USE, Is to commend to us Diligence and Industry, especially in the Work of our Heavenly Calling. A Man's Life is divided between Waking and Sleeping; so is his Waking time divided between Labour and Rest: For Humane Nature cannot endure continual Exercise, without Intermission. Therefore, a spiritual wise Man should so govern his Life, that his Labour may answer his great Work and Trust, and his Rest may not infringe his Labour, but help it. Our first Care should be of Labour; for Man in this World is born to labour: Here is not the Place of his Rest and Recompense, but of his Exercise and Trial. Rest is but for Labour; therefore doth he rest, that he may be refreshed for his Labour. Six days are given in the Law to labour; but One to rest; and that Rest is not Carnal, but Holy, and to be improved for our main Duties. Adam in Innocency was not made for Idleness: Moses telleth us, That God put him into the Garden, to dress it: That Happiness we partook of then, was consistent enough with our Work. He that looketh upon the Beauty of the Sun, may easily collect, that God lighted not such a bright Torch for Man to sleep by, or to pass over his days in Ease and Idleness. The Law that was given Man to labour, remained after Sin; yea, Sin brought Grievousness and Burden to it: So what was a Law before, is turned into a Punishment now: For God told Adam, That in the Sweat of his Brow he should eat his Bread. In the whole course of Nature, nothing is idle; the Sun and Stars do perpetually move and roll up and down; the Earth bringeth forth Fruit; the Seas have their Ebbings and Flowings; and the Rivers their Courses; the Angels are described with Wings, as ready to fulfil God's Commandment, and run to do his Pleasure. 'Twere an unworthy thing, among so many Examples, and Patterns of Diligence, for Man alone to be idle. In the least Creatures, God hath taught us; as by the Ant or Pismire: Prov. 6.6. Go ⟨p. 132⟩to the Ant, thou Sluggard. Now, as all Men must labour, so chiefly a Christian. The Scripture compareth our Life to a Journey; which is a constant Motion, till it be accomplished; to Threshing, which is the painfullest Part of Husbandry; yea, to a Warfare, when the Enemy is at Hand, ready to fight. We are always to Watch and Pray: If our Enemy did not alarm us, yet our Master will call us to an Account for what we have done.
VSE, Is to commend to us Diligence and Industry, especially in the Work of our Heavenly Calling. A Man's Life is divided between Waking and Sleeping; so is his Waking time divided between Labour and Rest: For Humane Nature cannot endure continual Exercise, without Intermission. Therefore, a spiritual wise Man should so govern his Life, that his Labour may answer his great Work and Trust, and his Rest may not infringe his Labour, but help it. Our first Care should be of Labour; for Man in this World is born to labour: Here is not the Place of his Rest and Recompence, but of his Exercise and Tryal. Rest is but for Labour; therefore doth he rest, that he may be refreshed for his Labour. Six dayes are given in the Law to labour; but One to rest; and that Rest is not Carnal, but Holy, and to be improved for our main Duties. Adam in Innocency was not made for Idleness: Moses telleth us, That God put him into the Garden, to dress it: That Happiness we partook of then, was consistent enough with our Work. He that looketh upon the Beauty of the Sun, may easily collect, that God lighted not such a bright Torch for Man to sleep by, or to pass over his dayes in Ease and Idleness. The Law that was given Man to labour, remained after Sin; yea, Sin brought Grievousness and Burthen to it: So what was a Law before, is turned into a Punishment now: For God told Adam, That in the Sweat of his Brow he should eat his Bread. In the whole course of Nature, nothing is idle; the Sun and Stars do perpetually move and roll up and down; the Earth bringeth forth Fruit; the Seas have their Ebbings and Flowings; and the Rivers their Courses; the Angels are described with Wings, as ready to fulfill God's Commandment, and run to do his Pleasure. 'Twere an unworthy thing, among so many Examples, and Patterns of Diligence, for Man alone to be idle. In the least Creatures, God hath taught us; as by the Ant or Pismire: Prov. 6.6. Go ⟨p. 132⟩to the Ant, thou Sluggard. Now, as all Men must labour, so chiefly a Christian. The Scripture compareth our Life to a Journey; which is a constant Motion, till it be accomplished; to Threshing, which is the painfullest Part of Husbandry; yea, to a Warfare, when the Enemy is at Hand, ready to fight. We are alwayes to Watch and Pray: If our Enemy did not alarum us, yet our Master will call us to an Account for what we have done.
