Vocations COme you into one of their shops whose wits are said to dwell in their fingers and you shall wonder to see the store and variety of tooles and how it may be possible that one hand should use them all and yet not one but hath his use likewise look you into the state of some greater society and you shall see a world of men yet not one idle because every man is appointed by the gifts naturall or above nature and called out as it were to apply himselfe unto that kind of life for which he is most fit It is strange that amongst so many sundry vocations as there are some high some low poore rich noble base of body of mind there is notwithstanding such an excellent harmony of them all that as wee say of the bodily members that they serve both for one anothers turne and for the good of the whole body so it may be said of these And as the taking away or adding of a mēber overthrows the shape of the body so is it in this case to a State if necessary Vocations bee wanting or unnecessary used All men are not fit for all Vocations and therefore as there are diverse abilities in men so are there diverse Vocations about which they should bee imployed Neither is it enough that all Vocations bee in use but by such for whom they are most fit There is one most necessary generall and honourable Vocation and is the rule of all others which calleth us out of the world to professe Christian Religion and after which wee are called Christians God grant wee may well consider what this calling requireth of us and wee shall be the more forward in the duties of other callings for there are also callings speciall and these must not only be lawfull in themselves but lawfully used We should become our callings but wee think it enough if our callings become us whereby there fals out so great ods betweene both that all men see how unfit wee are for them and they for us Some are not called but doe call themselves and that is not for love of the calling but some circumstance as credit or gaine and these doe as little good in a calling as any If a man passe by a dignity or title and put himselfe into a place where he may doe more good this man no doubt loves his calling and may well bee commended for his modesty In a calling there is both an office and a maintenance and I wonder that in those callings which are the weightiest the office is oft times divided from the maintenance and men reckon not much of it whereas in other callings of lesse importance they must goe together and if there be a faulty neglect men sooner complaine If one be appointed a Judge he must sit himselfe in Court to heare Causes else hath he not his allowance if a Counseller he must bee present at the Barre to plead for his Client or else he hath no Fee If Captaine of a Castle hee must abide the assault else he loseth his pension If I appoint one to keep my Sheep and he look not unto them I withdraw his wages yet one hath the Benefice and another hath the cure there is a Parson but no Preacher there is neither Parson nor Preacher but there are their Proctors There bee two vertues which helpe a Calling and there be two vices which pull it downe It is an excellent rule when wee have used our meanes so to feare God as wee depend on his blessing this breeds comfort and cheerfulnesse againe to use patience though the successe be otherwise then wee look for this will rid us of vexation How ill doe they provide for their businesse which deale falsly a thing which God will not blesse or envy others so farre that they lose their owne content whereas God hath ordained all callings to depend so on one another that there is no gift or benefit which a man hath but must turne to the good of his Neighbour and instead of envying his prosperity wee would rejoyce at it were our eye single If one were to bee chosen for a calling among a thousand who might seeme more fit then a busybody for his readinesse to meddle where no man desires him for his diligence to do more then ever he hath thankes for for his ability no matter seemes too hard for him and yet in truth he is the only unfit man of all others in his talk he is ever from the matter and in his dealings knows better how to begin then end he is taken up with every tale hee heares and he hath businesse with every man he meets his memory is as weak as his apprehension is quick and though in duty he will take much on him yet in curtesy you are to leave him at his liberty and to looke for nothing from him till all his businesse be ended and that will never bee fit a calling for this man and fit a fashion for this age But to returne to our purpose and descend more lower into those callings amongst which some are publique others private The publique callings are appointed for the order and safety of the private and the private used for the maintenance of the publique The publique hath more honour but lesse quietnesse more wealth but lesse content the private hath more contempt but lesse envy more wrong but lesse danger Of all publique functions none are more worthy then those which pertaine to the Church the Civill I deny not are as necessary consider their subject and end they deale with the Soules of men to bring them to Heaven in this the Church is subject to none but Christ though in respect of the persons that use them shee is subject to the Magistrate as the Magistrate in that he is a Christian is subject to the Church The world will say that the Common-wealth is before the Church and that there may be a Civill state though no Church but the Church cannot be without a Civill state But what saith Christ Seeke the Kingdome of God first he would have us build a Church before wee erect a State and our first Parents Adam and Eve were a Church before there was a Common-wealth and as a Church had the blessing from God to erect a Common-wealth saying unto them Increase and multiply but then when the Common-wealth was increased the Church was neglected and so is it ever But I would not have the Church Guelphes and the Common-wealth Gibellines Oh what an harmoniall hierarchy is it when the Church and Common-wealth doe not only dwell and converse together but so incorporate themselves one into another that they may seeme but one body yet without confusion of their Vocations and rights Therefore doe I dislike the monasticall life which hath beene so much in request as the next way to Heaven all that they could say was that they prayed for others which is the common returne of all idle rogues and
