A61398:368
The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a…
The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a calling in general : and directions for the right managing of the tradesman's calling in particular / by Richard Steele ...
London: printed by J.D. for Samuel Sprint, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Tradesman's Calling. › Chapter 5 › Section 6: Of Religiousness in a Trade.
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.
Answ. I have evinced the necessity of being truly pious before. Certainly the End is need•••• the great End of Man, which is to be happy for ever: if it be indifferent whether you be saved or lost, nothing is necessary. And the means is equally necessary: for there is no taking of Heaven without Violence. Inquire concerning the Sufferings of Christ, were they needful? and doth not that require your Care, which required his Blood? Ask all the Saints of God, were your Prayers, and Tears, and Diligence needless? The Apostle Paul said, This one thing I do, &c. Phil. 3. 13. as tho he intended nothing else, and is it come now to be needless?
Answ. I have evinc'd the necessity of being truly pious before. Certainly the End is need•••• the great End of Man, which is to be happy for ever: if it be indifferent whether you be saved or lost, nothing is necessary. And the means is equally necessary: for there is no taking of Heaven without Violence. Inquire concerning the Sufferings of Christ, were they needful? and doth not that require your Care, which required his Blood? Ask all the Saints of God, were your Prayers, and Tears, and Diligence n•edless? The Apostle Paul said, This one thing I do, &c. Phil. 3. 13. as tho he intended nothing else, and is it come now to be needless?
And then; as to God's Ministers; Woe to us, if we preach not the Gospel, but we cannot do your Work: we can execute our Commission, but we ⟨p. 197⟩cannot change your Hearts: It is needful for us to open the Doctrine of Salvation; and it is needful for you to embrace it. It is needful for us to give Virtue and Vice, Godliness and Ungodliness, their true Colours, and to describe to you Heaven and Hell; but it is needful for you to fall to practise. God is our witness, we choose the fittest Texts we can find, we produce the plainest Scripture, the strongest Arguments, the soundest Directions that we can; but if you do not concur to the saving of your own Souls, all our Labour is lost, and you are lost. We are not satisfied with your Approbation or Applause, we long for your Amendment; we wait to know what good Answer we may return to him that sent us. It grieves us not to see you so diligent, so just, so rich; but that you seek the Kingdom of God with the least Care, and in the last place; that you neglect the Substance for Accidents, for Shadows: We would have your Credit to be good in Heaven; we would have you to be rich towards God.