall: but Godlinesse holds up the heart to God as to the owne Lord, and makes it approve the workes of the calling, not so much to men as to God. Also it makes a man intend them in love to men as well as faith in God: so as the offence is …, not given. And finally, it … him cast his eies upon the dearest servants of God, how they were opposed by men in their callings; yea and upon the Son of God himselfe.
Further, when a man is crossed in his calling, that all his labour will scarse maintaine his mouth, and is stil kept under poverty, here is a great trouble, but godlinesse …teppeth in and perswadeth;
First, that every particular estate and calling is to be judged best for him, till God change it.
Secondly, in all things to behold the care and providence of God over his owne, and brook every condition: seeking no greater measure of temporall things, then is sufficient for the present estate.
Thirdly, to ply the generall calling so much the more, which a man is sure to thrive by: turning the affections from earth to heaven, to Christ, and that inheritance which is purchased by him.
5 Godlinesse teacheth a man to 5hold out and abide i… the calling wherein God hath … him, notwithstanding the crosses of it, 1 Cor. 7. 20, and, that it is nothing to begin well, without perseverance: and whosoever will leave their calling for the troubles of it, must resolve either to live out of every calling, or else to change but old crosses for new, seeing every calling hath his particular troubles; and hee may feare by Gods just judgement, lest his case may bee that of Ionas, who found more crosses, and more heavy and desperate ones in the new calling, then in the old which God had trained him unto. Daily experience sheweth Gods displeasure upon such as turne themselves too and fro in the change of callings, who prove like rolling stones which gather no mosse.
Thus of callings in generall.
Specially; of all callings it is the Specially in the calling of Ministers.greatest griefe for Ministers to lose the fruit of their labours: Because such a ones love to his people is as a Nurse, tendring the state of Gods people: Because his labours are greater then others, spending himselfe for their good; hee toyles in planting and watering, but God denyes blessing and increase: Because of peoples danger, despising so good means; a cursed earth, whose end is to bee burned: Because his joy and crowne is gone, and hee gives up his account with griefe.
Yet here godlinesse contenteth a good Minister, on these grounds.
1 Wee are a sweet smell unto 1God, both in those that are saved, and in those that perish: and the Prophet Esay herein comforted himselfe, cap. 49. 4, 5, though Israel be not gathered, yet my worke is with the Lord, &c.
2 Wee are not Gods to convert, nor change the heart, and we being 2faithfull, God accepts the will for the deed. The barrennesse of a field shall never be attributed to the Husbandman that ploughes and tills it; but to the stiffenesse, stoninesse, or badnesse of the soile. If wee bestow faithfull paines, and reveale the whole counsell of God, we have planted and watered, and done our part: leave Gods part, which is the successe, unto him.
3 We perhaps doe more good then we see, in repressing some sinnes 3and sinners, and convincing them by life and doctrine, and in preparing them to grace. The seed comes not up so soone as ever it is cast into the earth, but lyes, and dyes, and rots a whole Winter, and at length riseth up to a glorious harvest. The Disciples heard many things of Christ, but understood not, nor remembred them till he was risen againe.
4 Our Lord Iesus preaching among the Iewes as never man did, 4and confirming the same by many powerfull miracles, yet gained but a few of them, as he complaines, Esai. 49. 4. I have laboured in vaine, I have spent my strength in vaint: and the Prophets complained, cap. 53. 1. Who hath beleeved our report? and to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed? even to a very few, if any at all. The Apostles preached in many places, and found nothing but hard measure from the world. We are short of their power, spirit, and gifts, and may bee better contented.