The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 26

The Christian Mans Calling · Treatise · Chapter 26

p. 466CHAP. XXVI. How to exerciſe our ſelves to Godlineſs in our Partiular Callings.

AS Religion muſt be our buſineſs in our Spiritual and Natural, Fourthly,ſo alſo in our Civil Actions, and particular Callings. The Heavenly Bodies have an influence, not onelyonly on men and women, but alſo on trees and plants: The holineſs of a Saint muſt be operative, not onelyonly in his more nobler exerciſes, the Ordinances of God, but likewiſe in his earthly and inferior employments. Thy duty is Reader, to minde thy general in thy particular calling, and to drive a trade in Heaven, whileſt thou art following thy trade on Earth: When thou art called to the Lord, thou art not called from thy labour; nay, as thou art a ſervant of Chriſt, thou art bound to be ſerviceable to thy Countrey, in ſome mental or manual Calling; but thy diligence therein muſt proceed from Conſcience, not from Covetouſneſs; from ſubjection to Gods Word, not from affection to thy wealth.

As thy particular Calling is the Zodiack through which thou daily paſſeſt; ſo Godlineſs muſt be the Ecliptick line to go through the midſt of it: Godlineſs muſt be the key to open the ſhop; Godlineſs muſt be the whip to drive the Cart; Godlineſs muſt be the Cock to call thee up to thy work; Godlineſs muſt be the clock to call thee off from thy work; Godlineſs muſt be the principle, the p. 467rule, and the end of thy work; Holineſs to the Lord was written upon the bridles of the horſes, Zach. 14.21.

Truly Reader, thy care had need to be great about thy calling, leſt it cauſe thy ruine: More dye by meat then by poyſon. By lawful things many periſh; Worldly things will court thee, that they may kill thee: They that dig deep into the bowels of the earth, have not ſeldom been ſtifled with the damps that ariſe thence. Theſe things are ſo ſubject to defile and deſtroy us, that God made a Law that they ſhould not be uſed, before they were purified, Numb. 31.22, 23. Some are deſtroyed by thoſe houſes which were made to defend them; like Saul, they fall on thoſe ſwords which ſhould have been for their ſafety. Particular Callings were deſigned for our good; but how often do they prove our grief? Are there not thoſe, who like Corah and his company, are ſwallowed up alive of earth, and conſumed! Pliny obſerves, Pliny Nat. Hiſt. l. 2. c. 106.that in Phoſelis the hill Chimaera burneth night and day: The fire, ſaith he, is kept burning by water, but quenched by earth: The earth of particular Vocations, hath ſometime put out that fire of devotion, which the water of affliction could not do.

It behoves thee to take heed how thou handleſt theſe thorns, if thou wouldſt not prick thy fingers, and pierce thy conſcience. I ſhall for that end give thee ſome Directions out of the Word.

Firſt, be diligent in thy Calling: It is obſervable, that the Apoſtle adviſeth the Romans, Be p. 468not ſlothful in buſineſs, ſerving the Lord, Rom. 12.11. All the children of Adam are enjoyned to minde their particular callings, by vertue of that command or threatning to their Father, In the ſweat of thy brows thou ſhalt eat thy bread, Gen. 3. As in the Body Politick, ſo in the Body Natural, there muſt be order; to which three things are requiſite, 1. That every part be in its proper place, each Star in its own Orb. 2. That the parts have each to other a due proportion. 3. That every member do its duty, and be ſome way or other helpful to the Body. Idle perſons are like Wens in the face, which receive of the bodies nouriſhment, but ſerve onelyonly to disfigure it. Thoſe that are no workers, in Gods account are diſorderly walkers, 1 Theſſ. 5.14. Auguſtus built an Apragapolis, a City void of buſineſs; but God made not the World to be a Nurſery of idleneſs. Alex. ab Alex.The Ethiopians (as the Hiſtorian obſerveth) would acquaint their youth, that they were born to labour, by accuſtoming them betimes to fling great ſtones. Amongſt the Turks, every man muſt follow ſome Trade, the Grand Seigneur himſelf not excepted. The Cenſores morum among the Romans, were to obſerve who were diligent, who were negligent in their Vocations, and accordingly to commend or condemn them. The Grecians, according to Solons Law, were great diſcouragers of them, that like Vermine, lived onelyonly to eat what others earn. The Council of the Areopagites enquired how every man lived, and puniſhed ſuch as they found idle. The Devils themſelves are diligent about their deeds p. 469of darkneſs: Creatures void of life are ſerviceable in their places and ſtations; Angels, nay God himſelf is always working. An idle perſon cannot finde either in Heaven or Hell a pattern. Our lives are therefore called, The lives of our hands, becauſe they are to be maintained by Gods bleſſing on our labours.

The Patriarchs, thoſe perſons of renown, were eminent for taking pains, they did not eat the bread of idleneſs: How frequently, and how ardently doth the Word call upon us to be working in our particular callings? What Precepts doth the Scripture give for it, That you do your own buſineſs, and work with your own hands, as we commanded you? 1 Theſſ. 4.11. What Promiſes doth God make to it? He that tilleth his land, ſhall be ſatisfied with bread, Prov. 12.11, 24. The ſoul of the diligent ſhall be made fat, Prov. 13.4. That arm which is moſt uſed, groweth ſtronger and bigger then the other: The more the Vine ſpreadeth it ſelf againſt the wall, the more it receiveth of the Suns Warmth and Influence.

Pliny reporteth of one Oreſſianus, Lib. 18. cap. 6who from a little piece of ground got much wealth, and more then his neighbours could from a greater quantity, whereupon he was accuſed of Witchcraft; but to defend himſelf, he brought forth his ſervants and inſtruments of labour on the day of tryal, and ſaid, Veneficia mea Quirites haec ſunt: Theſe, O Romans, are all my Witchcrafts; I ſay not to my Servants, Go and do this; but, Come let us do this and that, and ſo the work goeth on. The keys that men keep p. 470in their Pockets and uſe every day, wax brighter and brighter; but if they be laid aſide, and hung by the Wals they ſoon grow ruſty. Students who are given to a ſedentary life, often waſte in their ſtrength, when others whoſe time is ſpent in bodily labour, increaſe in ſtrength; In all labour, ſaith the wiſe man, there is profit.

There is a threefold care mentioned in the Word of God. There is a care of the head, a care of the hand, and a care of the heart. The care of the head is the care of providence, this is commendable, Pro. 31.16. The care of the hand, is the care of diligence, this is profitable, Pro. 21.5. The care of the heart, is the care of diffidence, this is abominable, Phil. 4.6. Upon which words Zanchy obſerveth well. God doth not ſay foreign, not do nothing, but be careful for nothing. The two firſt are commanded, but the laſt is forbidden. Reader, thou mayſt as well expect riches to rain down from Heaven in ſilver ſhowres, as to provide for thy family and Children without induſtry in thy calling. Solomon telleth us, the bleſſing of the Lord maketh rich; and the diligent hand maketh rich, Pro. 12.24. and 10.4, 22.

As the nether Milſtone is heavy, ſlow, and of ſmall riddance, yet the upper Milſtone though of greater agility, and quicker diſpatch, doth not grind without the nether, but both together make good meal; ſo the diligent hand of it ſelf, can do little, nay nothing without the bleſſing of God; yet the Bleſſing of God, though of infinite efficacy, p. 471will ſeldom do any thing without the diligent hand, but both together make a perſon rich.

Beſides negligence about mens vocations is one great cauſe of corruption. The proud perſon is Satans Throne, and the idle man his Pillow; He ſitteth in the former, and ſleepeth quietly on the latter; when men have nothing to do, the Devil always ſets them a work. As a Bird that wandreth from his Neſt, ſo is a man that wandreth from his place, Pro. 27.8. By place, the Holy Choſt underſtandeth particular callings. Now God had taken care that none ſhould moleſt a Bird in her Neſt, there ſhe was ſafe, Deut. 22.6, 7. but when ſhe begins to wander, then ſhe is in danger, either to be ſhot by the Fowler, or caught in the Snare, or made a prey to other ravenous birds; So a man that is diligent in his calling, whilſt he is imployed therein, is in Gods precincts, and ſo under Gods protection; but when he wandreth abroad from his calling, going out of his bounds to ſit and talk, he is a weft and a ſtray, and ſo falleth to the Lord of the Mannor, the God of this World.

Reader, thou mayſt expect to be preſerved whilſt thou art a working, but not when thou art wandring. Tertullian ſpeaks of a Chriſtian woman who going to a play, was poſſeſſed by the Devil, and when he was asked by thoſe that came to caſt him out, how he durſt poſſeſs one that was a Chriſtian? he anſwered, I found her in my own place. Friend, they who like Dinah gad abroad, are often defiled before they come home. Thoſe Souldiers who leave their places in a March and ſtragle to pilfer, p. 472are many times ſnapt and ſlain by their enemies, when they who keep their places are ſafe and ſecure. O mind thy calling in its place and ſeaſon, and know this for thy comfort, that whilſt thou art about thy lawful work (obſerving Scripture rules in it) thou art under Gods Wing.

