11. Now they do not live thus, because they cannot support themselves with _less care_ and application to business; but they live thus because they want to grow _rich_ in their trades, and to maintain their families in some such _figure_ and degree of _finery_, as a _reasonable Christian_ has no occasion for. Take away but this _temper_, and then people of _all trades_ will find themselves at leisure to live every day like Christians, to be careful of every duty of the gospel, to live in a visible course of religion, and be every day strict observers both of private and public prayer.
Now the only way to do this, is, for people to consider their trade as something that they are to _devote_ to the glory of God, something that they are to do only in such a manner, as that they may make it a duty to him. Nothing can be right in _business_, that is not under these rules. The apostle commands servants, _to be obedient to their masters in singleness of heart as unto Christ: not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of |God| from the heart¹. With good-will, doing service as unto the Lord, and not unto men²._
¹ Ephes. vi. 5.
² Coloss. iii. 22, 23.
This passage sufficiently shews, that all Christians are to live wholly unto God in every state and condition; doing the work of their _common calling_ in such a manner, and for such ends, as to make it a part of their _service_ to God. For if _poor slaves_ are not to comply with their business as _men-pleasers_, if they are to look wholly unto God in all their actions, and serve in _singleness_ of _heart_, as unto the Lord; surely men of other conditions must be as much obliged to go through their business with the same _singleness_ of _heart_; not as pleasing the vanity of their own minds, not as gratifying their own selfish, worldly passions, but as the servants of God in all that they have to do.
12. *It is therefore absolutely certain, that no Christian is to enter _any farther_ into business, nor for any _other ends_, than such as he can, in _singleness_ of heart, offer unto God as a _reasonable_ service. For the Son of God having redeemed us for this _only end_, that we should, by a life of _reason_ and _piety_, live to the glory of God; this is the only rule and measure for every order and state of life. Without this _rule_, the most _lawful_ employment becomes a _sinful_ state of life.
*Take away this from the life of a _clergyman_, and his holy profession serves only to expose him to the greater _damnation_. Take away this from _tradesmen_, and shops are but so many houses of greediness and filthy lucre. Take away this from _gentlemen_, and the course of their life becomes a course of sensuality, pride, and wantonness. Take away this rule from our _tables_, and all falls into gluttony and drunkenness. Take away this measure from our _dress_ and _habits_, and all is turned into such _paint_, and _glitter_, and ridiculous ornaments, as are a _real_ shame to the wearer. Take away this from the use of our _fortunes_, and you will find people sparing in nothing but charity. Take away this from our _diversions_, and you will find no sports too silly, nor any entertainments too vain and corrupt to be the pleasures of Christians.
13. If therefore we desire to live unto God, it is necessary to bring our _whole life_ under this law, to make his glory the sole _rule_ and _measure_ of our acting in every employment of life. For there is no other _true devotion_, but this of living devoted to God in the common business of our lives.
*So that men must not content themselves with the _lawfulness_ of their employments; but must consider whether they use them, as they are to use every thing, as strangers and pilgrims, that are baptized into the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that are to follow him in a _wise and heavenly_ course of life, in the mortification of all worldly desires, and in purifying and preparing their souls for the blessed enjoyment of God.
For to be vain, or proud, or covetous, or ambitious in the _common course_ of our business, is as contrary to these holy tempers, as cheating and dishonesty.
If a _glutton_ was to say, in excuse of his gluttony, that he only eats such things as it is _lawful_ to eat, he would make as good an excuse for himself as the greedy, covetous, ambitious tradesman, that should say, he only deals in lawful business. For as a Christian is not only required to be honest, but to be of a Christian _spirit_, and make his life an exercise of _humility_, _repentance_, and _heavenly_ affection; so all tempers contrary to these, are as contrary to Christianity, as _cheating_ is contrary to _honesty_.
14. All this is only to shew us the absolute necessity of such uniform piety, as extends to all the actions of our common life.