Chapter XXY. — Of the defects of gifts, disquieting the soul; as also the afjiictions of the church.
Among other things, there is nothing more disquiets a Christian, that is called to the fellowship of Chiist and his church here, and to glory hereafter, than that he sees himself unfurnished with those gifts that are fit for the calling of a saint ; as likewise for that particular standing and place whereia God hath set him in this world, by being a member of a body politic.
For our Christian calling, we must know that Christianity is a matter rather of grace than of gifts, of obedience than of parts. Gifts may come from a more common work of the Spirit ; they are common to castaways, and are more for others than for ourselves. Grace comes from a peculiar favour of God, and especially for our o^Tn good. In the same duty, where there is required gifts and grace, as in prayer, one may perform it with evidence of greater gi-ace than another of greater parts. Moses, a man not of the best speech, was chosen before Aaron to speak to God, Exod. vii. 11 ; and to strive with him by prayer, whilst Israel fought with Amalek with the sword, Exod. x\ii 11. It is a business more of the heart than of the tongue, more of groans than of words, which gi-oans and sighs the spirit will always stir up even in the worst condition. Yet for parts there is no member, but it is fitted with some abilities to do service in the body, and by faith may grow up to a greater measui'e. For God calls none to that high condition, but whom in some measure he fits to be an useful member, and endows with a public spirit.
But that is the measure which Christ thinks fit ; who will make up that in the body which is wanting in any particular member. God will increase the measure of our gifts as occasion shall be ofiered to di'aw them forth ;
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THE soul's conflict. 243
for there is not the greatest but may have use both of the parts and graces of the meanest in the church. And here the soul may by a spirit of faith go to God in this manner : Lord, the state* of Christianity unto which thy love in Christ hath called and advanced me, is a high condition ; and there is need of a great measure of grace to uphold the credit and comfort of it. Whom thou callest unto it, thou dost in some measure furnish to walk worthy of it. Let this be an evidence to my soul of the truth of thy call, that I am enabled by the Spu'it for those duties that are required ; in con- fidence of which assistance I will set upon the work : ' Thou hast promised to give wisdom to them that ask it, and to upbraid none with their unwor- thiuess. Nay, ' thou hast promised the Spirit of all gi-ace to those that beg it^' James i. 5. It is that which I need, and it is no mox'e than thou hast promised.
Caution. Only it must be remembered, that we do not walk above our parts and graces, the issue whereof will be discouragement in om-selves and disgrace from others.
The like may be said for our particular calling, wherein we are to express the gi-aces of our Christian calling, and ' serve one another in love,' Gal. v, 13, as members of the state as well as of the church. Therefore every one must have, 1, a calling; 2, a law'ful ; 3, a useful calling; 4, a calling fitted for his parts, that he may be even for his business, pares ner/otio; 5, a lawful entrance and caUing thereunto ; 6, and a lawful demeanour in the same. Though the orb and sphere we walk in be little, yet we must keep within the bounds of it, because for oiu' carriage in that, we must give a strict account ; and there is no calling so mean but a man shall find enough to give a good account for (/). Our care must be to know our work, and then to do it ; and so to do it as if it were unto God, with con- science of moderate dihgence ; for over-doing and over- working anything comes either from ostentation or distrust in God ; and negligence is so far from getting any blessing, that it brings us under a ' curse for doing God's work negligently,' Jer. xlviii. 10. For we must think our callings to be services of God, who hath appointed us our standing therein.
That which belongs to us in our calling is care of discharging om* duty ; that which God takes upon him is assistance, and good success in it. Let us do our work, and leave God to do his own. Diligence and trust in him is only om-s, the rest of the burden is his. In a family the father's and the master's care is the greatest ; the child's care is only to obey, and the servant's to do his work ; care of provision and protection doth not trouble them. Most of our disquietness in our calling is, that we ti'ouble ourselves about God's work. Trust God and be doing, and let him alone with the rest. He stands upon his credit so much, that it shall appear we have not trusted him in vain, even when we see no appearance of doing any good. Peter fished aU night and catched nothing, yet upon Christ's word he casts in his net again, and caught so many fish as break his net, Luke v. 6. Covetousness, when men will be richer than God would have them, troubles all ; it troubles the house, the whole famih-, and the house within us, our precious soul, which should be a quiet house for God's spmt to dwell in, whose seat is a quiet sphit. If men would follow Christ's method, and ' seek first the kingdom of heaven,' Mat. vi. 33, all other things would be cast upon them. If thoughts of insufiiciency in our places discourage us, remember what God saith to Moses, when he pre- tended disability to speak, ' Who hath made man's mouth, have not I the Lord ?' Esod. iv. 11. All our sufficiency for eveiy calling is fi-om God.