Secondly, Deal righteouſly in thy calling. Take heed of unjuſt gain; believe this truth, A clear and clean conſcience is infinitely better then a full purſe. A little with the fear of the Lord, is better then the poſſeſſions of many wicked men, Pſa. 37.15. A little wholeſome food is better then a thouſand poiſoned Diſhes. All the Wealth which is got in Gods way is pleaſant; but all the wealth which is got unjuſtly by wickedneſs is poiſon. The bleſſing of the Lord maketh rich, and bringeth no ſorrow of heart with it, Pro. 10.22. Defrauding thy Neighbour, and cheating thy Cuſtomers maketh rich, and bringeth the ſorrow of Hell with it. He that reſolveth to be unrighteous (it is commonly ſaid) may ſoon be rich. When the ſpring of conſcience is ſcrewed up to the higheſt pin, that it is ready to break, and godlineſs is locked up faſt into an outhouſe, and not ſuffered ſo much as to peep into the Shop or Warehouſe, to take notice of what is done there, ſuch a Tradeſman may gain ſilver, but alaſs he loſeth his precious Saviour, and his never dying ſoul. O what a dreadful gain is it to get earth with the loſs of Heaven! He that will be rich in haſt, ſhall be poor enough in Hell. Know y… not that the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven! be not deceived, God will not be mocked. p. 4731 Cor. 6.9. Do not think (Reader) though thou canſt cheat thy Chapmen, that thou canſt cozen God; no, he will not be mocked; he ſeeth thy falſe weights and falſe meaſures, which thou ordinarily uſeſt, though thou haſt others to bring forth (for a colour) if occaſion be, and he will deal juſtly with thee for thy injuſtice, by ſending thee to that place where there is judgement without mercy. I have read of an old rich covetous wretch, that lying upon upon his death-bed, he asked his Son whether he would not do any thing that his Father ſhould deſire him. His Son anſwered yea: then ſaith the Father, Hold your finger in the flame of that Candle an hour. Sir, ſaith the Son, I cannot poſſibly endure that. No, ſaith the Father! I muſt burn for ever in Hell, for raking up an eſtate unjuſtly for you, and yet you will not burn a finger one hour for me! O Reader, if thou art guilty of this ſin, think of it betimes. Thy ill gotten wealth will breed thoſe wormes which will gnaw thee eternally. Beſides, thou mayſt think to raiſe thy Houſe by ſuch heaps; but God himſelf ſaith it is the way to ruine it; He that is greedy of gain, troubleth his own houſe, Pro. 15.27. Whilſt he thinks to feather his neſt, he doth indeed fire it. It is an obſervation of the houſe of Deſmond in Ireland, That Maurice the firſt Earl of that family, raiſed it by injuſtice; and by injuſtice Girald the laſt Earl ruined it. The crafty Fox in the Fable hugd himſelf, that he had cozend the Crow of his break-faſt, but when he found himſelf poiſoned therewith, he wiſht it out of his belly. Unjuſt gain p. 474like the Italian buttered Spunge, may go down glib, but it ſwelleth in the body, and never cometh away till it hath ruined the party, Such men ſpin a fair thred to ſtrangle themſelves with. The getting of treaſures by a lying tongue, is a vanity toſſed too and fro of them that ſeek death, Pro. 21.6, 7. Cornelius a Lapide hath a pretty fable, wherein he compareth men unjuſt in their dealings to Spiders, the righteous to Bees; The Spider ubraided the Bee for going up and down for hony; Thou ſtayeſt at home, ſaith the Bee, but in thy working loſeſt thy life; Salis onus unde veneratillus abiit. Eraſm. adag.How often is that Latin Proverb fulfilled? The burthen of Salt, returneth to the place whence it came. The occaſion of which was the falling of Salt by the wrack of a Ship into the Sea, the place whence it came. God often ſendeth ſome to ſqueeze thoſe Muck worms when they have ſucked themſelves full. Deceitful dealing (as an huge heap of Ice by the Sun) by the ſcorching fire of Gods wrath diſſolveth into nothing. As the Patridge ſitteth on eggs and hat cheth them not, ſo he that getteth riches, and not by right; ſhall leave them in the midſt of his days, and at his end ſhall be a fool, Jer. 17.11.

Thirdly, Be careful that thy particular Calling incroach not upon thy general: Many loſe Religion in a crowd of earthly buſineſſes. The interpoſition of the earth (as to the Moon) eclipſeth the light of their Holineſs. It is reported of the inhabitants of Oenoe, a dry Iſland near Athens, that they beſtowed much labour to draw in a River to water it, and make it fruitful, but when the paſſages were p. 475opened, the water came in ſo plentifully that it overflowed the Iſland and drowned all the people. Many that will be rich by their extraordinary labours, to make their Flocks and Fields fruitful, fall into temptations and ſnares, and many fooliſh and hurtful luſts, which drown them in deſtruction and perdition, 1 Tim. 6.9. A Candle that burns well above ground, when put under ground, doth many times burn blew and go out; the light of holineſs which hath ſhined eminently in ſome profeſſ ors, when they have had little to do with the World, hath been abated in a great degree, when they have had great dealings. They in regard of much buſineſs, have been like thoſe in a Mill, who cannot hear what is ſpoken by reaſon of the clacking and noiſe which is made there. Chriſt calleth, and the Spirit of God cryeth to them, but their eares are ſtopt with earth that they hear not.

As we ſay of fire and water, they are good Servants, but bad Maſters; Keep them within their bounds, and they are exceeding uſeful, but when they go beyond their bounds how hurtful are they? What miſchief hath fire done in England? what ſad work hath water made in Holland? The ſame is true of our particular callings, they are faithful Servants, but they are dreadful Maſters; Keep them within their limits and they are helpful to our ſelves, our relations, and our neighbours; but ſuffer them once to tranſgreſs their bounds, and they will make miſerable work; they will rob God, wrong the ſoul, nay often ruine it eternally. p. 476When thoſe that were born ſlaves and ſervants, come once to be Kings and Commanders, they are ever the worſt Tyrants.

Now if thou wouldſt not have thy particular calling to incroach upon thy general, take heed that it ſteal not away thy heart, nor thy time.

1. Take heed that thy particular calling ſteal not away thy heart from thy general calling. If the Miſtris keep her diſtance and maintain her authority over her maidens, ſhe may find them obedient and ſerviceable; but if ſhe grow fond of them, and familiar with them, they will grow ſaucy and incroach upon her; Reader, keep thy inward diſtance, and maintain that authority which God hath given thee over the things of this life, and then all will be well; butif once thou doateſt on them, and delighteſt in them, expect to have them thine hinderances in all holy exerciſes; The World may have thy hands, but it muſt not have thy heart. Thy actions may be about thy particular calling, but thy affections muſt be above it. Set your affections on things above, and not on things below, Colloſ. 3.2. Thy occupation is as the firſt Adam of the earth, carthly; but thy converſation muſt be like the ſecond Adam (the Lord from Heaven) heavenly. A Chriſtian ſhould follow the things of this World with ſuch a ſlightneſs and indifferency of Spirit as Wicked men do the things of a better World. The holy Angels behold our earthly affairs but as ſtrangers to them. It is happy for him that can carry himſelf towards his own eſtate as if it were another p. 477mans. An heathen could ſay, I do not give but onelyonly lend my ſelf to my buſineſs. Surely then a Saint ſhould go through th World as one in a deep ſtudy, Rebus non me trodo ſedcousmodo Senec de benefhis mind being the whilſt intent upon a better object. Brutiſh Horſeflies faſten on Dunghils, Swallows make their neſts of earth. They who have no Heaven hereafter, may give their hearts to the earth; but, Chriſtian if thou loveſt thy ſoul, though riches increaſe, ſet not thine heart upon them. Love not the World, nor the things of the World, Pſa. 62.10. This is a certain truth, the hotter thy love is to the World, the colder it is to the Lord. When the ſap of Worldlineſs is in a man, he will never flame well heavenward. The Ship may ſail in the water and be ſafe, but when the water getteth into the Ship it ſinketh it. Thou mayſt work about thy earthly affairs and all may be well; but if thine affairs once work themſelves into thee, then thou art in danger. Thy God alloweth thee to warm thy ſelf at the Sun of creature comforts, but not to turn Perſian and worſhip it.

The Riviers lightly ſalute the earth as they paſs along, and make no ſtay, but paſs forward to the Ocean. Thy affections ſhould but ſlightly touch the earth, weeping for worldly croſſes as if thou wepſt not, and rejoycing for Worldly comforts as if thou rejoycedſt not, and ſo paſs on to the Ocean of thy happineſs; Its ſaid, Germanicus reigned in the Romans hearts, Tiberius onelyonly in the Provinces. Thy general muſt reign in the City, in thy heart; thy particular calling onelyonly in the Suburbs of thy hands. Reader, if the World ever get into the p. 478throne of thine inward man, fare wel all Religon. I have read of a cuſtom among the Germans, to know whether their children be baſtards or not, to throw them in Fluvium Rhenum, into the River Rhine; If they floated above, then they acknowledged them to be their own; but if the waters carried them away, then they eſteemed them as Baſtards; Truely Reader, if thou canſt float above the waters of thy worldly imployments, thou art a child of God, but if that carry thee away by lying near thy affections, look to thy ſelf and fear thy condition. It is not the greatneſs of mans eſtate or employment ſo much as the nearneſs of it to his heart which will hinder holineſs. A ſmall hat held near our eyes, will hinder our ſight of the Sun, which a great mountain a far off will not do. A little near the affections will hinder our ſight of Chriſt, when thouſands far from the heart may, as imployed, further it. Beſides the cloſer we lay the flowers of our earthly mercies to our breaſts, the ſooner they wither. A noſegay in the hand will continue freſh and ſweet; (as is generally obſerved) much longer then when it is ſtuck in the boſome.

