Works, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Rules of Wiſdome for our own neceſſary actions, in reſpect of their firſt, Order. Secondly, Subject.
THe fourth ſort of rules for actions, Rules for neceſſary actions. 1 Ground. Thou w… ſent in…o this World f r neceſſary buſineſs.reſpecteth ſuch as concern our ſelves, and theſe are either neceſſary, or indifferent actions.
Wee w…re ſent in…o this world to do ſome neceſſary buſineſs, which wee muſt intend, and not wa…e our time in impertinent things. The maſter that ſent his ſervants into the Vineyard, ſent them in to work. Do we think that God ſent man into the World to ſport and play for his recreation ſake, or idleneſs, yea, or to eat and drink, and onelyonly to get what to maintain himſelf by? No, but for ſomething beyond all theſe; elſe his end were not beyond the brute-beaſts. Or can wee think that God hath given men gifts of reaſon, underſtanding, judgement, and means of nature and grace, for the culture of all theſe, onelyonly to enjoy outward things, to feed their pleaſure and appetite, which they might fully injoy without all their gifts? No, but the maſter gave his ſervants talents to traffick withall, to make their Lord and themſelves gainers. Wee muſt therefore acknowledge ſome thing to bee abſolutely neceſſary, unto which all other things are neceſſary but reſpecttively, and carry our ſelves unto every thing accordingly. If wee would know what that is, which is abſolutely neceſsary, our Saviour tells us, Luke 10.42.One thing is neceſsary, namely, to know how a man may come into Gods favour and bee ſaved; and all earthly things are reſpectively neceſſarie, ſo far as they conduce to this. To know the vertue of Chriſts death and reſurrection, is abſolutely neceſſary; all things are to bee counted but droſs and dung unto this, Phil. 3.10.
But in all neceſſary actions, 2 For the order, the moſt neceſſary things m ſt bee done fi…ſtthe rule of Wiſdome requires that the moſt neceſſary action be done firſt, and moſt, Eccleſ. 9.10. Whatſoever thy hand ſhall finde to do, do it with all thy might. Nothing in the world is ſo neceſſary as to repent us of ſin paſt, and the reaſon, for it is the preſent time, to day. Nothing ſo neceſſary as amendment of life for time to come, therefore do it now: Delaies in all things are dangerous, in this, often deadly. And this moſt neceſſary buſineſs muſt bee done moſt. Well ſaid Auguſtine, Deficit in neceſſariis qui redundat in ſuperfluis. Auguſt.h…e muſt needs fail in neceſſaries, who over-flowes in ſuperfluities. How then can men anſwer the waſting of their lives and time in pleaſures, recreation, eating, drinking, buying, ſelling, and ſeldome finde in their hands the buſineſs which ten is unto eternal life? A good rule therefore it is, often to examine our ſelves thus? What am I doing? And whether in all inferiour things do I aim a… the chief? in earing I muſt not forget the bread of life. In recreation and pleaſure I muſt ch…fly affect the pleaſures of Gods houſe. In buying and ſe…ling, I muſt ſpecially help forward my purchaſe of eternal life. In my earthly calling, I muſt expreſs the calling of Chriſtianity. 3 For the ſubject: The moſt neceſsary actions of evil men are evil.This is the way to do the one neceſſary thing moſt of all.
3 Moſt neceſſary actions in evil men are evil; the beſt actions of the unregenerate are ſins: And therefore it is moſt neceſſary to bee a good man. The truth hereof appears, becauſe a man may do what God commands, and omit and forbear a work prohibited, and yet ſin in both: For example, Ariſtides practiſed juſtice moſt ſtrictly, yet herein hee ſinned, becauſe it was no work of faith. Alexander conquering Darius violated not the chaſtity of Darius his wife and daughters, but forbare this prohibited and ſinful action; yet therein hee ſinned, becauſe hee forbare not of good conſcience. But wee muſt know, that this ſin lyeth not in the ſubſtance or matter of the work, which is materially good, but in the vice of the doer, and manner or end of doing: Neither are theſe ſins in themſelves but onelyonly by accident.