_We can please |God| in no state or employment, but by |intending| and |devoting| it all to his glory_.
1. HAVING already stated the general nature of devotion, and shewn, that it implies not any _form of prayer_, but a certain form of life, that is offered to God, not at any particular _times_ or _places_, but every where and in every thing; I shall now descend to some particulars, and shew how we are to devote our _labour_ and _employment_, our _time_ and _fortunes_, to God.
As a Christian should consider every place as holy, because God is there; so he should look upon every part of his life as a matter of holiness, because it is to be offered to God.
The profession of a _clergyman_ is an holy profession, because it is a ministration in _holy things_. But worldly business is to be made holy, by being done as a service to God, and in conformity to his will.
For as all men, and all things in the world, as truly belong unto God, as any _places_, _things_, or _persons_, that are devoted to divine service; so all things are to be _used_, and all persons are to _act_ in their several states for the glory of God.
Men of business therefore must not look upon themselves as at liberty to live to themselves, to sacrifice to their own _humours_ and _tempers_, because their employment is of a worldly nature: but they must consider, that as the world, and all worldly professions, as truly belong to God as _persons_ and _things_ that are devoted to the _altar_; so it is as much the duty of men in worldly business to live wholly unto God, as ’tis the duty of those who are devoted to divine service.
2. As the whole world is God’s; so the whole world is to act for God. As all men have the same _relation_ to God, as all men have all their _powers_ and _faculties_ from God; so all men are obliged to act for God with all their _powers_ and _faculties_.
*As all things are God’s; so all things are to be used and regarded as the things of God. For _men_ to abuse things on _earth_, and live to themselves, is the same rebellion against God as for _angels_ to abuse things in _heaven_; because God is just the same Lord of all on earth, as he is of all in heaven.
_Things_ may, and must differ in their _use_: but yet they are all to be used according to the will of God.
_Men_ may, and must differ in their _employments_; but yet they must all act for the same ends, as dutiful servants of God, in the right and pious performance of their several callings.
3. _Clergymen_ must live wholly to God in one _particular_ way; that is, in the exercise of _holy offices_, in the ministration of _prayers_ and _sacraments_, and a zealous distribution of spiritual goods.
But men of other employments are, in their _particular_ ways, as much obliged to act as the servants of God, and live wholly unto him in their several callings.
This is the only difference between clergymen and people of other callings.
*When it can be shewn, that men may be vain, covetous, sensual, worldly-minded, or proud in the exercise of their worldly business, then it will be allowable for _clergymen_ to indulge the same tempers in their sacred professions. For, tho’ these tempers are most odious and most criminal in _clergymen_, who, besides their baptismal vow, have a second time devoted themselves to God, to be his servants, not in the _common offices_ of life, but in the service of the most _holy_ things; and who are therefore to keep themselves as separate from the _common_ life of other men, as a _church_ or an _altar_ is to be kept separate from houses and tables of common use: yet as all Christians are by their baptism _devoted_ to God, and made professors of holiness; so are they all in their several callings to live as holy and heavenly persons; doing everything in their _common_ life only in such a manner, as it may be received by God, as a service done to him. For things, spiritual and temporal, sacred and common, must, like _men_ and _angels_, like _heaven_ and _earth_, all conspire in the glory of God.
4. *As there is but one _God_ and _Father of us all_, whose glory gives light and life to every thing that lives, whose presence fills all places, whose power supports all beings, whose providence ruleth all events; so every thing that lives, whether in _heaven_ or _earth_, whether they be _thrones_ or _principalities_, _men_ or _angels_, must all, with one Spirit, live wholly to the praise and glory of this one God and Father of them all. _Angels_ as _angels_, in their heavenly ministrations, but _men_ as men, _women_ as women, _bishops_ as bishops, _priests_ as priests, and _deacons_ as deacons; some with things _spiritual_, and some with things _temporal_, offering to God the daily sacrifice of a reasonable life, wise actions, purity of heart, and heavenly affections.