2. That thy particular calling may not incroach upon thy general, be careful that it ſteal not away thy time. Thy piety Reader, and thy prudence is ſo to order thine affairs relating to heaven and earth, to God and thy family, that they may not interfere or croſs each other. A wiſe foreceaſt will much help thee in this particular. As to the winding a skein of ſilk, he that begins at the right end, will make p. 479quick riddance of it; ſo to the diſpatching of Wordly imployments, that they may not prove heavenly impediments, he that hath diſcretion to forecaſt them well, may do very much. However thy duty is to give the affairs of thy ſoul, and thy God, precedency. I know the Devil and thy corrupt heart will often juſtle and quarrel with thy Cloſet and Family duties, by ſuggeſting to thee that they muſt of neceſſity be omitted, becauſe otherwiſe ſuch and ſuch concernments of thy calling (upon which the welfare of thy ſelf, Wife, and Children doth depend) will be neglected. As when Moſes ſpake of the Iſraelites ſacrificing to God, then Pharoah ſpake of work to put them off; ſo when thou art thinking of entring upon the performance of duties, whether in ſecret or private, thy back friend (the evil one) will ſend thee a meſſage, either by thy Wife, or friend, or thine unregenerate part, that ſome other affairs of weight call for thy company elſewhere, and therefore a diſpenſation muſt be granted thee at preſent, as to thy ſolemn devotion. Friend, if thou loveſt Jeſus Chriſt, take heed of hearkening to ſuch temptations; let the fleſh but once obtain ſuch a conqueſt over thee, and thou ſhalt hear of it again, it will purſue its victory to purpoſe. Sins is a ſubtle Sophiſter, it will bring Arguments and Reaſons for all it doth; as is plain in Sauls ſparing Agag, and the beſt of the flock: The beaſts were to be Sacrificed to God; and in Jeroboams Calves, they were ſet up to ſave the Jews thoſe tireſome journeys to Jeruſalem; but take heed that thy heart be p. 480not hardened through the delightfulneſs of ſin. Remember, Piety is the beſt path to outward proſperity.

Ariſtotle though a blind heathen, foreign, &c. Ariſt Poli. lib. 7. cap. 8.could ſee and ſay, Make Religion thy firſt and chief care that thou mayſt proſper. The Mahometans are ſo ſenſible of this, that what occaſion ſoever they have, they will pray five times a day; Becauſe the Jews ſuffered Gods houſe to lie waſt, therefore God blew upon their heaps and waſted their wealth.

He that ſtealeth away time from his general for his particular calling, like a thief in the Candle waſteth all; our work on earth is done beſt, when our work in heaven is done firſt. Religious duties in reference to our Worldly occaſions, is like ſharpening the tools, which helpeth our work forward with more ſpeed and eaſe. Maſs and Meat hinder no mans thirſt, was a truth viſible in the dark night of Popery. He that neglecteth the ſervice of his God, for the following his trade, may put what he getteth into his eye (as our proverb is) and never ſee the worſe; nay like the gold of Tholouſe, or the Vineyard of Naboth to Ahab, the profit will be the perdition and ruine of the poſſeſſor. They who want time to do Gods Work, muſt want an eternity to receive Gods reward. If men are ſo buſie as not to attend their ſouls, God will be ſo buſie as not to beſtow ſalvation. I know, Farmes and Oxen and Wives do hinder many from holineſs: and I know alſo that they will hinder many from Heaven, Luk. 14.24. Mat. 22.5. That German Prince who would not part with his ſilver to pay p. 481his Souldiers, loſt thereby his Empire and treaſure too; He that will not ſpare time from his preſent buſineſs for his future bleſſedneſs, is like to loſe both.

How much time doſt thou ſquander away in long meales, in vain ſports, inidle diſcourſe, in ſuperfluous ſleep, and yet haſt thou the face to tell God that thou haſt no time in a whole day to ſeek his favour, and to mind thine eternal felicity! The truth is thou doſt not ſo much want time as waſte time.

Do not think that it will be a ſufficient excuſe at the laſt day to tell God, that thy devotion was neglected, becauſe thy earthly occaſions abounded and preſſed upon thee. If thy ſervant ſhould tell thee, when he hath neglected thy buſineſs of concernment, that he could not help it becauſe he had buſineſs of his own to look after, a Friend called him to the Ale-houſe, wouldſt thou think that a ſufficient plea? Beleive it, thy defence is far worſe when thou omitteſt the ſervice of God for thy particular calling.

The Philoſopher could ſay, Ariſtippus apud Plot. de tranq. a nimae.that he would rather neglect his means then his mind, and his farm then his ſoul. The very Turks though they work their Slaves hard, will yet allow them time every day for food and reſt. Wilt thou Reader deal worſe with thy precious ſoul, then the Turks do with their Gally-ſlaves? For ſhame man be not ſo cruel to thy beſt part.

A Good Chriſtian if buſineſs crowd in upon him ſo much, that he cannot wait on them, and Worſhip p. 482God daily in his Cloſet and Family as he ought, will rather like a wiſe Marriner (when the ſhip is overburdened) caſt ſome overboard, then endanger the loſs of all and himſelf too. Times of earing and harveſt were very buſie times with the Iſraelites, yet then God would not allow them to make bold with him, Exod. 32.21.

He that is a faithful and wiſe Steward, will give every one their portion, their meat in due ſeaſon; as he will give his body and his family their portion every day, ſo he will give his God and his ſoul their portion every day; ſurely he is not faithful who atteneth the lacquey all day, and neglecteth his Lord; much worſe is he who feedeth his fleſh and ſtarveth his ſpirit. Reader take notice that there is a time for all things; as there are plowing times, ſo there are praying times every day; as there is daily time for thy ſhop, ſo alſo for thy Cloſet. When the Jewiſh daily ſacrifice was intermitted as in the days of Antiochus, it was the abomination of deſolation

I am the larger in this particular, as obſerving that profeſſours are exceeding faulty in ſuffering the Canker of their particular callings to devour and eat up the gold and ſilver of their general callings. Sometimes they will wholly omit family duties, becauſe the world will not permit them to be at leiſure, but too too often when they perform them, they turn them off with a ſhort cut, in a hudling manner, (as a Phyſitian his poor patients, though their buſineſs with him concern their lives, when rich men ſtand without, expecting to be called in) becauſe the World ſtayeth at their doors to p. 483ſpeak with them. Friend, as a ſpecial help againſt this ſoul-hinerance, let me perſwade thee to be early in the morning at thy Religious duties. Some men muſt be ſpoke to betimes in the morning, or not at all; their publique affairs take up the whole day, and would if it were twice as long. The Devil hath a thouſand divices to make him an Athieſt all day, who neglecteth morning duties. Be not ſo haſty about thy calling in the morning, as to forget to take God along with thee. Remember this one note, If the World gets the ſtart of Religion in the morning, religion ſeldom overtaketh it all day. Something warm in the morning, before men go to work is very wholeſom. A warm prayer, warm communion, with the bleſſed God, in meditating or reading, will help thee to work with more comfort and courage, and may prevent infections from ill fumes and vapours in the day time. Job had a large family, much Cattel; he had beſides his domeſtical, much civil buſineſs, for he was a Magiſtrate; Job 1.5.Job 1:5yet Job roſe up early in the morning to offer up Sacrifice, and thus did Job continually. In the day time alſo, or at evening, let nothing put by the concernments of thy God, and thine everlaſting eſtate; what company ſoever thou art in, ſay as a devout ſoul I have read of, when his hour of prayer was come, you muſt excuſe me, I muſt be gone, a friend (meaning his God) ſtayeth to ſpeake with me.

Cato repented of three things, one of which was, Plut. in vit.That he had ſpent a whole day idly. Truely friend, if thou neglecteſt thy general calling, how buſie p. 484ſoever thou haſt been all day long about thy particular, I muſt tell thee (though an hour cannot be bought with the revenues of the whole earth) Thou haſt ſpent a whole day idly, and thou haſt much cauſe to ſigh out with the Roman Emperour at night when he had neither done norreceived any good all day, Hodie diem perdidi, Today I have loſt a day.

Fourthly, If thou wouldſt exerciſe thy ſelf to godlineſs in thy particular calling, look up to God for a bleſſing upon thy labours therein. Creatures may be the object of thy diligence, but God alone the object of thy confidence. Thy ſupplication muſt be to God, and thy expectation from God. Thou canſt as ſoon by thine own power add a cubit to thy ſtature, as a penny to thy purſe. Thou ſhalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, Deut. 8.18. All thy endeavours without Gods bleſſing are but (as Ceſar ſaid of Senecas works) arena ſine calce, Sand without Lime, they will not hang together; if God bleſs them they proſper, if he blaſt them they periſh. The Devil himſelf was ſo far Orthodox, Job. 1.10. Thou haſt bleſſed the work of his hands, and his ſubſtance is increaſed in the land. Alas the whole courſe of nature turneth onelyonly as it is moved by the hand of God. It is not in the frame of nature as in frames of Art; when a watch is made, it may go though the workman be many miles off, or though he be dead; but there is not the leaſt wheel in the frame of nature which doth not depend upon God for its motion every moment. As the vapours exhaled by the Sun, depend ſo much upon p. 485it, that if that withdraw its influence, they fall to the earth; ſo do the Creatures depend on God; if he withdraw his influence from them, they preſently come to nothing.

