Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

First, This was the condition of Adam in the State of Innocency; then the Lord set Adam for to Till the Ground; he gave him an employment in the State of Innocency, and there was nothing given him in the State of Innocency, but mercy; whatever God ⟨p. 49⟩called him to, or put him upon before the Fall, was mercy: now in that state God put an employment upon him, Employment did not come in by the fall. It is not a badge of that conquest that the Devil made upon us by the fall; Therefore an honest calling is a great mercy. For thereby,

First, This was the condition of Adam in the State of Innocency; then the Lord set Adam for to Till the Ground; he gave him an imployment in the State of Innocency, and there was nothing given him in the State of Innocency, but mercy; whatever God ⟨p. 49⟩called him to, or put him upon before the Fall, was mercy: now in that state God put an employment upon him, Imployment did not come in by the fall. It is not a badge of that conquest that the Devil made upon us by the fall; Therefore an honest calling is a great mercy. For thereby,

2ly. A man is kept from idleness Idleness is the nurse of all wickedness, our vacation is the Devils term. Homines nihil agendo, &c.¹ Men by doing nothing, learn to do evil. Idleness, saith the Heathen, is the burying of a living man. Hic situs est, when a great Senator of Rome would go live privately in his Country house, that he might be more retired, Seneca coming by, said, Hic situs est, Here lyes such a man, as you say over a Tomb, Here lies such a man, and there lies such a man, so said he, Hic sit us est Vacia, here lies Va cia, •or Idleness is the burial of a living man, but what more contrary to a man then to be buried alive. Now the honest lawful employment or calling will keep ever from idleness. Yea,