Page images
PDF
EPUB

fing upon our endeavours, we take a right courfe to profper. TisGods bleffing maketh rich, and he addeth no forrow with it, Pr0.10.22. 'Tis his bleffing that giveth thee power to get wealth, Deut.8.18. If his bieffing be wanting, (which thou art not like to have, except thou craveft it) all thy labours are to little purpofe, Pfal. 127. 1, 2. Except he bleffe thee, 'tis in vain to rife early, to fit up late, and eat the bread of carefulneffe, &c.

IV. In the management of thy Calling, labour to exercise these Graces,

1. Faith & affiance in the goodneffe of God; cafting thy felf on his gracious promifes and provi dence in the ufe of lawful means; expecting fucceffe from him alone, according to that of the Pfalmift, Pfal.37.5. Commit thy way unto the Lord, truft alfo in him, and he shall bring it to passe.

your

2. Moderation of affections: Be not over eager, nor inordinately bent on thy worldly affairs. Remember our Saviours precept; Let not hearts be overcharged with furfetting, and drunkenneffe and the cares of this life, Luke 21.34. Purfue not thy worldly business with too much anxiety and fervour of mind.

3. Contentation: Be content with that portion (little or much) which God upon thy honeft Labours fhall please to allot thee, quietly acquiefce in his wife difpofal.

4. Patience Be not difmaid, neither fret

nor

Chap.8. nor repine at thofe croffes and troubles which befall thee, in the way and courfe of thy calling; confidering God doth often exercife his own dearest children with many afflictions.

V. Let not thy particular calling too much incroach upon thy general: The world is of an incroaching nature. 'Tis hard to converfe with it, and not come into bondage to it. Worldly em ployments will be apt to juftle out Spiritual duties; if thou haft not a great care.

Now the true Chriftian fhould efpecially look to these two things.

1. That his worldly busineffe do not eat up and devour that time which should be fet apart (every day) for communion with God, and for the exercife of religious duties.

2. That his worldly employments do not blunt the edge of his affections to Spiritual things. Thou maift ufe the world, but take heed of loving the world, 1 John 2.15, 16. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of this world.

VI. Labour carefully to avoid the temptations that thy particular calling is moft liable unto. Every calling and condition of life hath its peculiar temptations. And a great deal of care and Chriftian prudence is required to forefee them, and avoid

them,

them,that so we be not infnared with them.

VII. In the mannaging of thy worldly affairs, endeavour to carry a Heavenly mind. Be often lifting up thy heart in Spiritual and Heavenly meditations. Think how little it will profit thee, if thou shouldft gain the whole world, and loofe thy foul. Think how Godlineß is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come, 1 Tim.4.8. Remember thou art but a pilgrim, and a stranger here upon earth: Heaven is the proper Country of holy

fouls.

VIII. When fucceß crowns thy faithful endeavours in thy calling, let God have all the Glory. If thou speed well, thrive, and profper, facrifice not to thy own net, to thy wit, parts, industry, or any fecond caufe, but afcribe the Glory wholly to him, in whofe hands alone it is to give fucceffe.

I Thef.4.11. Study to be quiet, and do your own bafineffe, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

V.12. That ye may walk honeftly towards them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

2 Thef. 3.11. For we hear that there are fome which walk among you diforderly, working not at all, but are bufie bodies.

V.12. Now them that are fuch, we command

and

and exhort by our Lord Fefus Christ, that with quietneffe they work and eat their own bread. Prov. 18.9. He also that is flothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great wafter.

Prov. 21. 17. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man, he that loveth wine and Oil shall not be rich.

[ocr errors]

Prov. 28.19. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth after vain perfons fhall have poverty enough.

1 Tim.5.8. But if any provide not for his own, and especially for thofe of his own house, he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infi

del. Prov.26.13. The flothful man faith, there is a lion in the way, a lion is in the streets.

V.14. As the door turneth upon his hinges, fo doth the flothful upon his bed.

[ocr errors]

V.15. The flothful hideth his hands in his bosom, it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. V.16. The fuggard is wifer in his own conceit, than feven men that can render a reafon. Prov.6.6. Go to the Ant, thou fluggard, confider her waies and be wife.

V.7. Which having no guide, overfeer, or `ra

ler,

V.8. Provideth her meat in the Summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

V.9. How long wilt thou sleep, o fluggard? when wilt thou arife out of thy fleep.

V.10. Yet a little fleep, a little flumber, a little folding of the hands to fleep.

V.11. Sofball thy poverty come as one that travel‹ leth, and thy want as an armed man. Mat.15.16. His Lord answered and faid unto him, thou wicked, and flothful fervant, &c. Pfal.128.1. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his wales.

V.2. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Prov.10.4. He becometh poor that dealeth with a flack band; but the band of the diligent maketh rich. Prov.22.7. The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is fervant to the lender.

Prov.31.27. She looketh well to the waies of her bousehold, and eateth not the bread of idleneffe.

Eph.4.28. Let him that ftole, steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands, the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

СНАР.

« PreviousContinue »