Take notice, Reader (to inſtance but in one calling) how the genealogie of Corn and Wine, by a Concatenation of cauſes, is reſolved into Jehovah: I will hear the Heavens, and the Heavens ſhall hear the Earth, and the Earth ſhall hear the Corn, and Wine, and Oyl, and they ſhall hear Jezreel, Hoſ. 2.21, 22. God hath the key of food under his own girdle, Pſal. 145.16. Hence ſome call the Earth Gods great Purſe, which he openeth for mans profit, and ſhutteth for mans puniſhment. The Jewiſh Rabbies call the Earth Alma Parens, A kinde Mother; and the rain her Husband, becauſe the ſhowers do foecundate and make that great Mother of plenty fruitful: But as likely a Mother as the Earth is to bring forth, ſhe is barren unleſs God open her womb: 1. The plowing and ſowing of the ground is from God; the hands of men cannot do it, without his protection and providence; and the heads of men would not have thought of it without his direction and aſſiſtance, Iſa. 28.24, 25, 26. to the end. 2. When the ground is plowed and ſowed, it muſt be watered, or the grain will quite dye; this alſo is from God alone. The Monarch of Mexico was wont to take an Oath at his Coronation, that it ſhould be what weather he pleaſed; but, Can any of the vanities of the Heathen cauſe rain? Jer. 14.22. God alone can unſtop thoſe bottles of Heaven; they are all above mans reach: p. 486The moſt ſpungy clouds diſtil not one drop, no more then a rock, till God give the Word of command: He decreeth rain, Job 28.26. He prepareth rain, Pſal. 135.7. and he poureth down the former and latter rain, Deut. 28.12. Joel 2.21. Job. 5.10. He alſo covereth the body of the Earth with the white mantle of ſnow, whereby the corn is warmed, and the ground mellowed, Pſal. 147.16. 3. The Stars, thoſe purſes of gold (as one calleth them) out of which God throweth down riches, which good men gather, and bad men ſcramble for, are all at Gods beck and bidding, Pſal. 19.4, 5. Mat. 5.45. Job 38.32. 4. The fruitfulneſs of the earth after it is ploughed, ſowed, watered with the clouds, and warmed with the influence of the Sun and Stars, is wholly from God: Thou crowneſt the year with thy goodneſs, and thy pathes drop fatneſs, Weems Cerem. Law.Pſal. 65.11. Heb. 6.7. This ſome of the Heathen acknowledged by the light of Nature; and therefore when they went to plough in the morning, they did lay one hand upon the plow (to ſpeak their own part to be painfulneſs) and hold the other hand up to Ceres, the Goddeſs of Corn, to teſtifie their expectation of plenty to be from their ſuppoſed Deity. How eaſily can God blaſt all the corn in the field, or blow upon it in the barn! if he do but will it, it is done. The whole Creation indeed is but a glaſs without a bottom, which cannot ſtand of it ſelf, but as God is pleaſed to hold it up. The Philoſophers tell us, the Sun and man beget a man; the Sun and the earth bring forth corn; and ſpeak of the Sun in every thing as a p. 487principal efficient; But the Divines tell us more truly, God and the Heavens, God and the Earth cauſe harveſt; God by the Creatures doth all things, God is the onelyonly principal efficient; the Sun it ſelf, and all other Creatures, are but liveleſs inſtruments, moved and acted by God according to his purpoſe and pleaſure: Except the Lord build the houſe, they labour in vain that build it: It is in vain for you to riſe up early, to ſit up late, and to eat the bread of ſorrows; Pſal. 127.1, 2. Apricock trees that depend upon their own ſtrength, leaning on nothing (as experience teacheth us) bring forth little or no fruit, when they that lean on the wall abound in cluſters: The way to thrive in thy trade, is not to truſt to thy own head or hands, but to truſt in the Lord for a bleſſing on thy endeavors.

Fifthly, If thou doſt proſper in thy Calling, let God alone have the praiſe: Do not Sacrifice to thy own net, Hab. 1.10. (as the Jews did) as though by thy skill and wiſdom thou hadſt met with ſuch a draught; but conſider, the providence of God hath brought in all thy profit: Beware when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy ſilver and thy gold is multiplied, leſt thine heart be lifted up; and thou ſay in thine heart, My power, and the might of my hands hath gotten me this wealth, Deut. 8.14. to 18. Man is apt to make himſelf his Idol, and to attribute all to his own pains and prudence. Men boaſt, ſaith Luther, Hoc ego feci, Luther in Pſal. 1.7.Ps 1:7& hoc ego feri, and ſhew themſelves to be meer feces: They brag, This I have done, and this I have done, and p. 488thereby appear to be nothing but dregs. God took it ill that Tyrus ſhould ſay, By my traffick and my wiſdom I have encreaſed my wealth; and telleth her, That ſhe had ſet her heart as the heart of God, Ezek. 28.3, 4, 5.

The Iſraelites were commanded to bring their firſt ripe fruits to God, whereby they acknowledged him the owner and author of all their encreaſe, Exod. 23.16, 19, Levit. 23.10.

The very Heathen were ſomewhat ſenſible of this: Strabo Geog.The Metapontines after a plentiful Harveſt, which had much enriched them, dedicated an Harveſt cut in gold, to Apollo their God. Praiſe the Lord, O Jeruſalem; praiſe thy God, O Zion: For he maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the fineſt of the wheat, Pſal. 147.12, 13, 14. When God ſendeth thee in profit, thy duty is to give him praiſe. Do not bury Gods mercies as the barren earth the ſeed, that when once its thrown into the ground, we hear no more of it: God expecteth, as the trees by their leaves in Autumn pay their tribute of thanks to the Earth, the Mother of their fruitfulneſs; ſo that we ſhould honor him when he heapeth favours on us.

Some men are like Fiſhermens weels, wide to receive in mercies, but there is no paſſage out for the returning of praiſes. Thoſe places where the Rivers are ſhalloweſt, make the greateſt ſound; thoſe where they are deepeſt, are moſt ſilent. Men while they are poor, ſound with prayers, make a great noiſe for mercies; but when God bleſſeth them with wealth, they are ſilent in regard of p. 489thanks; they are lifted up with pride, but look not up to God with praiſe.

It is reported of Willigis a Wheelers ſon, Calius lect. Antiq. lib. 13. c. 1.that being made Archbiſhop of Mentz, and one of the Prince Electors in Germany, he did conſtantly acknowledge Gods great providence in his great preferment; and therefore gave in his coat of Arms three Wheels, with this Motto (written in his bed chamber in great letters) Willigis, Willigis, Recole unde veneris: Willigis, Willigis, remember from whence thou cameſt! Thus holy Jacob in his proſperity remembred both his former poverty, and his preſent plenty to its Authors praiſe: O God of of my father Abraham, I am not worthy of the leaſt of all thy mercies, and all thy truth which thou haſt ſhewed unto thy ſervant; for with my ſtaff I paſſed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands, Gen. 32.9, 10. So do thou Reader; when God bleſſeth the work of thy hands, ponder his goodneſs, that thou mayeſt give him his praiſe, and think of thy own unworthineſs; thereby thou mayſt be preſerved from pride. It is reported of that noble Captain Iphicrates, that being enriched, he ſhould cry out, From how ſmall, to how great an eſtate am I raiſed!

Sixthly, Labour for contentedneſs, and an holy compoſedneſs in all conditions: Let your converſation be without covetouſneſs, and be content with ſuch things as ye have; for he hath ſaid, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee, Heb. 13. Thy duty is, to have the ſcales of thy minde equally poized in all providences; not riſing in proſperity through lightneſs, p. 490nor ſinking in adverſity under the heavineſs of the load. As the tree bendeth this way and that way with the wind, but ſtill keepeth its place; ſo thou mayeſt yield according to the gales of providence, but ſtill retain and keep thy ſtanding, thy piety. If thine eſtate decreaſe, let not thine heart deſpair; if the World flow in, let not thine heart flow out: O it was an excellent Leſſon which Paul had learned, I know in what ſtate ſoever I am to be content; I know how to be abaſed, and I know how to abound; I know how to be full, and how to be empty, Phil. 4.11. Paul was not like a muſical Inſtrument out of tune with every change of weather; but like the Cypreſs tree, which no ſtorms (Naturaliſts tell us) can alter; and like the Hill Olympus, above all winds and weather.

Some men are like the leaves of a tree, which every wind ſets a ſhaking and trembling; or like a bone out of joynt, which a man cannot ſtir without pain; if the World do but frown upon them, you may ſee it in their faces, they are quite dejected with ſorrow: O how heavy preſently are their hearts, as if they had loſt their Heaven! It is to be feared that bough is rotten, which breaketh if but a little weight be hung upon it. A godly man ſhould be like a Rock, immoveable, though high winds, and boiſterous waves of Providence blow and beat upon him; and like a Die, however he be thrown, always to fall upon a ſquare. The Traveller need not murmure, though his Inn afford him but mean fare, and an hard bed, when he knoweth that he muſt be gone p. 491next morning. The Ox is not happier which hath two or three mountains to graze on, then the Bee which feedeth upon that dew which falleth daily from the ſtore-houſe of Heaven: If thou haſt ſecur'd thine ever laſting eſtate, the boundleſs God is thy portion, and ſurely then thou mayſt be like a ſpring full, under the moſt ſcorching Providence.

