A26689:91
Divers practical cases of conscience satisfactorily resolved ... to which are added some counsels…
Divers practical cases of conscience satisfactorily resolved ... to which are added some counsels & cordials / by Joseph Alleine ...
London: printed for Nevill Simmons, 1672
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4. That is a mans Business which he hath his maintenance for: If a man be maintained in the place of a Schoolmaster, it is his Business to teach: if of a Soldier, it is his Business to fight. Beloved, do you not know at whose finding you are? And do you think God keeps so many servants to be idle, or to mind their own designs and pleasures? God hath cut you out every one his work: every man his hands full: So much work is to be done within door, and so much without door; so much towards God, towards your Neighbour, towards your own selves: that you have no time to be idle in. And you shall dearly reckon for it, if you will eat his Bread and will not do his work: And as pleasing God is our chiefest Business,
4. That is a mans Business which he hath his maintenance for: If a man be maintained in the place of a Schoolmaster, it is his Business to teach: if of a Souldier, it is his Business to fight. Beloved, do you not know at whose finding you are? And do you think God keeps so many servants to be idle, or to mind their own designs and pleasures? God hath cut you out every one his work: every man his hands full: So much work is to be done within door, and so much without door; so much towards God, towards your Neighbour, towards your own selves: that you have no time to be idle in. And you shall dearly reckon for it, if you will eat his Bread and will not do his work: And as pleasing God is our chiefest Business,
Secondly, So it is also our highest Blessedness: For mans happiness lies in Gods favour, Psal. 4. 6. Our happiness is in attaining the end of our being; and therefore the great query amongst the Philosophers still was, What was the end; or the happiness of man. Now the true end of our Being is, that we may please God: for his pleasure we are and were created, Rev. 4. 11. And for this end also we were new created that we should yield our selves unto God, Rom. 6. 13. and being built up a spiritual house, should offer up to him spiritual sacrifice,