The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. An Exhortation to make Godlineſs our buſineſs in the whole courſe of our lives.
THe ſecond and principal Uſe which I ſhall make of this Doctrine, ſhall be by way of Exhortation; Ought Godlineſs to be every ones buſineſs? then Reader let me perſwade thee in the fear of God to put this Precept into practice; Exerciſe thy ſelf to Godlineſs. Let it be the chief trade thou driveſt, the principal calling thou followeſt, to worſhip the true God in heart and life, according to his revealed Will. I hope thou art ſatisfied in the weight of the Reaſons already delivered; what canſt thou ſay, why thou ſhouldſt not preſently ſet upon the work. Thou haſt heard it is the great end of thy being and continuance in this world, That it is an employment of the greateſt concernment; How it is Soul work, God-work, Eternity-work; That it muſt of neceſſity be made the main buſineſs, or otherwiſe all thy labour will be loſt: …anſt thou eaſily break this threefold cord; let conſcience judge between God and thee, whether ſuch a work as this is, doth not deſerve all thy time and ſtrength, thine utmoſt care and greateſt diligence, and ten thouſand times more then thou canſt poſſibly give it. Thou haſt alſo read how fiery and furious Worldlings, Formaliſts, Sinners are for their Dalilahs and Minions; Oh why art thou ſo ſlothful to go in and poſſeſs the land, Judg. 18.3.
Themiſtocles ſeeing two Cocks fight, Aelian… 2 Va. H…ſt c. 28.when he was going to a battel, pointed his Souldiers to them and ſaid, Do you ſee …onder Combatants, how valiantly they deal their blows? with what fury they fight? and yet they fight not for their Country, nor for their Gods, nor for the honour of their Anceſtors, nor for Glory, nor Liberty, nor Children? What courage then, my brave Countrymen, ſhould this put into our hearts, on whoſe reſolution all theſe depend, and by whoſe valour they ſubſiſt? So ſay I to thee, Reader, Doſt thou ſee yonder Worldling, how he rideth, runneth, toileth, moileth, ſweateth, waſteth his ſtrength, wrongeth his body, makes a very pack-horſe of it, and will ſearce allow it time to eat or ſleep? Doſt thou ſee yonder Superſtitious perſon, how zealous he is for the inventions of men, laying his Eſtate, Limbs, Laberty and Life at the feet of his own Idol … how like one upon a fiery Steed full of mettle, he rides poſt out of Gods way, and from Gods Word? Nay doſt thou ſee yonder Sinner, what time he ſpends, what miſeries he endures? what Wealth he waſtes? how hard he labours to gratifie his Luſt? And yet theſe work not for the Blood of Chriſt, nor for the Love of the Father, nor for the Graces of the Spirit, nor from freedom from the Curſe of the Law, the ſlavery of Satan, the torments of Hell, nor for their Souls, nor for their God, nor for fulneſs of joy, and the pleaſures that are at Gods right hand for evermore? What Zeal and Fervency ſhould this put into our hearts, Dear Friends! and what diligence and induſtry into our hands, when we work and trade for all theſe? and if we make them our buſineſs our labour ſhall not be invain in the Lord.
Exerciſe thy ſelf to Godlineſs, not to Superſtition: As the Ivy in time eats up the very heart of the Oake it groweth about; ſo doth Formality and Superſtition the very heart and life of Religion; Let Gods Laws, not thy own or others Luſts be the rule whereby thou governeſt thy heart and life.
Superſtition (ſaith an eminent Divine) is to true Holineſs, Gurnal. Chriſt. incomp. arm. part. 2. edit. 2. p. 224.what the Concubine is to the true Wife, who is ſure to draw the Husbands love from her; this Brat the Devil hath long put out to nurſe to the Romiſh Church, which hath taken a great deal of pains to bring it up for him, and no wonder when ſhe is ſo well paid for its maintenance, it having brought her in ſo much worldly treaſure and riches.
What ſome obſerve of Horſe hairs, that, though liveleſs, yet lying nine days under water, they turn to Snakes, may pertinently be applyed to ſuperſtitious Ceremonies, which though at firſt dead, or held at moſt but indifferent, yet in continuance of time have quickened and done much miſcheif. There is a ſimplicity in the Word and Worſhip of God, which I would intreat thee to look after. (I fear leaſt your minds ſhould be corrupted from the ſimplicity which is in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11.3.) not as ſimplicity is oppoſed to wiſdom, but as ſimplicity is oppoſed to mixtures; Compoſitions do but diminiſh and abate the vertue of Simples. The more natural and ſimple the Wine is, the more pure it is, mixtures do but adulterate it. The more ſimple the Worſhip of God is, (I ſpeak of Goſpel ſimplicity and order) the more pure it is, humane inventions and mixtures may abaſe it, they cannot adorn it. Gods Altar under the law muſt be of earth. If thou lift up a tool upon it, thou haſt polluted it. Exod. 20.24, 25. Men are apt to think, that by lifting up tools on Gods altar, they poliſh it, but God himſelf ſaith they pollute it.