It was a worthy ſpeech of Mr. Bradford the Martyr (to one who asked him whether he ſhould petition the Queen for his life) If the Queen will take away my life, I will thank her; if ſhe will give me my life, I will thank her; if ſhe will baniſh me, I will thank her; if ſhe will burn me, I will thank her; let her deal with me how ſhe pleaſeth, I will thank her. So Reader, thy heart will be in an excellent frame indeed, if thou canſt thank God when he enricheth thee, and thank him when he impoveriſheth thee; if thou canſt thank him when he ſmiles on thee with the light of his countenance, and thank him alſo if he frown by ſome ſad Providence; if thou canſt thank him when he is at Addition, and thank him when he is at Subſtraction; thank him giving to thee, and thank him taking from thee: O here is an heart worth gold indeed; Truly the want of this calmneſs and compoſedneſs of minde, is a great impediment to Chriſtians. Alas, when their ſpirits are like ſome mens fleſh, no ſooner razed with a pin, but they rankle and feſter; no ſooner touched with a light affliction, but they faint, and are dejected; how unfit are they for Religious actions! as men in extremity of p. 492pain, they rather chatter, then pour out a prayer. Either men muſt uſe the World, as if they uſed it not; or they will ſerve the Lord, as if they ſerved him not: He who knoweth that nothing can befal him whileſt he is diligent in his calling, but what is the fruit of bottomleſs love, and the reſult of infinite wiſdom, may certainly be ſteady in the greateſt ſtorm: Thrice happy is that ſoul who hath ſo much care of doing his work, and ſuch an eye to the recompence of reward, that the allurements and affrightments of the World (though they may aſſault the outworks) can never ſurprize the Royal Fort of his heart.

The onelyonly way, Reader, to finde thine own will, is, to loſe it in Gods will: Thoſe that grumble at his doings, and quarrel at his dealings, do but like a Bull in the net, and the ſilly Bird among the lime-twigs, by ſtrugling intangle themſelves the more. Unſubmiſſiveneſs to Gods will, is the fountain of all mans wo; the quiet reſignation of our perſons and portions to Gods pleaſure, is the onelyonly ſleeping pill which can give reſt to the ſoul. Chriſtian, let me ask thee this queſtion, Didſt thou give up thy ſelf to Chriſt for Temporal, or for Eternal comforts? Didſt thou enter upon Relien to ſave thine Eſtate, or thy Soul? O why then ſhouldſt thou be ſo ſad, when thy Eternal happineſs is ſo ſafe! For ſhame live like a childe of God, an heir of Heaven; and let the World know, that thy hopes and happineſs are in a better World; that though thou art denyed thoſe Acorns which thy Father giveth to his Hogs, yet thou p. 493haſt the Childrens bread and expecteſt thine inheritance when thou comeſt to Age.

Thus I have diſpatched the fourth particular how a Chriſtian may exerciſe himſelf to Godlineſs in his particular calling.

A good Wiſh about Particular Callings, wherein the former heads are Epitomized.

MY particular calling being a peculiar and diſtinct ſtation, The Introductîon.wherein I am bound to be ſerviceable to my country, and family, and wherein alſo I have this priviledge, that I may further my general calling, if I mind it out of conſcience to the Lord, and in obedience to his word, I wiſh in general, that I may never croſs the wiſe providence of my God (in the government of the World) by neglecting it, or thinking lightly of it, but ſince I am liſted under the Captain of my ſalvation, may ſerve him faithfully, not onelyonly in general as a Souldier, but alſo in that place or office to which he hath choſen and called me. I wiſh in particular, Our general callingsmuſt be followed with diligence.that what my hand findeth to do, I may do it with all my might; that I may be of the number of them that ſpend themſelves with labour, and not of them who waſt with ruſt and lazineſs; my diligence herein is ſome help againſt the temptations of the Devil. The ſluggards heart is like his field overgrown with weeds. Lord let me rather wear out with work then conſume (like a Garment laid by with moths) for want of uſe. Yet I wiſh that I may not by my induſtry make more haſt to be rich then good ſpeed, With righteouſneſs.I mean that I may never increaſe my riches by dealing unrighteouſly in my calling, p. 494knowing that unjuſt gain is a morſel which the ſtrongeſt ſtomach in the World cannot poſſibly digeſt, but may eſteem a penny got by the bleſſing of God upon my honeſt labour, at a far greater price then thouſands of pounds by rapine and robbery, and may weigh all my wares in the Scales of loving my neighbour as my ſelf, by the ſtandard of that royal Law, Whatſoever you would that men ſhould do unto you, do you even ſo unto them; for this is the law and the Prophets. O that I might not upon any pretence whatſoever, either by taking advantage of the buyers ignorance, or by putting unſerviceable wares into his hands, or by falſe weights and meaſures, or by defrauding my neighbour any other way, conſult ſhame to my houſe, Hab. 2.10.Hab 2:10and ſin againſt my own ſoul, but when I am in my ſhop or warehouſe, or inſtructing my ſervant how to ſell, I may hear the ſound of that dreadful threatning againſt unrighteous dealers in mine eares, Job. 20.15.Job 20:15He hath ſwallowed down riches, he ſhall vomit them up again; God ſhall caſt them out of his belly; He ſhall ſuck the poiſon of Aſps, the Vipers tongue ſhall ſlay him; the increaſe of his houſe ſhall depart, and his goods ſhall flow away in the day of his wrath. They muſt not incroach upon our general calling.I deſire that I may watch my calling (as they who make powder do their fire) with my greateſt care to keep it within its own bounds, that I may ſo give to the World the things of the World, as to give to my God the things of God. In ſtealing away either out love.To this end I wiſh that I may not like Demas, embrace this preſent world, but how deep ſoever I wade in earthly affairs, may be ſure to keep my head (I would ſay p. 495my heart) above water, leaſt I ſink and periſh in them eternally. Lord, though I poſſeſs outward things, yet let outward things never poſſeſs me; I am married to thy ſacred Majeſty; though I converſe with my calling as a friend, yet let the bed of my heart never be defiled therewith, but reſerved onelyonly for thy bleſſed ſelf to lodge in. Or time.My prayer is that my earthly traffique may never be ſuffered to play the thief, and to ſteal away that precious treaſure of time, which at leaſt morning and evening my heavenly trade requireth in my Cloſet and family; but though like the Eagle I ſtoop to the earth for my prey, my outward proviſion, I may not dwell there, but mount up again to heaven; O that I might be deaf to all the vain excuſes; which the World will plead for the total omiſſion or ſhortning of Religious exerciſes, and even when a real neceſſity, not through any negligence of mine, appeareth by ſome ſudden providence, I am denyed time to draw the long ſword of ſolemn devotion, I may be then ſo affected with my duty and danger as to draw the ſhort Dagger of ejaculatory petitions to defend my ſelf againſt my ſpiritual enemies. My God never intended that my trade ſhould be my trouble, or my calling like the clouds to impede my ſight of the true Sun; therefore if ſo much buſineſs lye upon my hands, that if that be attended my ſoul muſt be neglected, let me rather as a wiſe Traveller, eaſe my ſelf of ſome part of my burthen, then permit it to hinder me in my journey to heaven.

I deſire that I may be ſo ſenſible that good things here below come from the moſt high God, Prayer for a bleſſing.and the p. 496ſucceſs of my labours dependeth more on his providence then my diligence, that I may never in a morning open my ſhop, or lift up a tool, (as my trade is) before I have opened my heart and lifted up my ſoul to my God for his bleſſing upon my endeavours. All creatures in the hands of my God, are as dead tools in the hands of a living workman, by whoſe force and influence alone they act. Lord, let me never look upon ſecond cauſes as more then the order in which, and the means with which thou art pleaſed to work. Thanks to God for ſucceſs.I wiſh that if God ſhall by my calling increaſe my wealth, I may not ſacrifice to my own nets, nor burn incenſe to my own drags, but may be ſo ſpiritual as to acknowledge my God the Author of temporals, and receive them ſo thankefully from his hand of bounty that I may improve them faithfully as may be moſt for his glory. The earth is the Lords and the fulneſs thereof; He is the owner of all I enjoy, I am but his Steward, and muſt ſhortly give account of my Stewardſhip. O let me make me friends of the unrighteous Mammon, that I may be truſted with the true riches; let my whole eſtate be employed according to thy word, for the furtherance of my own everlaſting weal.

