A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 5 That they must be directed to right ends.

Thirdly, as our labours must arise from these causes, so they must be directed to right ends. As first and principally to Gods glory, which in ¹all we do, we must labour to advance. Neither is God only glorified when we profess and practise religious duties, but also when we walk conscionably in our callings, and with all diligence perform the duties required in them in obedience to his Commandments. Secondly, we must propound unto our selves in them the good of the Church and Common wealth, which we are to prefer before our own private, and so carry our selves in all things, as that we may be profitable members in these societies. In which regard we must not seek to gain by the common loss, but neglect our own particular, when as it will not stand with the public and general good. Thirdly, we must in all our labours aim so at our own profit, as that we join therewith the welfare and benefit of our neighbours, whom by the Law of charity we are to love as we love our selves; and not raise our gain out of their loss and disadvantage, as it is the common custom of the world. But as we profess our selves members of the same body, so must we, as becometh members, aim chiefly at the preservation of the whole, and then at the joint good one of another, not thinking those goods well gotten, which are raised and gained out of our neighbours loss.

Thirdly, as our labours must arise from these causes, so they must bee directed to right ends. As first and principally to Gods glory, which in ¹all wee doe, wee must labour to aduance. Neither is God onely glorified when wee professe and practise religious duties, but also when wee walk conscionably in our callings, and with all diligence performe the duties required in them in obedience to his Commandements. Secondly, we must propound vnto our selues in them the good of the Church and Common wealth, which wee are to preferre before our owne priuate, and so carry our selues in all things, as that we may be profitable members in these societies. In which regard wee must not seeke to gaine by the common losse, but neglect our owne particular, when as it will not stand with the publike and generall good. Thirdly, we must in all our labours ayme so at our owne profit, as that we ioyne therewith the welfare and benefit of our neighbours, whom by the Law of charity wee are to loue as wee loue our selues; and not raise our gaine out of their losse and disaduantage, as it is the common custome of the world. But as wee professe our selues members of the same body, so must wee, as becommeth members, ayme chiefly at the preseruation of the whole, and then at the ioynt good one of another, not thinking those goods well gotten, which are raysed and gayned out of our neighbours losse.