law had figures for the time of grace the law came by Moses so grace and truth is come unto us by Jesus Christ whose Gospell is Preached in all the world what divisions and strife are risen up about it as was foretold how many enemies hath it which with open force resist it how many false brethren which undermine it how many loose libertines which live under the shadow but will not be ruled by the power of it how doth faith waver and charity waxe cold the world sway and the Church suffer heresy prosper and truth pine If all the works of God hitherto have had their just course and time will he faile trow yee in the last act nay some part of this act is begunne already by the comming of Christ into the flesh for after this comming of him it is said He that beleeveth not in the Sonne of God is condemned already but the second comming of Christ shall be a full consummation Is he come in humility to suffer and save and will he not come in glory to put downe all his enemies I will not say oh foolish and slow of heart that were too mild for such mockers but oh hard hearted and desperate wretches who because they will not now beleeve the truth of a finall judgment shall hereafter feele the terror and punishment of eternall condemnation Meditation 36. Afflictions AFflictions are ever profitable to the godly but there are very few of such and it is commonly seene that men after a long and strong disease are much worse then before so that the fire of naughtinesse which for a while lay covered under the embers of their disease having gotten but a little vent breaketh forth the more forcibly and the floud of their corruption stopped for a while by the opposition of their paines having gotten some small passage doth recover his course with the greater violence It is very true that in our troubles wee can call our selves to account and pray to God with many vowes and promises of amendment but no sooner doth he remove his hand then wee start aside from our new resolutions and follow our old by as and how commeth this to passe because wee were brought unto it by constraint wee did complaine and cry but more for feeling of anguish and paine like beasts then any inward remorse or touch of conscience wee were not offended at our sinnes but wee are sorry for the losse of our health and liberty wee humble not our selves before the Lord but it is grievous unto us that his hand is heavy on us wee long not after the health of our soules but wee enquire after all meanes to remove the disease from our bodies therefore as soone as wee have our will satisfied in this respect and seele our strength returne wee get cut as men shut up long in Prison and forget all the good thoughts which came to us in extremity and as it fell out with the children of Israel that because they were neare the good land and might have entred into it by the conduct of God and would not therefore returned they back againe and their carcasses perished in the wildernesse so in this cause because wee were neare to amendment of life and might have beene partakers thereof through the mercy of God and would not therefore fall wee back to our old sinnes and in them wee perish A godly mind may thrive well in trouble but he that is not prepared before hand shall find little comfort in it the sunne which melteth the wax hardneth the clay spices when they are beaten smell the better but there are other things which never smell so ill as when they are most handled these sudden flashes terrify many but they enlighten none but such as live in the inward light Alas what an interest hath sinne in us when wee have once yeelded unto it wee beare not only the guilt of what is past but wee are ever after the more prone to doe the like againe So that there is no purgation so strong no Affliction of such force to cleanse us of it without the speciall gift of his heavenly grace which no sooner said but Lazarus comes forth Therefore are wee to look to our very beginnings and if wee have made any entrance to draw back with speed for sinnes of custome are like an old Gout which knowes no remedy yet despaire not at any time rather resist then give place if the tempter suggest unto thee the greatnesse of thy sinnes let it serve this way to make thee humble thy selfe more and to aske pardon if thou desire heartily to amend and commit thy cause to him which died for thee thy sinne cannot hurt thee for he which giveth the desire will bring it to effect but herein beware of hypocrisy if God point unto thee particularly by any Affliction take it as a medicine from thy heavenly Physitian for thy soules health and let it be more displeasing that thou hast offended God then that the crosse is offensive to thee seek the health of thy soule more then the removing of outward crosses and use all meanes to be such a one in health as thou didst desire to be in sicknesse in all Afflictions look not so much to the rod as to the â—miter who if thou take it patitiently doth correct thee in love if otherwise in anger and indignation Meditation 37. Humane society MAn is by nature sociable and framed thereunto by reason and speech whereunto he doth the more willingly apply himselfe though with some particular disadvantage because of the necessities of life which seeme to require Society for many commodities necessary to life are had in a Society not otherwise to be obtained this hath drawne men from wandring up and downe to certaine places of abode from dennes to houses from Woods to Townes and Cities from barbarous manners to civility and rather to commit themselves to the authority of an orderly government by Lawes for their safety then to languish in an idle and unprofitable loosnesse without the use of one anothers helpe and Society hence have beene erected so many States and Common-weales the glory of all ages But yet this Society how agreeable soever to mans nature doth not fully content it neither doth man find in man that which may satisfy his desire for man being made after the Image of his maker doth take more delight to see himselfe in the patterne of his first beauty then to see his owne face in the face of his brother and though he need not for this purpose the use of his eyes so much yet doth the soule more perfectly discourse and understand when it lifteth it selfe up to God then when it doth converse with man Againe the happinesse which wee are to receive in a humane Society doth proceed from the Society which wee must first seek for with God and from the duty wee owe unto him wee rightly learne how to frame ourselves in all inferiour duties
