There is no state of Life so low and mean, but a Christian may so manage it, as to excel in Holiness,1 and consequently Honour Christ: As Phidias that famous Sculptor expressed his Art to Admiration, not only in Gold, and Marble, and Ivory, but in mean Materials, in Wood or ordinary Stone. The Apostle often inculcates this Lesson upon Servants, to obey their Masters with Fidelity and Cheerfulness, for ye serve the Lord Christ; Col. 3.24. Eph. 6.7. It was to a mortal Man, and if it might be of a perverse ⟨p. 12⟩humour, their Service was immediately addressed; but if from Conscience of their Duty to Christ, and a direct intention to please him, they performed it, that Respect sweetened and ennobled the Service. 'Tis the Spirit and Perfection of Christianity to transform and elevate the lowest Actions: it makes the Service of a Slave to be Divine Obedience, which is the most free and noble Act of the reasonable Creature. From hence the same Apostle enforces the Duties of Servants, that they may adorn the Gospel of God our Saviour: 2The faithful Discharge of their Service redoubles the Lustre of the glorious Gospel, and recommended it to their Pagan Masters. And 'tis equally true, that in every lawful Condition of Life, when Men are conversant in the Duties proper to it, with a respect to the Command of Christ, when their civil Actions ⟨p. 13⟩are ultimately resolved into his Glory, they perform Religious Obedience. This is enjoined in that comprehensive Precept, Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do it in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ: that is, with a respect to his Will, and for his Honour. I shall only add that Diligence in our civil Callings, must always be in Subserviency to the great End of our general Calling, the Salvation of our Souls; to which we are primarily and indispensably obliged. The Life of a Christian is a walking with God, and the way is in the performance of holy and civil Duties. And as Companions in a Journey are together all day, but have set times of refreshing themselves; so a Christian in his celestial Journey, is to walk always before God uprightly, in all temporal Affairs to regard his Presence, and every day at set times ⟨p. 14⟩to draw near to him by Prayer and Thanksgiving, and to represent his Greatness and Glory in so solemn a manner, that there may be a serious habitual Constitution of Spirit respecting him in all his Actions.
There is no state of Life so low and mean, but a Christian may so manage it, as to excel in Holiness,1 and consequently Honour Christ: As Phidias that famous Sculptor expres'd his Art to Admiration, not only in Gold, and Marble, and Ivory, but in mean Materials, in Wood or ordinary Stone. The Apostle often inculcates this Lesson upon Servants, to obey their Masters with Fidelity and Cheerfulness, for ye serve the Lord Christ; Col. 3.24. Eph. 6.7. It was to a mortal Man, and if it might be of a perverse ⟨p. 12⟩humour, their Service was immediately addres'd; but if from Conscience of their Duty to Christ, and a direct intention to please him, they performed it, that Respect sweetened and ennobled the Service. 'Tis the Spirit and Perfection of Christianity to transform and elevate the lowest Actions: it makes the Service of a Slave to be Divine Obedience, which is the most free and noble Act of the reasonable Creature. From hence the same Apostle enforces the Duties of Servants, that they may adorn the Gospel of God our Saviour: 2The faithful Discharge of their Service redoubles the Lustre of the glorious Gospel, and recommended it to their Pagan Masters. And 'tis equally true, that in every lawful Condition of Life, when Men are conversant in the Duties proper to it, with a respect to the Command of Christ, when their civil Actions ⟨p. 13⟩are ultimately resolved into his Glory, they perform Religious Obedience. This is enjoyned in that comprehensive Precept, Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do it in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ: that is, with a respect to his Will, and for his Honour. I shall only add that Diligence in our civil Callings, must always be in Subserviency to the great End of our general Calling, the Salvation of our Souls; to which we are primarily and indispensably obliged. The Life of a Christian is a walking with God, and the way is in the performance of holy and civil Duties. And as Companions in a Journey are together all day, but have set times of refreshing themselves; so a Christian in his coelestial Journey, is to walk always before God uprightly, in all temporal Affairs to regard his Presence, and every day at set times ⟨p. 14⟩to draw near to him by Prayer and Thanksgiving, and to represent his Greatness and Glory in so solemn a manner, that there may be a serious habitual Constitution of Spirit respecting him in all his Actions.
- 1Et si adhuc viliorum materiarum obtulisses, fecisset quod ex illa fieri optimum possit. Sic sapiens virtutem si licebit, in divitiis explicabit, si minus, in exilio. Quamcunque fortunam acceperit, aliquid ex illa memorabile efficiet. Senec. Ep. 78.
- 2Tit. 2.
