The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. The neceſsity of maki…g Religion our buſineſs both in regard of the oppoſition a Chriſtian meets with, and the multiplicity of buſineſs which lieth upon him.
THirdly, Godlineſs muſt be made our principal buſineſs, our main work, becauſe otherwiſe we ſhall loſe our reward. We ſay As good never a whit as never the better. Piety without much pains will redound to little or no profit: How fooliſh is that builder, who in ſetting up an houſe hath been at much coſt, and yet loſeth all becauſe he will be at no further charge: Many loſe what they have wrought, 2 Joh. 8. Their works, becauſe not their buſineſs, are not perfect, and ſo to ſmall purpoſe. The ſloathful roaſts not what he took in hunting, Prov. 12.27. He was at ſome labour to catch the Beaſt, but was loath to be at any more in dreſſing it, and ſo all was loſt; laboriouſneſs to godlineſs is as the ſoul to the body; which being ſeparated from it, godlineſs dyeth and quickly becomes unſavoury.
The reward of Godlineſs is of infinite worth, the end of Holineſs (as of Hope) is the ſalvation of the ſoul, the eternal and immediate enjoyment of God in Heaven. Now who can think to atrain the place of ſuch raviſhing pleaſures without much pains. Iter per anguſta ad auguſta.
Things that are moſt delicate cannot be had without the greateſt difficultie; they that will enjoy large Diadems muſt run through many deaths, and dangers, and uſe much diligence. Nature her ſelf will not beſtow her precious treaſure without much unwearied labour. Duſt and Dirt lye common in Streets, but the gold and ſilver mines are buried in the bowels of the earth, and they muſt work hard and dig deep that will come at them. Ordinary ſtones may be had in every quarry, but pearls are ſecret in the bottom of the Sea, and they muſt dive low and hazard their lives that will (fetch up the Oyſters in which they breed, and) enjoy them.
When did we ever find Nature ſo prodigal of her gifts, as to beſtow skill and excellency in any art or ſcience, without induſtry and diligence. Doth ſhe not force her ſtudents to beat their brains, to waſt their bodies, to break their ſleep, to burn up their ſtrength, before ſhe will permit them to pry into her ſecrets, to pick the lock of her curious Cabinet, and gain any conſiderable knowledge of her Wealth and richneſs. And can we think the God of Nature will give men to know him, as they are known of him, will beſtow on them the unſpeakable gift, the pearl of price, the holy of holies, ſuch things as eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither mans heart conceive, while they lie lazing on the bed of Idleneſs.
Heaven is not unfitly compared to an Hill; among Heathen to Olympus, among Chriſtians to Mount-Sion. They that will climb up to it, muſt pant, and blow, and ſweat for it. Elijahs Tranſlation to the place of bliſs, was much more ſpeedy and facile then ordinary. We ſee no p…nting heart, no trembling hands, no quivering lips, no ghaſtly looks to be the forerunners of his paſſage into Eternal life. Where the union is neer and natural, there the ſeparation is hard and painful, but behold here the Marriage knot betwixt body and ſoul is not untied. Thoſe loving Relations like Husband and Wife, ride triumphantly together in a ſtately Chariot to the Heavenly Court; yet even in this rapture, God would teach us that the Virgin inheritance muſt be raviſhed: There appeared a Chariot of fire, and horſes of fire, and Elijah went up by a Whirle-wind into Heaven, 2 Kings 2.11. Why a Chariot of fire but to note that Heaven muſt be ſtormed and taken by force. Fire is the moſt active inanimate Creature; hereby is figured that laborious action is the way to the beatifical viſion. The Chariot is made of fire, the Wheels upon which it runs are a whirlewind. Activeneſs and violence are the onelyonly way to the bleſſed inheritance. Who ever entred into Heaven with eaſe? They that will be knighted muſt kneel for it; they that will wear the Crown muſt win it. A man is not crowned except he ſtrive lawfully, that is ſtrenuouſly, 1 Tim 2.25. He that will be ſaved, muſt work out his ſalvation, and that with fear and trembling, Legitime certare eſt ad pugnam ſe preparare & animoſe adverſarium aggredi. Bald.Phil. 2.
Chriſt who firſt bought the purchaſe, hath already ſet the price, upon which, and no other the Sons of men may come to the poſſeſſion. There is indeed a twofold price of a thing, a natural price, when ſo much is layd down, as is commenſurate or proportionable to the thing bought, ſo the price of Heaven was the blood of Chriſt, Heb. 10.19.