When the Church was in her infancy, ſhe was dreſt in the ſwadling clothes of Ceremonies, but ſince ſhe is grown up, God hath provided her other attire. To the Jews, the Sun of righteouſneſs was behind, and therefore the ſhadow of thoſe Ceremonies was before. They were in force and power, but to us Gentiles the Sun of righteouſneſs is before, and therefore the ſhadow of ceremonies is behind. When Chriſt came, thoſe ſhadows ſeemed to ſay as the Angels to Jacob, Let us go, for the day breaketh, Gen. 32.26. at the death of Chriſt the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, to acquaint us that the Jewiſh Ceremonies muſt then vaniſh, Mat. 27.51.
Reader, I would not be miſtaken, I do not adviſe thee againſt that order and decency, which is commanded in the Worſhip of God, nor againſt active obedience to authority in things that are circumſtantial, or not directly, nor conſequentially forbidden in Scripture, but I would counſel thee to beware, leaſt (like the Dog in the Fable) whilſt thou art ſnapping at any ſhadow thou doſt not loſe the ſubſtance; and withal I muſt tell thee that as when the ſhadows grow long, its a ſign the Sun is declining; ſo when thoſe ſhadows, thoſe even indifferent things increaſe, uſually the ſubſtance, the light of holineſs decreaſeth.
When Corn runs out into ſtraw and chaff, thoſe that feed on it, may well be thin and lean, but when it runs into ear and kernel, thou mayſt expect ſuch as eat of it to be fat and well favourd; when Religion runs into Formalities and Ceremonies, her followers can never be thriving ſpiritually, they may ſtarve for all the gaudy flowers wherewith the ſeveral diſhes on her table are decked and ſet forth; it is the power of godlineſs alone, which like wholſom and ſubſtantial food, will diſtribute nouriſhment and ſtrength to the inner man; I expect nouriſhment from bread, not from ſtraw or ſtones, becauſe God hath annext his bleſſing to the former, not to the latter. I look for ſpiritual ſtrength from divine inſtitutions, not from humane inventions, becauſe Gods promiſe is made to wordworſhip, not to will-worſhip; one would think the ſparks of that fire wherewith Aarons Sons were conſumed, ſhould fly in the faces of men, and make them affraid to offer up to the Lord what he commanded them not, Lev. 10.1, 2.
Exerciſe thy ſelf to this Worſhipping the true God according to his revealed will. Do not dally and trifle at it, be not cold and careleſs about it. Take heed of the Worldlings politique principles. Fair and ſoftly goeth far; Too much of one thing is good for nothing; Its good to be Religious, but not too conſcientious; A little moderation would not do amiſs. Theſe men would ſerve thee as ignorant Montebanks do their Patients, that whilſt they go about to cool the liver (leaſt it ſhould ſet the blood in a flame) kill the ſtomach, and thereby neceſſarily deſtroy the body. They pretend ſome fear that thou mayſt work too hard, even to thy hurt, when thou canſt never do enough, much leſs, too much, for thy God and thine everlaſting good: I muſt needs tell thee that there is an impoſſibility of dividing thy ſervice betwixt thy ſins and thy Saviour, and of parting thy heart and work between the world and the word. No man can ſerve two Maſters. Mat. 6.24. If like a Meteor thou hangeſt between heaven and earth, halteſt between Chriſt and the fleſh, as a hunting Dog between too Hares, running ſometime after this, ſometime after that, thou wilt be ſure at laſt to loſe both.
Thoſe creatures under the Law, which did both move in the waters, and hover up and down in the Air, were unclean in Gods account. Lev. 11.10. There is a ſtory of a Baſtard Eagle, which hath one foot cloſe like a Gooſe, with which ſhe ſwims in the waters, and dives for fiſh, and another foot open and armed with talons, with which ſhe ſoareth in the Air, and ſeiſeth her prey; but ſhe participating of both natures, is weak in either, and at laſt becomes a prey to every ordinary Vulture. The am bodexter in Religion who is both for the fleſh and the Spirit, for Riches and Righteousneſs is all his time a ſervant of ſin, and will at laſt become a prey to Satan.
