A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

¹IT is the ordinance of God that men should labour in some honest vocation, for their private maintenance, and the common good, that is, the benefit and good estate of mankind: And for encouragement he hath promised to protect and bless them that keep themselves within the limits, and do the works of their calling with diligence. The texts of Scripture are plain for both.² The Lord God took the man, ³and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it, and to keep it. In th• sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground. ⁴Let him that stole, steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing that is good: that he may have to give to him that needeth. ⁵Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called, study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your one hands, (as we commanded you) that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without. ⁶For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any man would not work neither should he eat. The hand of the diligent maketh rich. The substance of a diligent man is precious. ⁷He that gathereth by labour shall increase. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before Kings, ⁸he shall not stand before mean men. He• shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. Now seeing God hath commanded us to labour in a calling, prescribed the bonds of our calling and promised his protection and blessing to our hones• endeavours, it cannot be questioned whether we be allowed to live by faith in the duties of our calling. For