A pactional price, when ſo much is laid down, (though inferiour to the commodity) upon which the ſeller is contented that you enjoy the thing deſired; ſo labour, knocking, working is the price of Heaven, Iſa. 55.3. This price is made of mans future felicity, and Chriſt is reſolved not to abate the leaſt farthing, Strive, ſaith he, foreign. Conamini omnibus virib us Extremas ſummat que vires velut agonizantes exerite, quaſs provita ſi vincitis, pro morte ſi vincimini luctaturi. A Lapid. in Loc.to enter in at the ſtraight gate, for many will ſeek to enter in and ſhall not be able, Luk. 13.24. As if he had ſaid, there will be many Seekers, Many that will both cheapen Heaven by a profeſſion, and bid ſomewhat by performances, but they ſhall miſs the place for want of more pains, they ſhall not be able; if ye therefore have any love to your ſouls, be not onelyonly ſeekers but ſtrivers, do not onelyonly cheapen and offer a little, but come up to the price. Put forth all your ſtrength as Wreſtlers do, that ſtrive for Maſteries, as ever ye would enjoy thoſe eternal pleaſures. Men were as good bid nothing as not come up to the ſellers price.
All run in a Race, but one receiveth the prize; Sicnotat diligentiam & celeritatem. Cor. A. Lapid.So run that ye may obtain, 1 Cor. 9.24. They that intend for the Crown, do before hand diet themſelves, breath their bodies, and when they run for the Conqueſt ſtrive and ſtretch themſelves to the utmoſt, he that loytereth is as ſure to loſe as if he ſate ſtill.
The lazy World, becauſe Chriſt ſends chapmen up and down with his wares, to offer them to every houſe, to every heart, think to have them at their own ordinary rates, but they ſhall find that grace which is many degrees ſhort of glory, is not to be had by ſloth and idl…neſs; there muſt be lifting up the heart, lending the ears, ſeeking, ſearching, begging, digging, attention of the ou…ward intention of the inward man, before men can underſtand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God, Prov. 2.3, 4, 5. Though it be eaſie to let the backet into the Well, yet it is hot work, and hard labour to draw water out of the Well of Salvation. The laborious Bee, onelyonly is laden with hony.
The deſire of the ſlothful killeth him, O ſi, O ſi, O tioſibecauſe his hands refuſe to labour, Non eſt e terris mollis ad aſlra via Se…c.Prov. 21.5. He is full of wiſhing, but far from working. As the Cat, he would fain have the Fiſh, but is unwilling to wet his Feet; his deſires are deſtitute of ſutable endeavours, and therefore rather harm him, then help him. Like Iſhboſheth he lazeth on his bed till he is deprived of his life. He thinketh to be hurried in haſt to Heaven, to be carried as paſſengers in a Ship, aſleep in their cabins to their Haven, but is all the while in a deceitful Dream. There is no going to thoſe Heavens where Chriſt is in his glory, as the ſick man came to the houſe where Chriſt was, in his eſtate of ignominy, let down in a bed.
He that will be but almoſt a Chriſtian, muſt be content to go but almoſt to Heaven.
Idleneſs is the burial of our perſons, and negliligence is the burial of our actions. Writing on the Sand is eaſie, but ſoon worn out. Its mar'd wit… a ſmall breath of wind, but writing on marble, as it is more permanent, ſo it coſteth more pains. An idle ſervant is in Gods eſteem an evil ſervant; he doth not diſtinguiſh betwixt a ſlothful and an unfaithful man: His Word tells us that he hath bonds for thoſe hands that are folded in the boſom, when they ſhould be working for a bleſſing; that he hath fetters for thoſe feet that ſtand ſtill and ſtick faſt in the mire and mud of ſinful pleaſures, when they ſhould be running the way of his precepts; nay, that he hath utter darkneſs for them that will not walk and work while they enjoy the light, Matth. 25.26, and 30. He that takes his eaſe in this world muſt travel in the next.
Two things ſhew a neceſſity that Godlineſs muſt be made our buſineſs, if ever we would make any thing of it.
Firſt, Becauſe of the oppoſition we meet with in the way of Religion, When the Wind and Tide are both with the Marriner he may hoiſe up his ſail and ſit ſtill, but when both are againſt him, he muſt row hard or never think to come to his Haven. The way to Heaven is like Jonathans paſſage againſt the Philiſtims, betwixt two rocks, the one Bozez, dirty; the other Seneb, thorny; the men of the world will be ever diligent, either with dirt to beſpatter their credits, or with thorns to wound and pierce their conſciences that walk in this path; he muſt therefore have a mind well reſolved to take pains, and his feet well ſhod with patience, that will go this way to Paradiſe. The way of this world is like the vale of Siddim, ſlimy and ſlippery, full of lime-pits and ſtumbling-blocks to maim or miſchief us. Saints are Princes in all lands, but as Princes that paſs through a Country in diſguiſe meet with many affronts, ſo do Chriſtians.