Wherefore I muſt intreat thee, Reader, to make godlineſs thy ſole deſign and delight, thy main occupation and recreation. If thou find not the golden veins upon the ſurface, or juſt under the skin of the earth, do not throw off thy trade nor caſt away thy Tools, but delve and dig lower, thou ſhalt certainly at length come to the rich treaſure. foreignThe vertuous man in Greek is denominated from a word that ſignifieth induſtrious and diligent. Labour is the way to get and increaſe vertue, and the more vertuous thou art, the more laborious thou wilt be, frequent uſe muſt keep thy ſpiritual arms from ruſt.
It is a more worthy thing to abound in work, In operibus, ſit abundantia mea, div tiis per me l…cet abundet quiſquis volue. rit.then to abound in wealth. Melancthon ſpake nobly Let others take Riches, give me Labour. They who have been buſie about much meaner ſtudies, have yet purſued them with incredible pleaſure, and extraordinary pains. PlutarchEndymion ſpent whole nights on Rocks and Mountains, in contemplating the motions of the Stars. It is ſaid of Criſippus, That he was ſo intent on his Book that he had ſtarved his Body, had not his maid put meat into his mouth. Cicer Ep. lib. 9.Cicero profeſt, He would part with all he was worth that he might but live and dye among his Books; did they reckon Humane Knowledge, that curious piece of vanity at ſo high a rate that they would trample on their poſſeſſions, take any pains to procure it, to promote it? What a price ſhouldſt thou ſet upon Godlineſs, upon Divine Knowledge, which is the very ſeed of eternal life? Joh. 17.3. ſhouldſt not thou undervalue thy eſtate and ſtrength for it? ſhouldſt not thou ſpend all thy time, imploy all thy talents, and improve all thy opportunities for the furthering of it? O that holy Paul might be thy pattern: Herein I exerciſe my ſelf, to keep a conſcience void of offence towards God and Men, Act. 24.16. Here is Pauls precious cabinet, and his care to preſerve it; foreign me exerceo laboro, …otus ſum in hac re, ut inculpate deo ſerviam nec homines offendam.his Cabinet was his conſcience void of offence, a treaſure of ineſtimable value; in this Cabinet were all the jewels of Divine Graces. His Faith and Love, his Hope and Humility, his Patience and Heavenly mindedneſs were gliſtering in it gloriouſly, like ſo many coſtly and ſparkling Diamonds; but obſerve Pauls care of this Cabinet, I exerciſe my ſelf to keep a conſcience void of offence; Paul knew many ſubtle theives were abroad, and therefore he muſt make it his buſineſs to keep his pearls, or otherwiſe they would be ſtoln from him. He knew if he were robbed he were ruined; nay if but a flaw were made in the jewel of his conſcience, it would be of exceeding ill conſequence to him, therefore he did exerciſe himſelf to keep a conſcience void of offence.
Again, Exerciſe thy ſelf to Godlineſs, make it thy buſineſs, in the whole courſe of thy life, nay in every paſſage of thy converſation. As the blood runs through the whole body, and every vein of the body; ſo Godlineſs muſt run through our whole converſation, and every particular action of it. Godlineſs muſt be like the Sun (though its ſcituation be in Heaven, and that the main place of its reſidence) enlighten and warm the whole body of the air, and all the earth by its influence, ſhine on all thy natural, civil and ſpiritual works, nothing muſt be hid from the heat thereof. Reader, obſerve the command, Be ye holy in all manner of converſation, 1 Pet. 1.15.
The Greek word (foreign) and the Latin word (converſatio) for converſation, come of a verb that ſignifieth to turn, to note that which way ſoever a Chriſtian turneth himſelf he muſt be holy; he muſt be holy in his cloſet alone, holy among company, holy at home, holy abroad, holy in his ſhop, holy among his ſheep, holy in the Church, holy in his chamber, holy at his table, holy in his travails, holy in proſperity, holy in adverſity, holy in every relation, and in every condition, in all manner of converſation. As oyl is laid over all colours to make them durable; ſo Godlineſs muſt be laid on every part and practice of our converſation, and thereby they will be permanent to our comfort, and run parallel with the line of Eterity. We lay gold, becauſe excellent, on all ſorts of mettals; Godlineſs, which is more precious then fine gold, muſt be laid on our Naturals, Morals, Intellectuals, all of them muſt have their vertue and value from it. The truth is, they all like Cyphers ſtand for nothing, unleſs this figure be joyned with them, and put before them.
