water side, where they are to be had at such a price. Thus Christ calls every one that sees his need of Christ, and his graces, ' to the ordinances,' where these are to be freely had of all that come to them, for this very end.
CHAPTER VIII.
A THIRD INSTANCE, WHEREIN THE POWER OF HOLINESS MUST APPEAR, AND THAT IS IN THE christian's WORLDLY EMPLOYMENTS.
Thirdly, the Christian must express the power of holiness in his particular calling, and worldly employments, that therein he is conversant with. Holiness must be wi'itten upon those, as well as on his religious duties. He that observes the law of building, is as exact in making a kitchen, as in making a parlour; so by the law of Christianity, we must be as exact in our worldly business, as in duties of worship : 'Be ye holy in all manner of conversation,' 1 Pet. i. 15, We must not leave our religion, as some do their Bibles, at church ; as in man, the highest faculty, which is reason, guides man's lowest actions, even those which are conmion to beasts, such are eating, drinking, and sleeping, man doth, that is, should, if he will deserve his own name, exercise these acts as reason directs, he should show himself in them a rational creature ; so grace, that is the highest principle in a Christian, is to steer and guide him in those actions that are common to man, as man. The Christian is not to buy and sell as a mere man, but as a Christian man. Religion is not like that statesman's gown, which when he went to recreate himself, he would throw off, and say, ' There lie Lord Treasurer av^hile ;' no, wherever the Chinstian is, whatever he is a doing, he must keep his religion on, I mean, do it holily. He must not do that in which he cannot shew himself a Christian. Now the power of holiness puts forth itself in our particular callings these ways, but take them conjunctive, the beauty of holiness appears in the symmetry of all the parts together.
First, When the Christian is diligent in his particular calling. AVhen God calls us to be Christians, he calls us indeed out of the world, as to our affections, but not out of the world, as to employment. It is true, when Elisha was called, he left his plough, and the apostles their nets ; but not as they were called to be saints, but because they were called to office in the church; though some in our days could find in their hearts to send the officers of the church to the plough again, but upon how little reason, let themselves judge, who find one trade, if it be well followed, and managed with a full stock, enough to find them work all the week; and sure the minister, that hath to do with, yea, provide for more souls, than they bodies, may find his head and heart as full of work in his calling, from one end of the year to the other, as any of them all. But I am speaking to the private Christian. Thou canst not be holy, if thou art not diligent in a particular calling. The law of man counts him a vagrant, that hath not a particular abiding place ; and the word of God counts him a dis- orderly person that hath not a particular calling, wherein to move and act for God's glory, and the good of others : ' We hear there are some which walk disorderly among you, working not at all,' 2 Thess. iii. 11. God would have his people profitable, like the sheep which doth the veiy ground good it feeds on. Every one should be the better for a Christian. When Onesimus was converted, he became profitable to Paul and Philemon also, Philem. 11 ; to Paul as a Christian, to Philemon as a servant ; grace made him of a runaway a diligent servant. An idle professor is a scandalous professor. An idle man does none good, and himself most hurt.
Secondly, When he is not only diligent, but for conscience' sake. There are many are free enough of their pains in their particular callings, they need no spur ; but what sets them on work ? Is it conscience, because God commands it ? Oh no ! then they would be diligent in their general calling also ; they would pray as hard as they work ; they then would knock off, as well as fall on at God's command ; if conscience were the key that opened their shop on the week-day, it would shut it on the Lord's day. When we see a man, like the hawk, fly after the world's prey, and will not come to God's lure, though con- science bids in his name come off, and wait on thy God in this duty in thy family, that in thy closet, but still goes on his worldly chase, he shews plain enough whose errand he goes on ; not of conscience, but his lusts. But if thou
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 3] 3
wilt walk in the power of holiness, thou must he diligent in thy calling on a religious account : that which makes thee ' fervent in prayer,' must make thee ' not slothful in business.' Thou mayost say, this is the place God hath set me in ; I am but his servant in my own shop ; and here I must serve him as I would have my apprentice or child serve me, yea, much more, for they are not mine so much as I am his.