Finally, Contentedneſs in all.I wiſh that I may ſail trim and even in all waters; that when it is full tide in regard of outward comforts, I may not ſwell with pride; nor when it is low water, grumble through peeviſhneſs; murmuring is the muſick of Hell; holy contentedneſs is the foretaſt of Heaven. Why ſhould I rejoyce my worſt enemie, and diſhonour my beſt friend by being fretful at that which the onelyonly wiſe God ſeeth to be p. 497fit and needful: The lean Ox is fitter for ſervice then the fatted one. The true Iſraelite may well be ſatisfied in his journey to Canaan with his Homer a day, with his Statute meaſure, and his Fathers allowance. What though my Father deny me that entertaintment at preſent, which he giveth to ſtrangers, yet I have his love now, and the inheritance hereafter ſhall be mine: My God will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Lord, let me never diſcredit thy Houſekeeping, by my grumbling carriage, or frowning countenance; but ſo by the Proſpective-glaſs of Faith, behold thoſe things which are inviſible, that I may in all things give thanks; like ſome Birds, ſing even in Winter; and as cloaths dyed in grain, retain my colour in all weathers; that when the Fig-tree doth not bloſſom, nor the Vine yield her fruit; when the labour of the Olive ſhall fail, and the fields yield no meat, then I may rejoyce in the Lord, and be glad in the God of my ſalvation. In a word, I wiſh that I may, like the wiſe Merchant, ſell all I have to buy the Pearl of great price; the gold tried in the fire, that I may be rich; the white rayment, that I may be cloathed, and drive ſuch a conſtant trade with my God in the other World, hearing from thence, and ſending thither daily, that when the King of Terrors ſhall give me a Writ of Eaſe from my particular calling, I may dye in the Lord, reſt my labours, and have my works following me through free grace, into an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Amen.

p. 498A good Wiſh about the Calling of a Miniſter; wherein the ſeveral Properties and Duties of a Conſciencious Paſtor are Epitomized.

THe Miniſtery of the Word being a Calling above all others of greateſt weight, The Introduction.as ſet up by the ever bleſſed God, for the payment of himſelf the deſerved praiſe of his Curious, Eternal, and Infinitely wiſe purpoſe; and for the payment of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the precious fruits of his bloody Paſſion; by the turning of ſinners from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan to God: In which he is pleaſed to commit to men (duly qualified, and rightly called) the Word of Reconciliation, and commandeth them in his name, as his Ambaſſadors, to offer terms of peace, and to perſwade and beſeech rebellious ſinners, with all earneſtneſs and faithfulneſs (as they would not have the blood of their peoples ſouls required at their hands) to accept of, and ſubmit to thoſe Articles of Grace and Pardon. I wiſh in general, That ſince my God hath counted me faithful, put me into the Miniſtery, and entruſted me with that which ſo nearly relateth to his own glory, and which ſo highly concerneth the Eternal felicity of precious ſouls, Acts 20.28. The properties of a Miniſter. He muſt be, 1. Gracious.Acts 20:28That I may take heed to my ſelf, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghoſt-hath made me Overſeer, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own blood. In particular I wiſh, That I may know experimentally, what Regeneration meaneth, before I travel with others p. 499till Chriſt be formed in them; that I may diſſwade from compliance with ſin, and perſwade to an hearty acceptance of the Saviour, not by hearſay, or at ſecond hand, but upon my own knowledge of the bitterneſs of the former, and the goodneſs and ſweetneſs of the latter. Let me not like ſome Cooks, dreſs that meat for others, which I eat not of my ſelf: Let not my Sermons be (as Minerva) the children of my brain, but the travel of my ſoul, that I may ſerve my God with my ſpirit in the Goſpel of his Son; and as a true Veſſel of the Sanctuary, have within me a ſavour of that water of life, which I pour out to others. It is doleful to fall into Hell, from under the Pulpit: But ah how dreadful is it to drop thither out of it! Doth not my heart tremble to think, that it is poſſible for me, like the unbelieving Spies, to coaſt the Heavenly Canaan, to commend it to others, and yet never to poſſeſs it my ſelf! that whileſt I preach to others, I my ſelf may be a Caſt-away! Lord, let me ſo exalt thee in my heart, as my chiefeſt good; in my life, as mine utmoſt end; and preach ſo effectually to my own ſoul, and to others, That I may both ſave my ſelf, and them that hear me.

I wiſh that the Spring of my motions and principle of all my work, may be love to my Maſter, That he may act from a right principle, love to God;and not expectation of any Temporal reward: That I may never be ſo ſordidly ſinful, as to ſell the incomparable Saviour for a little corruptible ſilver; to turn my Fathers houſe, into an houſe of merchandize; and to cry up my God, as the Epheſians p. 500their Goddeſs, becauſe by that Craft they had their wealth; but that unfeigned affection to the bleeding head, and tender compaſſion to his bleſſed members, may be all the oyl to feed that lamp wherewith I enlighten others in the way to life. O that that pathetical, affectionate expreſſion of my deareſt Redeemer, might ſound often in mine ears, and pierce my very ſoul, If thou loveſt me, feed my Lambs: If thou loveſt me feed my Sheep!

I deſire that my ends in the Miniſtery, may be purely to exalt the glorious name of my God, And for right ends, the glory of God and the ſalvation of ſou….in the converſion and edification of his precious and choſen ones. That I may not uſe preaching, as a Theif a Picklock, to open mens Coffers; but as a Key to open their Hearts, that the truth of God, and the God of truth may enter in. Why ſhould I prophane ſo pious an Ordinance, by ſo poyſonous an end; and ſerve my ſelf, like the Eagle, by having my eye to the prey, whileſt I ſoar aloft, and pretend to the World that I ſerve my Saviour! Let me not like Balaam, Divine for money, nor through covetouſneſs, with feigned words, make merchandize of ineſtimable ſouls, which Chriſt thought worth his precious blood. O that I might ſeek, not my peoples goods, but good; not my own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be ſaved. Lord, let this deſign lie at the bottom of my heart, in every act of my Office; that I may, as Abrahams Steward, provide a Wife for my Maſters Son; and enable me through thine help, ſo to ſet forth the beauty of his Perſon, the excellency p. 501of all his Preceps, and the vaſtneſs of his Portion: that I may woo to purpoſe, and prevail to preſent my People, as a Chaſte Virgin, unto Chriſt.

I wiſh, 22Able.That becauſe the work I am occupied about is great, in regard it is not for man, but for the Lord, that I may (as Bezaleel and Aholiah for the Service of the Sanctuary) be ſingularly gifted and endowed by my God, for the building of his Spiritual Temple; that as a wiſe Builder, I may lay the foundation of Sound Doctrine, raiſe it upon ſtrong Pillars of convincing Reaſons, and cover it with uſeful and powerful Application. I would not like ſome young Shopkeepers, for want of ſtock, ſet out Pictures of Wares inſtead of Parcels; but be ſo throughly furniſhed unto every good work, that I may upon all occaſions bring out of my Treaſury, things both new and old. Lord, let a double portion of thy Spirit be poured on me, and let thy Bleſſing ſo proſper my Studies, that I may be an able Miniſter of the New Teſtament, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit; a Workman that needeth not to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth, 2 Cor. 3.6.

I wiſh that ſince I am a ſteward of the myſteries of Chriſt, and that it is required of a Steward, 33Faithful.that he be found faithful, that I may upon no pretence be falſe to the ſouls of my people, that I may not daub with untempered morter, or ſow pillows under mens elbows for any gain or advantage, but may be a Barnabas, a ſon of conſolation to the Penitent, a Boanerges, a p. 502ſon of thunder to the Preſuptuous, that knowing the terrour of the Lord I may perſwade men, and give to every one their particular and proper portion, in due ſeaſon. O let me not be curious to provide meat toothſom for polluted pallats, to the feeding of their diſtempers (like Ahabs 400. Trencher-Chaplains, who ſold their Lords life, at the Cheap rate of a lye) but as Micaiah be careful to diſtribute food that is wholeſome and ſutable to their ſeveral ſpiritual conſtitutions. Though my patients may be angry at preſent, when I ſearch their feſtered wounds to the bottom, and thereby put them to pain, yet when upon my faithful dealing they recover, they will give me hearty thanks. It was the ſaying of Mauritius the Emperor when he heard that Phocas was a Coward, If he be a Coward, he is a Murderer; if I be fearful to tell men of their ſins, I murder their ſouls. Lord, when I am viſiting my Pariſhioners in private, or preaching to them in publike, cauſe me to hear thy voyce behind me; When I ſay unto the wicked, Ezek. 3.18.Ezek 3:18that he ſhall ſurely dye, and thou giveſt him no warning, nor ſpeakeſt to warn the wicked from his wicked way, that he may live, the ſame wicked man ſhall dye in his iniquities, but his blood will I require at thine hand.

