The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

Now as he hath given man a more excellent being, then the rest of the visible world, so hath he called him to follow after and abound in the most excellent work. God hath appointed contemplation or vision to be mans reward in heaven. To see God as he is, and to know him as he is known of him; but service and action to be his work on earth, to exercise himself to godliness.

Some read that, Job 5.7. thus, Man is born to work as the sparks fly upward. Indeed it is the decreed lot of all mankind to labour. Adam was called to industry in his state of innocency, Gen. 2.15. and ⟨p. 11⟩since mans fall, ¹his work which was before his pleasure, is now his punishment, if he eat not his bread in the sweat of his brow or his brains, he steals it: He that like a body louse lives upon others sweat, is like Jeremiahs girdle good for nothing. But the main work which God commandeth and commendeth to the children of men, is to glorify him upon earth, by exercising themselves to godliness. This is Gods precept, and this hath been the Saints practice: This is Gods precept, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2.12. In which words we have the Christians end, eternal life, Salvation; and the means to attain it diligent labour, work out your salvation; he had need to labour hard that would attain Heaven. ²Godliness must be not [Greek or Hebrew], his by-business, but [Greek or Hebrew], his main business. The Jews have a proverb (alluding to Manna, which was to be gathered the sixth day for the seventh, because on the seventh none fell from heaven) He that gathereth not food on the Sabbath eve, shall fast on the Sabbath day. Intimating thereby that none shall reign in Heaven but such as have wrought on earth.