A lawful Calling is that which some way tends to the Glory of God, and consequently doth some way further the true Happiness of Mankind, either Temporal, Spiritual, or Eternal. If the Calling do thus tend to the good of Mankind, it undoubtedly pleaseth and glorifieth God: Demonstrate therefore the latter, and then you conclude the former. For our infinitely good God hath instituted no Calling, but what is for his Creatures good. From the Chief Good nothing but Good can come. Far sooner may the Sun dart down Clouds and ⟨p. 27⟩Darkness, than the Holy God appoint, or call any Man to a mischievous Employment. Not that every Calling promotes the Happiness of every Individual; but it must be either for the particular or general Good. And so the very public Executioner, that takes away Mens Lives, yet is a Calling for the Public-Good. Yea, it must tend to the real Happiness of Mankind; and this respects both Soul and Body, and comprehends both the Life that now is, and that which is to come. So that any Calling that doth really minister to the Health of the Body, to Man's comfortable Subsistence, to his lawful Pleasure and Delight, to his Honour and Reputation, to his Defence and Safety, is a lawful Calling. Again, any Calling that serves for the enlightening of Man's Mind, for the refreshing of his Spirits, for the restoring the Decays of his Faculties, for the increase of Knowledge in the Word or Works of God, is a lawful Calling. And then, doubtless, that Calling which directly tends to reconcile Man to God, to restore the Image of God in him, to direct a Man how to conquer his Lusts and Passions, to guide his Life in true Piety and Virtue; and lastly, how to attain eternal Felicity, is a lawful and noble Calling. All and every of these Callings are justified by that of the Apostle, Tit. 3. 14. And let ours also learn to maintain good Works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.
A lawful Calling is that which some way tends to the Glory of God, and consequently doth some way further the true Happiness of Mankind, either Temporal, Spiritual, or Eternal. If the Calling do thus tend to the good of Mankind, it undoubtedly pleaseth and glorifieth God: Demonstrate therefore the latter, and then you conclude the former. For our infinitely good God hath instituted no Calling, but what is for his Creatures good. From the Chief Good nothing but Good can come. Far sooner may the Sun dart down Clouds and ⟨p. 27⟩Darkness, than the Holy God appoint, or call any Man to a mischievous Imployment. Not that every Calling promotes the Happiness of every Individual; but it must be either for the particular or general Good. And so the very publick Executioner, that takes away Mens Lives, yet is a Calling for the Publick-Good. Yea, it must tend to the real Happiness of Mankind; and this respects both Soul and Body, and comprehends both the Life that now is, and that which is to come. So that any Calling that doth really minister to the Health of the Body, to Man's comfortable Subsistence, to his lawful Pleasure and Delight, to his Honour and Reputation, to his Defence and Safety, is a lawful Calling. Again, any Calling that serves for the inlightning of Man's Mind, for the refreshing of his Spirits, for the restoring the Decays of his Faculties, for the increase of Knowledg in the Word or Works of God, is a lawful Calling. And then, doubtless, that Calling which directly tends to reconcile Man to God, to restore the Image of God in him, to direct a Man how to conquer his Lusts and Passions, to guide his Life in true Piety and Vertue; and lastly, how to attain eternal Felicity, is a lawful and noble Calling. All and every of these Callings are justified by that of the Apostle, Tit. 3. 14. And let ours also learn to maintain good Works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.