The fleſh is like Birdlime, which when the ſpirit would at any time mount up to Heaven with the wings of Faith and Meditation, hampers and hinders it; it is the holy ſouls priſon, wherein it is fettered and faſtned that it cannot as it would walk at liberty, and ſeek Gods precepts. The Devil, both a Serpent for craft, and a Lion for cruelty, doth out of his hatred to God make it his conſtant buſineſs by his power and policy to hinder Godlineſs. As the Panther, becauſe he cannot come at the perſon, he tears the picture whereever he finds it; We wreſtle not with fleſh and blood but with Principalities and Powers, Epheſ. 6.12. While Satan reigneth in a creature all may be quiet and calm, but if he be once caſt out he will rage and roar to purpoſe. While Iſrael ſerveth the Egyptians, carrying their croſſes, bearing their burdens, doing their drudgery all is well; but when once they ſhake off Pharoahs yoke, turn their backs upon Egypt, and ſet out for Canaan, with what force and fury are they purſued to be brought back to their former bondage? Chriſt was no ſooner baptized then buffetted; he went as it were out of the water of baptiſm into the fire of temptation: and if the Prince were all his time perſecuted, his Subjects muſt not expect to be wholly priviledged. The croſs is tied as a tag to the profeſſion of Chriſtianity, Matth. 10.30. One Article in the Indenture which all Apprentices muſt ſeal to, that will call Chriſt Maſter, is to bear the croſs daily, Matth. 16. The Saints are as veſſels floating on the waters of Meribah, where (Omne quod flat Aquilo eſt, as Tertullian ſaith of Pontus) no wind blows but what is ſharp and keen. The Hebrews were no ſooner enlightned to their converſion, but they indured a ſharp fight of affliction; their lightning was accompanied with a grievous ſtorm, Heb. 10.32. Holineſs is uſually followed with much hatred and hardſhip. The enemies of mans ſalvation are impudent and unceſſant, ever raging never reſting. Plut. in vit. Marcel.What the Carthaginian Commander ſaid of Marcellus, may be truly ſpoken by us in regard of them; Per varios caſus per tot diſcrimina rerum. Tendimus ad coelumThat we have to do with thoſe who will never be quiet, either Conquerors or conquered; but Conquerors, they will purſue their victory to the utmoſt; and conquered, labour to recover their loſs. Satan eſpecially is both wrathful and watchful to undermine ſouls. He is fitly called Beelzebub, the maſter Fly, becauſe as a Fly he quickly returns to the bait from which he was but now beaten. Though Emperors may turn Chriſtians, ſaith Auſtin, yet the Devils will not.
Doth not this fully ſpeak the neceſſity of making Godlineſs our buſineſs? — Oppoſuit Natura Alpem que nivem que Deduxit ſcopulos & montem ru oit Aceto. Juv. Sat. 10.Can ſuch difficulties be conquered without much diligence? Who can eat his way like Hannibal) through ſuch Alps of oppoſition without hot water and hard work. If like Sampſon we would break all theſe cords of oppoſition in ſunder, we muſt awake out of ſleep and put forth all our ſtrength; Saints are all called to be Souldiers: Our whole life is a warfare, All the days of my appointed time, Job 14.14. An Expoſitor reads it, Ad agendum nat…milites. Cicer.All the days of my warfare I will wait till my change come. The Souldiers life, is no lazy life; Armies are wholly for action, eſpecially when they deal with ſuch ſubtile, ſtrong adverſaries that aſſault them day and night without ceaſing. Who can conquer three ſuch mighty Monarchs as Fleſh, World and Devil are, or force his way through their temptations and ſuggeſtions, unleſs he fight in earneſt, and make it his buſineſs. That fire, if ever any, had need to be hot that muſt melt and overcome ſuch hard mettal; and that hand, if ever any, had need to work hard that will remove and level ſuch high mountains. If the ſilly Hare, purſued by ſuch a pack of Hounds offer once to ſtand ſtill or lye down, ſhe is ſure to be torn in pieces and devoured. There is a time, ſaith the holy Biſhop, Hall Holy obſerv. 20.when Kings go not forth to warfare; our ſpiritual war admits no intermiſſion, it knows no night, no winter; abides no peace, no truce; this calls us not into Gariſon, where we may have eaſe and reſpite, but into pitcht fields continually; we ſee our enemies in the face always, and are always ſeen and aſſaulted; ever reſiſting, ever defending, receiving, and returning blows; if either we be negligent or weary, we dye; We can never have ſafety and peace but in victory: There muſt our reſiſtance be couragious and conſtant where both yielding is death, and all treaties of peace, mortal.
