God could, if it so pleased him, preserve man without the ministry of man, but his pleasure is to fulfil his work and willing the preservation of our bodies, & salvation of our souls, by the employment of men in his service, every one according to his vocation. Neither is there so much as a bondslave, but he must in and by his faithful service to his master, serve the Lord. Men therefore do commonly profane their labours and lives, by aiming at a wrong end, when all their care consisteth only in getting sufficient maintenance for them and theirs, for the obtaining of credit, riches, and carnal commodities. For thus men serve themselves, and not God, or men: much less do they serve God in serving of men.
11 Give all diligence to make thy election sure, and to gather manifold tokens thereof. For this cause observe the works of Gods providence, love, and mercy, both in thee and upon thee, from time to time: for the serious consideration of them, and the laying of them together when they are many and several, minister much direction, assurance of Gods favour and comfort. This was the practise of David, 1. Sam. 17.33. Psal. 23. all.
12 Think evermore thy present estate whatsoever it be, to be the best estate for thee: because whatsoever befalls thee, though it be sickness or any other affliction, or death, befalls thee of the good providence of God. That this may be the better done, labour to see and acknowledge a providence of God as well in poverty, as in abundance, as well in disgrace as good report, as well in sickness as in health, as well in life as in death.
13 Pray continually, I mean not by solemn and set prayer, but by secret and inward ejaculations of the heart, that is, by a continual elevation of mind unto Christ, sitting at the right hand of God the father, & that either by prayer or giving of thanks, so often as any occasion shall be offered.
14 Think often of the worst and most grievous things that may befall thee either in life or death for the name of Christ: make a reckoning of them, and prepare thy self to bear them; that when they come, they may not seem strange, and be borne more easily.
15 Make conscience of idle, vain, unhonest, & ungodly thoughts: for these are the seeds & beginnings of actual sin in word and deed.
God could, if it so pleased him, preserue man without the ministerie of man, but his pleasure is to fulfill his worke and willing the preseruation of our bodies, & saluation of our soules, by the imploiment of men in his seruice, euery one according to his vocation. Neither is there so much as a bondslaue, but he must in and by his faithfull seruice to his master, serue the Lord. Men therefore doe commonly profane their labours and liues, by aiming at a wrong ende, when all their care consisteth onely in getting sufficient maintenance for them and theirs, for the obtaining of credit, riches, and carnall commodities. For thus men serue themselues, and not God, or men: much lesse doe they serue God in seruing of men.
11 Giue all diligence to make thy election sure, and to gather manifold tokens thereof. For this cause obserue the workes of Gods prouidence, loue, and mercie, both in thee and vpon thee, from time to time: for the serious consideration of them, and the laying of them together when they are many and seuerall, minister much direction, assurance of Gods fauour and comfort. This was the practise of Dauid, 1. Sam. 17.33. Psal. 23. all.
12 Thinke euermore thy present estate whatsoeuer it be, to be the best estate for thee: because whatsoeuer befalls thee, though it be sicknes or any other affliction, or death, befalls thee of the good prouidence of God. That this may be the better done, labour to see and acknowledge a prouidence of God as well in pouertie, as in aboundance, as well in disgrace as good report, as well in sicknes as in health, as well in life as in death.
13 Pray continually, I meane not by solemne and set praier, but by secret and inward ejaculations of the heart, that is, by a continuall eleuation of mind vnto Christ, sitting at the right hand of God the father, & that either by praier or giuing of thanks, so often as any occasion shall be offered.
14 Thinke often of the worst and most grieuous things that may befall thee either in life or death for the name of Christ: make a reckoning of them, and prepare thy self to beare them; that when they come, they may not seeme strange, and be borne more easily.
15 Make conscience of idle, vain, vnhonest, & vngodly thoughts: for these are the seeds & beginnings of actuall sinne in word and deede.
