Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…

This is that which in thy converse with others mingles so much frowardness, levity, unprofitableness to or from them. This is that which in thy calling makes so unmindful of God and his service, aim at nothing but thine own emoluments; Where is the man who in all the ways of his ordinary calling labours to walk in obedience and fear of God, to carry always ⟨p. 151⟩the affections of a servant, as considering that he is doing the Lords work? That consecrates and sanctifies all his courses by prayer, that beggeth strength, presence, concurrence, supplies of spirit from God to lead him in the way which he ought to go, and to preserve him against those snares and temptations which in his calling he is most exposed unto? that imploreth a blessing from heaven on his hearers in their conversation, on his clients in their cause, on his patients in their cure, on himself in his studies, on the state in all his services? That is careful to redeem all his precious time, and to make every hour of his life comfortable and beneficial to himself and others? Where is the man whose particular calling doth not trench and encroach upon his general calling, the duties which he owes to God? That spares sufficient time to humble himself, to study Gods will, to acquaint himself with the Lord, to keep a constant Communion with his God? nay that doth not adventure to steal from Gods own day to speak his own words, to ripen or set forward his own or his friends advantages? In all this take notice of that naughty Inmate in thy bosom; set thy self against it, as thou wouldest do against the Stratagems of a most vigilant enemy, or of a perfidious friend, Qui inter amplexus strang•lat; that like Delilah never comes alone, but with Philistims too; like Jael, never comes with Milk and Butter alone, but withal with a nail and a hammer, to fasten not thy head alone, but, which is worse, thy heart also unto earthly things.

This is that which in thy converse with others mingles so much frowardnesse, levitie, unprofitablenesse to or from them. This is that which in thy calling makes so unmindfull of God and his service, aime at nothing but thine own emoluments; Where is the man who in all the wayes of his ordinarie calling labours to walke in obedience and feare of God, to carry alwayes ⟨p. 151⟩the affections of a servant, as considering that he is doing the Lords worke? That consecrates and sanctifies all his courses by prayer, that beggeth strength, presence, concurrence, supplies of spirit from God to lead him in the way which he ought to goe, and to preserve him against those snares and temptations which in his calling he is most exposed unto? that imploreth a blessing from heaven on his hearers in their conversation, on his clients in their cause, on his patients in their cure, on himselfe in his studies, on the state in all his servlees? That is carefull to redeeme all his pretious time, and to make every houre of his life comfortable and beneficiall to himselfe and others? Where is the man whose particular calling doth not trench and incroach upon his generall calling, the duties which he owes to God? That spares sufficient time to humble himselfe, to studie Gods will, to acquaint himselfe with the Lord, to keepe a constant Communion with his God? nay that doth not adventure to steale from Gods owne day to speake his owne words, to ripen or set forward his owne or his friends advantages? In all this take notice of that naughty Inmate in thy bosome; set thy selfe against it, as thou wouldest do against the Stratagems of a most vigilant enemie, or of a perfidious friend, Qui inter amplexus stranglat; that like Dalilah never comes alone, but with Philistimes too; like Iael, never comes with Milke and Butter alone, but withall with a naile and a hammer, to fasten not thy head alone, but, which is worse, thy heart also unto earthly things.