Secondly, There is a neceſſity of making it our main work, Becauſe of the multiplicity of buſineſſes that is incumbent on every Chriſtian. That ſtream had need to run freely and with full force, that muſt be divided into many channels. That eſtate had need to be large that muſt be parted among many children. Who can count the variety of works that every Chriſtian muſt be engaged in? how many Dangers he muſt wade through? how many Snares muſt he avoid? how many Taunts and Mocks muſt he abide? how many Temptations muſt he conquer? how many Graces muſt he exerciſe? how many Luſts muſt he mortifie? how many Duties muſt he perform? every relation, every condition calls for anſwerable duty and diligence; every Ordinance muſt be improved by him, every Providence muſt be ſanctified to him; Mercies muſt like a ladder mount him nearer to Heaven; Miſery muſt, like the famine to the Prodigal, force him to haſten to his Fathers houſe: His Wife, his Children, his Servants, his Neighbors, his Friends, his Enemies, his ſhop, his cloſets, his viſits, his journeys do all require ſuitable ſervice, and who can perform it that is not diligent and ſedulous?
Conſider him in reference to Gods immediate Worſhip, he muſt pray, hear, read, meditate, watch, faſt, ſanctifie Sabbaths, ſing Pſalms, receive the Sacrament, and in all walk humbly, reverently and uprightly with his God. Conſider him in reference to poor men, he muſt love mercy and ſupply their neceſſities according to his ability, and not like a muck-heap, good for nothing till carried forth; whatever men he deals with, he muſt do juſtly, love his Neighbor as himſelf, and as God gives him opportunity provoke them to mind Grace and Sanctity; as Musk, perfume if poſſible all that he comes near. Conſider him in reference to himſelf; he muſt live ſoberly, vigilantly; his heart is like a ſubtle ſturdy theif, ever ſeeking to break the goal, and therefore muſt have a ſtrong guard; his corrupt nature is like fire, and his whole man like thatch, and therefore he muſt keep a narrow watch; his Sences are the Out-works which Satan is ever aſſaulting, by them to gain the Royal Fort of the Soul, that he muſt defend them with care and courage day and night. What is ſaid of the Husbandman is true of every Chriſtian, His work is never at an end; The end of one work is but the beginning of another; He muſt always be imployed, either in dunging, dreſſing, ploughing, ſowing, harrowing, weeding or reaping his ground; he hath no leiſure to be idle and lazy who hath ſo much work lying upon his hand. Nullus mihi per …tium exiit dies partem etiam noctium ſtudiis vendico non vacoſomno ſed juc cumbo, & oculos vigilia fatigatos cadenteſ que in opere detinco. Sen. epiſt 67.Seneca thought Philoſophy cut him out ſo much work, that he was neceſſitated to ſpend every day and part of the nights in making it up. Chriſtianity, a nobler Miſtris, as ſhe gives better wages, ſo ſhe commands greater work; that her ſervants may ſay well with the Emperor, Let no day paſs without a line; and with Solomons Houſwife, not let their candle to go out by night, Prov. 30.
The French Duke de Alva could ſay (when he was asked by Henry the Fourth, Whether he had ſeen the Eclipſe of the Sun) That he had ſo much buſineſs to do upon Earth, that he had no time to look up to Heaven. Sure I am, the Chriſtian may ſay with more truth and conſcience, That he hath ſo much buſineſs to do for Heaven, that he hath no time to mind vain or earthly things. That ſervant who doth ponder the ſtrictneſs of his Maſter, conſider the ſhortneſs of his time, conceive the largeneſs of his task, and beleeve the weightineſs of his work, how it muſt be done, or he is undone for ever, will be eaſily convinced that it nearly concerns him, that it highly behoves him to ſhake off ſloth and ſluggiſhneſs, to gird up the loins of his mind, to give it the precedency in all his actions, to purſue it with induſtry againſt all oppoſition, to perſevere in it with conſtancy to his diſſolution, and in a word, to make it his main buſineſs, his principal work.