I deſire that I may not be obnoxious to the cenſure of a wicked and ſlothful Servant; 44Induſtriousnot of wicked, by hiding my ſins in the cloak of excuſes; nor of ſlothful by hiding my Talent in the Napkin of idleneſs: but may mind the work of the Miniſtery, and make it appear that both in my preparation for, and execution of my office, I labour in p. 503the Word and Doctrine. My time, and parts are not mine own, but (under God) my peoples, and to be improved for their profit. If men dye for robbing ſingle perſons, what ſhall befal me, ſhould I be ſuch a thief, as to rob the poor, the rich and indeed the whole pariſhes ſtock! My prayer is, In preparation for his Office.that I may not offer to the Lord my God, that which coſt me nothing, that my meat which I ſet before the family committed to my charge, may not be (like Ephraim half-baked) raw or rude, and ſo unmeet for their ſtomachs to concoct, becauſe of my negligence in preparing it; 1 Tim. 4.13.15.1 Tim 4:131 Tim 4:15that I may give attendance to reading, meditate on thoſe things; give my ſelf wholly to them, that my profitting may appear to all men. They that ſpend upon the main ſtock where it is but ſmall, will quickly prove bankrupts. My layings out are conſiderable; my comings in, had need to be anſwerable. Surely if any in the World ſhould feed high, ſhould ſtudy, read, and pray hard, thoſe ſhould do it who carry ſo many in their wombs, or give ſo many ſuck. I wiſh that I may be induſtrious as well in rearing the Temple, In the execution of his Office.as in providing materials; that I may chearfully ſpend, and be ſpent in the ſervice of Chriſt. My Saviour was taken to be fifty, when he was little above thirty; by reaſon of his exceſſive induſtry, his very countenance was aged. O my ſoul follow thou this bleſſed pattern, do not play, but work the work of him that ſent thee in the Lord; Improve all opportunities to the utmoſt, be inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, ſerve thy God with all thy ſtrength; Like fuel conſume thy ſelf in p. 504burning to warm the ſpirit of the Saint, and to thaw the frozen heart of the ſinner. Thy work is of infinite conſequence; Thy time is exceeding ſhort, thy reward is glorious and eternal, up and be doing; and like the ſilk-worm wear out thine own bowels to hide others nakedneſs, waſte thy ſelf to prevent thine own and others endleſs wo. Be thou a fruitful mother to conceive and bring forth new creatures, though thou conceiveſt with ſorrow, and bringeſt forth with much pain, and thy labours at laſt ſhould coſt thee thy life.

I deſire that I may be tenderly affected to all the ſouls in my charge, 55Compaſſionate to ſouls.as knowing their worth, and beleiving of what concernment their unchangeable eſtates are in the other world; Lord what melting bowels ſhould I have towards them, when I conſider that every one of them muſt dye within a few days, and either live in Heaven, or fry in Hell to all eternity! My Saviour was a faithful and merciful High Prieſt; he had compaſſion on the multitude, when they had nothing to eat, and would not ſend them away empty, leaſt they ſhould faint in the wilderneſs. O that I had but that pity for the ſouls, which he had to the bodies of men! Nature will help me to pity a body without a ſoul; why ſhould not grace teach me to pity a ſoul without a God? Lord when I behold wounded, bleeding, dying ſouls, let mine eyes affect my heart with ſorrow, that both mine eyes and heart may be up to thee, with the greateſt importunity for a bleſſing upon my moſt diligent endeavours for their recovery. Make me ſo tender and affectionate a p. 505mother, that I may patiently bear with the frowardneſs, and willingly go through with the burden of inſtructing my children. Though others nurſe children for the love of wages, let me nurſe mine for the wages of love. Let all my actions towards them flow from ſincere affection to them, and not onelyonly my counſel and comforts, but even my rod of reproof, like Jonathans, be dipt in this hony. When I am rebuking them cuttingly, and frighting them from ſin with the fear of the unquenchable fire, let all my bitter pils be given in this ſweet ſyrrup of love, that they may know and acknowledge my greateſt anger againſt their ſins to proceed from a tender reſpect and love to their immortal ſouls.

I wiſh that being a ſworn Souldier of the Lord of Hoſts, Full of courage.whatſoever trials and tribulations I meet with in my holy warfare, whatſoever dangers and death ſhall look me in the face, I may never flye from my colours or forſake my Captain, but endure hardſhipas a good Souldier of Jeſus Chriſt. When I firſt liſted my ſelf in his Muſter-Roll, I underſtood the greivous hardſhips, and various hazards, which all his Army, but eſpecially his Officers muſt encounter with, that to Preach the Goſpel is as Luther ſaith, to draw the hatred of the whole World upon a man; yea that Earth and Hell would both conſpire and plant their ſtrongeſt batteries againſt the Bulworks of the Church (under God) the Miniſters of the word, notwithſtanding all which, I entred my name as a Volunteer, and promiſed to live and dye in his quarrel, and ſhall I now becauſe p. 506the enemies appear numerous, and the Bullets flye thick, like Peter, deny my righteous cauſe, and diſown my glorious Captain. Lord let me dye with thee rather then deny thee; Enable me through thy ſtrength to be ready not onelyonly to be bound, but to dye for the name of the Lord Jeſus. My onelyonly ſafety conſiſteth in keeping cloſe to my Saviour. Should I through cowardlineſs run away, I muſt expect Marſhal law; If any man draw back, thy ſoul will have no pleaſure in him. If I, like Jonah, ſhould run from thy preſence as unwilling to deliver an unwelcome meſſage, I muſt expect a ſtorm to follow after me, and either the waves to ſwallow me up, or the Whale to ſwallow me down; I ſhould but go out of thy bleſſing into the warm Sun: If the ſervice of my God be not in all reſpects the beſt, why did I chuſe and like it? If it be, why ſhould I refuſe and leave it? My cauſe is good, I fight againſt ſin and Satan, the deſperate and bloody enemies of my ſoul; My Crown is better; after a a temporal conflict, followeth an eternal Crown of glory. (O my ſoul be thou faithful unto death, and thou ſhalt have a Crown of life) but my Captain is beſt of all, he looketh upon me, goeth before me, fighteth for me, and as he leadeth me on to this tryal, ſo he will not, like the Devil and the World, who leave their ſervants and Lovers in the lurch, but bring me off with triumph, either ſafe on earth, or ſafe to heaven: Lord, whatſoever dirt of calumny, ſhall be thrown in my face; whatſoever dart of cruelty, ſhall be ſtuck in my body, Act. 20.22.Acts 20:22for keeping the word of thy patience in an p. 507hour of temptation, yet let none of theſe things move me, neither let me count my life dear unto me, ſo that I may finiſh my courſe with joy, and the Miniſtry which I have received of the Lord Jeſus, to teſtifie the grace of God.

As to the preaching of the Goſpel, The ſeveral duties of a Miniſter, 1. To preach the Goſpel.which is the principal work of the Miniſter, as being the main Engine in the hand of God, wherewith he undermineth and overturneth the ſtrong-holds of ſin, and the Kingdom of darkneſs; I wiſh that I may prepare for this work diligently, ever handle this weapon warily, deliver the meſſage of my God ſoberly (as may be moſt for his glory, and my peoples good) not with the enticing words of mans wiſdom, but in the demonſtration of the Spirit, and of power. To this end I deſire, His Sermons muſt be the fruits of ſervent prayer.that all my Sermons may be like Monica's ſon, children of many prayers and tears, and thereby the more unlikely to periſh. Luther ſaith, He that prayeth hard, ſtudieth hard. Lord, let all my Sermons as dew, be Heaven-born, that they may drop down upon my people, like rain upon the mown graſs. Let prayer be the key to open the myſteries of Chriſt to me; and let prayer be the turning of the key, to lock them up ſafe within me. Let prayer open and ſhut all my Books, form and write, begin and conclude every Sermon. Ah, how ſhould he pray both for his preaching, and before he preacheth, who by every Sermon, preacheth his beloved Neighbours into Eternal burnings, or Eternal pleaſures!

I wiſh alſo, for the furtherance of the former p. 508ends, Preached over firſt to his own ſoui.That I may preach over every Sermon to my own heart, before I preach them to my hearers: That I preaching feelingly, may preach the more effectually; and the milk of the Word coming warm out of the Mothers breaſts, may be as more natural, ſo more pleaſing and nouriſhing to the children. Why ſhould I, like a Lawyer, plead the cauſe of my God (for my fees) and … have my own perſon concerned in it! O let … rather, as a Phyſician, drink of thoſe potions my ſelf, which I preſcribe and adminiſter to my Patients.

I deſire, He muſt preach the Word, 1. Purely.That I may never dare to play the Huckſter with the Word of God, to ſophiſticate or adulterate it by my additions to it; but that I may receive from the Lord, what I deliver to men; and feed all my charge with the ſincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby. If it be Treaſon to counterfeit the Kings Coyn, what High Treaſon is it for me to imprint the King of Kings ſtamp on my braſs Money? O that as I am an Ambaſſador, I might keep cloſe to my Inſtructions; and as a Builder, may lay every ſtone in his Temple by the line and rule of his Word; and as a Phyſician, may never try experiments upon the ſouls of my people; but hold faſt to the form of wholeſome words, and ever preſcribe thoſe tryed and approved receits, which the Great Phyſician hath left me under his own hand. Becauſe my work is to touch and pierce my hearers hearts, 22….and not to tickle and pleaſe their ears, I wiſh, That I may preach a crucified Saviour, in a crucified ſtile: p. 509That I may not blow up my Sermons (as Butchers ſome joynts of meat, to make them ſhew fairer) with a windy pomp of words; but by uſing all plainneſs, and ſtooping to the loweſt capacity, may become all things to all men, that I may ſave ſome. I am a Barbarian to my people, whileſt I preach to them in an unknown language: I ſtarve their ſouls, whileſt I give them ſuch meat as they can never digeſt. Let me not read Authors, as the Butter-fly goeth to flowers, onelyonly to gild her wings; but as the Bee, to gather honey, and bring it home to the hive for the ſupply of her young. Lord, let me never be guilty by painting the windows, of hindring the light of thy glorious Goſpel from ſhining powerfully into the hearts of men and women.

