This is the _common business_ of all persons in this world. It is not left to any _women_ in the world to trifle away their time in the follies and impertinences of a _fashionable life_, nor to any _men_ to resign themselves up to worldly _cares_ and _concerns_; it is not left to the _rich_, to gratify their passions in the _indulgences_ and _pride_ of life, nor to the _poor_, to vex and torment their hearts with the _poverty_ of their state; but _men_ and women, rich and poor, must, with _bishops_ and _priests_, walk before God in the same wise and holy Spirit, in the same denial of all vain tempers, and in the same discipline and care of their souls; not only because they have all the same rational nature, and are servants of the same God, but because they all _want_ the same holiness to make them fit for the same happiness. It is therefore absolutely necessary for all Christians, whether _men_ or _women_, to consider themselves as persons that are _devoted_ to holiness, and to order their _common ways of life_ by such rules of reason and piety as may turn it into a _continual service_ to Almighty God.
5. As the glory of God is _one_ and the _same_ thing; so whatever we do, suitable to it, must be done with _one_ and the _same_ Spirit. That same temper of mind which makes our _alms_ and _devotions_ acceptable, must also make our _labour_, or _employment_, a proper offering to God. If a man pursues his business, that he may raise himself to _figure_ and _glory_ in the world, he is no longer serving God in his employment; he is acting under other _masters_, and has no more title to a reward from God, than he that gives _alms_ that he may be _seen_ of men. For vain and earthly desires are no more allowable in our _employments_, than in our _alms_ and _devotions_. For these tempers of worldly pride, and vain glory, are not only evil, when they mix with our good works; but they have the same evil nature, when they enter into our common business. If it were allowable to indulge _covetous_ or _vain_ passions in our worldly _employments_, it would be allowable to be vain-glorious in our _devotions_. But as our _alms_ and _devotions_ are not an acceptable service, but when they proceed from a heart _truly devoted_ to God; so our common employment cannot be reckoned a service to him, but when it is performed with the same piety of heart.
6. *Most of the employments of life are in their own nature lawful; and all those that are so, may be made a substantial part of our duty to God, if we engage in them only _so far_, and for such _ends_, as are suitable to _beings_, that are to live _above_ the world, all the time they live in the world. This is the _only measure_ of our application to any worldly business; let it be what it will, or where it will, it must have no more of our _hands_, our _hearts_, or our _time_, than is consistent with an hearty, daily, careful preparation of ourselves for another life. For as all Christians, as such, have renounced this world, to prepare themselves by _daily_ devotion, and _universal_ holiness, for an eternal state of quite another nature, they must look upon worldly employments as upon _worldly wants_, and _bodily infirmities_; things not to be desired, but only to be endured till death and the resurrection have carried us to an eternal state of real happiness.
7. Now he that does not look at the things of this life in this _degree_ of littleness, cannot be said either to feel or believe the greatest truths of Christianity. For, if he thinks any thing great or important in human business, can he be said to feel or believe those scriptures which represent this life, and the greatest things of life, as _bubbles_, _vapours_, _dreams_ and _shadows_?
If he thinks _figure_, and _shew_, and worldly _glory_, to be any _proper_ happiness of a Christian, how can he be said to feel or believe this doctrine, _Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake?_ For surely, if there was any real happiness in _figure_, and _shew_, and _worldly glory_; if these things deserved our thoughts and care, it could not be matter of the _highest joy_, when we are torn from them by _persecution_ and _sufferings_. If therefore a man will so live, as to shew, that he believes the most _fundamental_ doctrines of Christianity, he must live above the world; he must do the business of life, and yet live _wholly_ unto God. And it is as necessary that people live in their employments with this _temper_, as it is necessary, that their employment itself be _lawful_.