wherefore as the desire of Society betweene man and man hath erected States and Weales publique so the desire of Society betweene God and man hath caused Churches and holy Assemblies for they are a number of such men which not regarding the world or the fashions of it do desire the acquaintance and familiarity of God having a speciall care in all their doings that in nothing they offend his presence which vouchsafeth to be amongst them as his owne children and friends Our blessed Saviour knowing how necessary it was for man to recover this Society with God lost by the fall of our first progenitor Adam and desiring to be the author of so great a good unto us all did in his owne person ratify the band or league of our reconciliation with God for being everlastingly God as the Sonne the second person in the Trinity he took unto the same our humane nature and so became both God and man and one true Immanuel of which nature it is truly said that the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth in it bodily and all wee which be made bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh are also partakers of this fellowship not only to dwell with God and God with us but also for the nearnesse thereof to dwell in God and God in us but wee must remember this still for a chiefe point in this argument that wee have no communion nor fellowship with God but by Jesus Christ and that this loving league and sociable familiarity doth proceed wholly from his incarnation and in the use of this most singular blessing doth consist all the happy content which man may reap here in this life or in that which is to come I meane if wee converse and keep company with God as he on the other side doth most lovingly offer himselfe unto us for this only are wee borne and this is truly to live and without this wee are rather shadowes then men or very beasts in mans shape Oh man how hath the Lord ennobled thee didst thou not debase thy selfe he calls thee to be a favorite in his Court and thou hadst rather shift up and downe as a base peasant in the Devills countrey he would make thee a Lord over all things in his right but thou choosest rather to be a slave to the world sure of nothing but misery It is the chiefest commendation of good men that they walke with God and the shame of the wicked that they walk with the world they which converse with God are not much addicted to this life not because they despise the commodities thereof but seeing they are much abused they are wary how they medle or looking for better they make the lesse reckoning of them wherein they take no losse as is supposed but procure to themselves no small advantage for when it so comes to passe that they must part with life they doe it with the greater quietnesse and comfort of mind and wheresoever it be that death wait for them they are the readier for it which the worldly man is never and in the meane while none use life better then they or make more account to spend it well but it is rather to draw towards God then to seek any farther acquaintance with the world But some will say the world offereth it selfe unto us in every place but God is farre from us and so strange unto us that wee know not how to have any acquaintance with him A strange saying indeed of him which is made after Gods Image and cannot live or move or have his being but in him which is compassed about and closed in with his wonderfull workes and dayly benefits so that if he would seek he might by groping easily find him which by reason of these things whereby he hath made himselfe knowne cannot be farre from us but this principle of nature is oft times darkned in men by evill custome or wicked malice and moreover not able of it selfe to bring men forward to this familiarity or acquaintance with God and therefore God offereth himselfe and the godly walk with him by other meanes as by his word where they find the helpe of his Spirit by the Sacraments by prayer meditation a godly life for as by certaine obsequious offices wee infinuate our selves into the favour and familiarity of men so these are the duties whereby wee living here in this world are made neare and deare unto God the poorest wretch in the world that walketh with God which is in his favour and sets the Lord before his eyes in all his doings is happier for the present time then the greatest Monarch on earth which saith as Pharaoh did Who is the Lord and shall hereafter find more happinesse then all the world could ever bestow Most unworthy wee which envy the ordinary favours of a Prince unto our brethren and would come betweene them and home if possibly wee might whereas wee might have accesse unto God and seek it not and if wee have it wee rely not so much on it as they doe on the grace or countenance of a mortall man What doe not they adventure which are so backt and how many of them shrink away unto whom God doth say I am with thee I will not faile thee or forsake thee I speak out of my owne feeling let others take the matter as they list I doe specially condemne my selfe in those two points first for that I seek the Lords most loving grace and sweet acquaintance with no more heat and zeale secondly because that when I find it I am no more thankfull unto God for it neither am so strengthned by it and go on in Christian duties as I should The Lord have mercy on mee and grant mee grace ever to see my errours to confesse and repent for them not pleasing my selfe in any knowne weaknesse but alwaies striving to overcome get out of it Meditation 38. Non-parity of sinnes AS an aptnesse to laugh or weep is a property which necessarily followes the nature or kind of man and is affirmed of the whole alwaies and of his owne right so guilt doth follow sinne and makes the sinner subject to the guilt of the Law which is death There is then no sinne so light which of his owne nature doth not deserve death or to which a pardon is due of course without an infinite satisfaction yet are not all sinnes equall for neither doe they offend God alike nor find the like punishment howbeit by a consequent to the true Christian all sinnes are veniall and to the unbeleever all mortall as they are ever of their owne nature And it is not amisse to observe a farther difference that there is sinne which beareth the whole sway in a man such are the sinnes of the wicked and there is sinne which doth but remaine and dwell in man because there is a resistance and head made against it by the better part and is at last expelled by grace and thus are the godly and