Beleevers are commanded to be holy men, Exod. 22. ult. In the Original it is men of holineſs, and ye ſhall be men of holineſs unto me, that is all over holy; As Chriſt is called a man of ſorrows, becauſe his whole man, body and ſoul was ſteeped in tears, and his whole time from the womb to the tomb was ſpent in ſorrows and ſufferings, full of tribulations. And as Antichriſt is called a man of ſin, becauſe he is, as Beza obſerves well, Merum ſcelus, Meer ſin, nothing but ſin, Iſa. 53.3. 2 Theſſ. 2.3. ſo the children of God ſhould be men of holineſs, meer holineſs, made up of holineſs, nothing but holineſs, every part of them ſhould be holy, and every deed done by them ſhould be holy; holineſs in their hearts ſhould, as the Lungs in the body, be in continual motion, and holineſs in their life muſt run through all their words as the Woof through the whole Web.
The Jews had their daily, weekly, monthly, yearly addreſſes unto God, to teach us that we muſt be always trading heavenward, that there muſt be an unwearied commerce, an uninterrupted intercourſe betwixt God and our ſouls. Saints lives are therefore compared to a walk, and called a walking with God, or a walking before God; they muſt ſtill walk as in company with him, and tread every ſtep as under his eye, Gen. 5.22. and 17.1. The Planets becauſe of their wandering nature, are ſometime nearer to, ſometime further from the earth, yet always within the Zodiack, the highway of the Sun. So the Chriſtian, though he be ſometimes ſtooping to the earth in his particular calling, ſometime mounting up to Heaven in the immediate Worſhip of God, yet he muſt always be in the path of godlineſs; The highway of the Sun of Righteouſneſs. Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long, ſaith Solomon, Prov. 23.17. Whether a Chriſtian be eating, or drinking, or buying, or ſelling, or plowing, or ſowing, or riding, or walking, whatever he be doing, or whereever he be going, he muſt be always in the fear of the Lord; Godlineſs muſt be his guide, his meaſure and his end; as the ſalt it muſt be ſprinkled on every diſh to make it ſavoury. Thy life, O Chriſtian, muſt be ſo led that it may be a continued ſerving of God.
The Precept is full (though if a true Chriſtian thou wilt eſteem it thy priviledge) that whatſoever thou doſt, thou art to do all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10.31. God muſt be the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of all thy actions, thy duty is to paſs the whole time of thy ſourjourning here in fear, 1 Pet. 1.17. Every moment muſt be devoted to God; and as all ſeaſons ſo all actions muſt be ſacred. There is a Propheſie, that in Jeruſalem, in that day ſhall there be upon the bells of the horſes, Holineſs to the Lord, and the pots in the Lords houſe ſhall be like the bowles before the Altar, yea every put in Judah and Jeruſalem ſhall be holineſs to the Lord of Hoſts, Zach. 14.20, 21. Mark, the ſame Inſcription is to be upon the bells of horſes, and on every pot wich was on the High Prieſts mitre, Holineſs to the Lord: to teach us, That every thing though but of common uſe ſhould be ſanctified to Gods ſervice; Vt quicquid aggrediatnr homines ſit ſacrificium. Calv. in loc.That every ordinary enterprize (ſaith Calvin) ſhould be a ſacrifice.
In the proſecution of this Exhortation, I ſhall Firſt, Speak to the nature of this duty, and Manner how a Chriſtian muſt exerciſe himſelf to Godlineſs in the whole courſe of his life, and in every part thereof.
Secondly, I ſhall lay down ſome Means for the accompliſhing this duty.
Thirdly, I ſhall annex ſome Motives to encourage the Reader in this holy Trade and calling.
Firſt, As to the Manner, how a Saint may in every paſſage of his life follow this Trade, I ſhall divide my Diſcourſe into theſe ſeveral Heads.
1. How a man may make Godlineſs his buſineſs in religious actions, or the Worſhip of God in general, as alſo in his carriage, in hearing or reading, in Prayer, at the Lords Supper, and on the Lords day in particular.
2, How a Chriſtian may make Religion his buſineſs in his natural actions of eating, drinking, ſleeping and cloathing.
3. In his Recreations.
4. In his particular vocation or calling.
5. In reference to his Relations and Family.
6. In his dealings with all men.
7. In all conditions, whether of proſperity, or adverſity.
8. In all companies, whether good or bad.
9. In ſolitarineſs, or when he is alone.
10. On a weak-day from morning to night.
11. In his viſiting the fick.
12. Ʋpon a dying bed.