My prayer is, 33Prudently.That I may not ſtrengthen the hands of ſinners, nor ſadden the hearts of the godly; but be able to diſtinguiſh between the vile and the precious, and accordingly give them their ſeveral portions: That I may give milk to babes, and ſtrong meat to ſtronger men; order my preſcriptions ſuitable to their particular conſtitutions; uſe the needle of the Law, to make way for the thread of the Goſpel; and lead my ſheep, as Jacob drove his flock, as they were able to bear it; and as Chriſt taught his, as they were beſt able to hear him. 44Powerfully.O that I might not onelyonly preach prudently, but alſo powerfully: That my Sermons may be delivered, not as Prologues to a Play, as matter of ſport or paſtime; but as the Meſſage of an Herauld, with all imaginable ſeriouſneſs and p. 510fervency, as containing Conditions of Life and Death. The Word is an hammer, but it will never break the ſtony heart, if lightly laid on: What is preached coldly, is heard careleſly. Lord, let me not, like the Moon, give ſome light without any heat; but cauſe me to lift up my voyce like a Trumpet; to give (as fire) heat as well as light; to be eaten up with the zeal of thine Houſe; to beſeech poor ſouls to be happy, with as much fervency, as if I were begging for my life; and to preach ſo ſucceſsfully, that I may raiſe up much ſpiritual ſeed to my Elder Brother.

I wiſh, 22To pray for his people.That all my Pariſhoners, without exception, may have ſo deep a ſhare in my affection, upon a Religious account, that without ceaſing, I may make mention of them always in my prayers: That my hearts deſire and prayer to God, both in ſecret, private and publique, for poor and rich, may be, that they may be ſaved. O let me daily offer Sacrifice for them, confeſs their iniquities, bewail their miſery, and cry mightily to God for mercy. Lord, let me prevail with thy Majeſtie, to ſpeak to their hearts, and I ſhall prevail with them to hearken to thee, yea, I ſhall ſtand before thee at the laſt day with courage, and ſay, Behold, here am I, and the children which thou haſt given me.

Becauſe the ſmall keels of children are quickly overturned (when they meet with the high winds of temptations, 33To cathechiſe.as they ſail along in the Sea of this World) if they be not ballaſted with the principles of the Oracles of God, I pray, That I p. 511may be a diligent Inſtructer of babes, and a faithful Teacher of the ſimple: That I may ſeaſon, through Gods help, thoſe new veſſels, with the precious water of life, that they may retain their ſavour to their old age: That the younger amongſt my people may from their childehood know the holy Scriptures, be wiſe to ſalvation, through Faith which is in Chriſt Jeſus.

I wiſh, 44To adminiſter the Saments.That in the Adminiſtration of the Sacraments, I may have an impartial regard to the fitneſs and meetneſs of the ſubjects, leſt I ſet thoſe precious Seals of the Covenant of Grace to blanks, whereby they ſhould ſignifie nothing, eſpecially that about the Lords Supper, as I would not be partaker of other mens ſin, nor be an inſtrument of furthering their eternal ſuffering, I may be tender, and walk altogether by the rule of Scripture. O let me never pollute that Sacred Ordinance, by giving it to prophane perſons; nor be ſo prodigal of my deareſt Saviours blood and body, as to give thoſe holy things to Dogs, and to caſt thoſe Pearls before Swine, who will trample them under their feet. Ah, it is much better that ſuch ſcandalous ſinners ſhould be angry with me on earth, for my wholeſome ſeverity, then curſe me for ever in Hell for my fooliſh pity, and ſoul-damning flattery.

I wiſh, That like a faithful Shepherd, 55To viſit his flock, and to admoniſh, adviſe and comfort as occaſion ſhall be.I may often viſit my flock, and warn every one night and day with tears; and not as a careleſs non-Reſident, expoſe them to the rage and cruelty of the devouring Wolf, by my abſence from them, or by p. 512my negligence when preſent among them; leſt another day, when its too late, they cry to me, and complain of me, Sir, if thou hadſt been here, our Souls had not dyed. The Prieſt under the Law, viſited the ſuſpected or leprous houſes, enquired how it was with them; and as he found it, ſo gave ſentence. O that I might under the Goſpel, viſit diſeaſed hearts, and diligently enquire how things ſtand betwixt the great God, and their poor ſouls, and give them ſuitable, ſavoury and profitable advice. Though I therefore deſire a great Auditory, becauſe among many Fiſh, there is the greater probability that the baits of the Goſpel will take and catch ſome; yet therefore I ſhould deſire a ſmall Pariſh, becauſe thereby I am in the greater capacity to deal with every one in it in particular, about the concernments of their everlaſting peace. Lord, let thy ſtrict Command frequently come into my minde, I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quick and dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom: Preach the Word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon, Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long ſuffering and doctrine, 2 Tim. 4.1, 2.

I wiſh, 66To give a good example in his converſation.That I may be as the Baptiſt, both a Burning Light in my Sermons, and a Shining Light in my Converſation, leſt my works give the lye to my words: Whilſt I as Mercury direct others in the right way, but walk not in it my ſelf. The Prieſts under the Law had their Ʋrim and Thummim, ſignifying purity of Doctrine, p. 513and ſanctity of life, a bell and a pomgranate, a Bell and a pomgranate, typifying that Preaching and practice muſt go together. O that I might preach as powerfully by my life, as by my lips; and like a faithful nurſe, avoid the ſcandals of diſtempers (and even forbear thoſe meats which I love, though lawful in themſelves, when not expedient) not onelyonly for my own ſake, but alſo for their ſakes to whom I give ſuck; Nazianzen ſaith of him that was the voyce of one crying in the Wilderneſs; That he was all voice, a voice in his habit, a voice in his diet, a voice in his converſation. 2 Titus 7.Lord enable me in all things, ſo to ſhew my ſelf a pattern of good works to my people, 1 Tim. 4.12.1 Tim 4:12to be ſuch an example to beleivers in word, in converſation, in charity, in ſpirit, in faith, in purity, Phil. 3.17.Phil 3:17that I may be able to ſay to my flock as Paul to his Philippians, 1 Cor. 11.1.1 Cor 11:1Brethren be followers together of me, (and to his Corinthians, Be followers of me as I am of Chriſt) and mark them which walk as ye have me for an example.

I wiſh that though my labours ſhould prove unfruitful, 77Not to be diſcouraged for want of ſucceſs.when I in the diſcharge of my truſt am faithful, that I may not be diſcouraged, knowing that I ſhall be a ſweet ſavour to my God, as well in them that periſh, as in them that are ſaved; and though Iſrael be not gathered by me, Iſa. 6.10.Isa 6:10but I ſpend my ſtrength in vain, yet ſurely my judgement is with the Lord, and my work with my God; yet O that I might not be ſent about that dreadful meſſage to make the hearts of any people fat, to make their ears heavy, and to ſhut their eyes, leſt they ſhould ſee with their eyes, and hear with their ears and underſtand p. 514with their hearts, and convert, and be healed, but that I may turn many ſinners from the errours of their ways, ſave many ſouls from death, and hide a multitude of ſins.

I wiſh that as Joab when he took the City of Rabbah with Davids Souldiers, 88To give the glory of ſucceſs to God.was willing to have the Crown ſet on the Kings head; ſo when my God hath enabled me by his ſpirit, to caſt down imaginations, and high things that exalted themſelves againſt the knowledge of him, and to bring into captivity many ſinners to the Obedience of Chriſt, that I may ſet the crown of glory upon the head of God alone, and not ſuffer the leaſt part of his honour to ſtick to my ſingers; I am but the inſtrument, he is the principal efficient; I am but the pipe, he is the ſpring whence the water of life floweth; I do but lay on the plaiſter, he made the precious ſalve of the word, and beſtoweth alſo healing vertue on it. O that I might never be ſo ungrateful (when he is pleaſed to honour me) as to diſhonour him by thinking of my ſelf above what is meet, but that all my ſervices may be as ſo many Scaffolds …erected purpoſely for the raiſing of his his name, and the ſetting up of his praiſe.

Finally, The concluſion 1 Tim. 4.16. 2 Tim. 4.5.1 Tim 4:162 Tim 4:5I wiſh that I may take heed to my ſelf, to my Doctrine, to my life, be watchful in all things, endure affliction, make full proof of my Miniſtry do the work of a faithful Paſtor, Mat. 7.21.23.Matt 7:21Matt 7:23leaſt (as they who propheſied in Chriſts name, and in his name caſt out Devils) I be caſt to Devils as a worker of iniquity, and find that gate of life which I opened to others, ſhut againſt my own ſoul. O p. 515let me not as Porters in great Houſes lodge without my ſelf, whilſt I let others into Heaven; Let it pleaſe thee O God of all grace to fill me with the fruits of thy ſpirit, that I may feed thy people with knowledge and underſtanding, Take the overſight of them, not by conſtraint, but willingly: 1 Pet. 5.2, 3, 4.1 Pet 5:21 Pet 5:31 Pet 5:4not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, not as being a Lord over Gods heritage, but as being an enſample to the flock, that ſo when the chief Shepherd ſhall appear (on the great day in which the Sheep ſhall be ſeparated from the Goats) I may receive a crown of glory which fadeth not away. Amen.