A61391:48
The husbandmans calling showing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandmanThe husbandmans calling shewing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman
The husbandmans calling showing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman : being the substance of XII sermons preached to a country congregation / by Richard Steele.The husbandmans calling shewing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman : being the substance of XII sermons preached to a country congregation / by Richard Steele.
London: printed by M.S., 1668
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SECT. II.
And first observe hence, That every man 1should have a Calling. It is a dangerous condition to be destitute of a Calling. If any man might have claimed freedom from employment, sure our father Adam might. For his Descent and Blood, He was, saith the Evangelist (Luke 3. last) the Son of God; For his Quality, He was, saith the Psalmist (Ps. 8. 5.) but little lower than the Angels, and crowned with glory and honour: For his Estate (ver. 6.) Thou didst put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and the Breast of the field; He was high Steward over all the Earth, and all therein: For his Knowledge, Wisdom and Parts, beyond all his Posterity, the second Adam only excepted, put all their abilities together: And for his Grace and Holiness, He had the Image of God fairly graven upon him: And yet all these could obtain no Writ of case for this great-man, from an employment. Paradise served not only to feed his senses, but to exercise his hands. If happiness had consisted in doing nothing, Man had not been employed. All his delights could not have made him happy in an idle life; Man therefore is no sooner made than he is set to work; neither Greatness, nor Perfection can privilege a folded hand*. Let no man then imagine, that he can be excused in idleness, or in an insignificant ⟨p. 7⟩Kind of life by his Descent, Quality, Estate, Parts or Graces. When God Almighty had but one Child in the world, he bestowed him in a Calling. The Angels themselves must have a Calling, They are ministering Spirits; yea our Lord Jesus himself, though the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily, yet it is most probable, he was conversant in some employment, until he entered upon the exercise of his Ministry.