A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

Quest. But are not outward things also necessary: Must we not have food and raiment? and must we not labour and provide ⟨p. 19⟩it, and take care for our families, and follow our callings? Must we not by lawful means avoid reproach and poverty in the world?

Quest. But are not outward things also necessary: Must we not have food and rayment? and must we not labour and provide ⟨p. 19⟩it, and take care for our families, and follow our callings? Must we not by lawfull means avoid reproach and poverty in the world?

Answ. In the way of Duty it is as necessary that we labour in our callings, and provide things honest, and subserve Gods providence for the maintenance of our selves and others; And the things of this life and Needful so far as Life is needful, that we may have Time and strength to do our works, and be supported while we seek the One thing needful. But that which is not Necessary for it self, but for another thing, is not simply or principally Necessary. So far as Heaven may be obtained, and the work of Christianity done without the accommodations of the flesh, so far these worldly things are needless. There is no Necessity that you be Rich or Honourable, or that you live in Health or Wealth; or that you escape the hatred, and reproach, and trouble of a malicious world: There is no Necessity that you should save your lives when Christ requireth them: For he that so saveth his life, shall lose it, Matth. 16. 25. And that Usefulness (which you may in a lower sense call Necessity) that any of these things are of, is but in their respect to the One thing Necessary, as they are sanctified means to the service of God and our salvation: If your daily bread be to be called Necessary, it is not for it self, or for your fleshly pleasure, nor ultimately for your life it self; but to sustain your life while you are seeking after life eternal, and serving him that is the Lord of life: Your Credit, or Honour, or Pleasure in the world, are no further Necessary or Useful to you, then they promote this great End for your selves or others: Nothing but God is simply Necessary for himself, and Nothing else is any way truly Necessary but for him.