Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

How to walk with God in our Callings.

1 Cor. 7.20. Brethren, let every man wherein he is called therein, abide with God.

IN this Chapter the Apostle speaks to a Case of Conscience, Whether it be lawful for the Believing Wife to depart from the Unbelieving Husband, which he resolves Negatively, verse 10. If the unbelieving will depart, let him depart, saith the Apostle, verse 15 but a Believer may not depart; which he persuadeth unto by divers Arguments. The first is taken from the profit or good that the believer may do by his continuance, verse 16. for what knowest thou O Wife, whether thou shalt save thine Husband. The second is taken from the call of God ⟨p. 47⟩unto that condition, v. 17. But as the Lord hath distributed unto every man, as the Lord hath called every man, so let him walk, and this is our duty: for says he, so I ordain in all the Churches. Why, but suppose a man be called being a Servant, is he to abide therein? Yes, says the Apostle, verse 20. Let every one abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant, care not for it, but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather; for verse 22. He that is called in the Lord, being a Servant is the Lords Freeman only saith he, ye are bought with a price; be not ye the Servants of men, serving men only, but the Lord in them. And so Brethren, let every man wherein he is called, abide with God by calling; so the Apostle doth understand that state and condition wherein God hath placed us. We do ordinarily take the word calling for our civil employment, and outward occupation; but the Apostle takes it here for our outward state and condition, yet not excluding, but including the other, for there is no state or condition that we are called unto, but some occupation, employment, or calling, is to be used therein, and therefore in speaking to one of these, I shall speak to both and so the Doctrine is this.