§. 16. 12. Servants and poor men, and diseased men and others, that are called off from much 1contemplation, and employed in a life of obedient Action, yea, or suffering, by the providence of God,2 and not by their own sinful choice, must understand, that their Labour and Patience is the way of their acceptable attendance upon God, in the expense of most part of their time: And, though it is madness in those, that hope God will accept of their Labours, instead of true Faith and Repentance and a godly life (for these must go together, and hinder not each other) yet instead of such further contemplations, as are not necessary to the being of a godly life, a true Christian may believe that his obedient labours and sufferings shall be accepted. If you set one servant to cast up an account, and another to sweep your Chimney or Channels, you will not accept the former, and reject the latter, for the difference of their works: But you will rather think that he hath most merited your acceptance, who yielded without grudging to the basest service. And doubtless it is an aggravation of acceptable obedience, when we readily and willingly serve God in the lowest meanest work. He is too fine to serve him, who saith, I will serve thee in the Magistracy or Ministry, but not at3 Plough or Cart, or any such drudgery. And if thou be but in Gods way, he can make thy very obedience a state of greater holiness and safety, than if thou hadst spent all that time in the study of holy things▪ as you see many ungodly Ministers do, all their life time, and are never the better for it. It is not the quality of the work, but Gods blessing, that makes it do you good. Nor is he most beloved of God, who hath rolled over the greatest number of good thoughts in his mind, or of good words in his mouth, no nor he that hath stirred up the strongest passions hereabouts; but he that Loveth God and Heaven best, and hateth sin most, and whose will is most confirmed for Holiness of life. He that goeth about his labour in obedience to God, may have as much comfort as another that is meditating or praying. But neither labour nor prayer is matter of comfort to an ungodly carnal heart.
§. 16. 12. Servants and poor men, and diseased men and others, that are called off from much 1contemplation, and employed in a life of obedient Action, yea, or suffering, by the providence of God,2 and not by their own sinful choice, must understand, that their Labour and Patience is the way of their acceptable attendance upon God, in the expense of most part of their time: And, though it is madness in those, that hope God will accept of their Labours, instead of true Faith and Repentance and a godly life (for these must go together, and hinder not each other) yet instead of such further contemplations, as are not necessary to the being of a godly life, a true Christian may believe that his obedient labours and sufferings shall be accepted. If you set one servant to cast up an account, and another to sweep your Chimney or Chanells, you will not accept the former, and reject the latter, for the difference of their works: But you will rather think that he hath most merited your acceptance, who yielded without grudging to the basest service. And doubtless it is an aggravation of acceptable obedience, when we readily and willingly serve God in the lowest meanest work. He is too fine to serve him, who saith, I will serve thee in the Magistracy or Ministry, but not at3 Plow or Cart, or any such dr•dgery. And if thou be but in Gods way, he can make thy very obedience a state of greater holiness and safety, than if thou hadst spent all that time in the study of holy things▪ as you see many ungodly Ministers do, all their life time, and are never the better for it. It is not the quality of the work, but Gods blessing, that makes it do you good. Nor is he most beloved of God, who hath rolled over the greatest number of good thoughts in his mind, or of good words in his mouth, no nor he that hath stirred up the strongest passions hereabouts; but he that Loveth God and Heaven best, and hateth sin most, and whose will is most confirmed for Holiness of life. He that goeth about his labour in obedience to God, may have as much comfort as another that is meditating or praying. But neither labour nor prayer is matter of comfort to an ungodly carnal heart.
- 1Rule 12.
- 2☜
- 3Petrarch speaking of his intimacy and esteem with Kings and Princes, addeth, Multos tamen eorum quos valde amabam effugi: tantus mihi fuit insitus amor liberta▪ tis; ut cujus vel nomen ipsum libertati, vel illi esse contrarium videretur, •mni studio declinar•m. In vita sua.Petrarch speaking of his intimacy and esteem with Kings and Princes, addeth, Multos tamen eorum quos valde amabam effugi: tantus mihi fuit insitus amor liberta▪ tis; ut cujus vel nomen ipsum libertati, vel illi esse contrarium videretur, •mni s•udio declinar•m. In vita sua.
