Wretched Man That I Am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Feb

15

The Mystery of Providence-Chapter 4

Filed Under puritan reading challenge, reading

Our Employment

It has not only an eye upon your well-being in the world to come, but upon your well-being in this world also, and that very much depends upon the station and vocation to which it calls you.

Now the Providence of God with respect to our civil callings may be displayed very takingly in the following particulars.

  • In directing you to a calling in your youth, and not permitting you to live an idle, useless and sinful life

    • Sin brought in sweat, but now, not to sweat increases sin.

  • In ordering you to such callings and employments in the world as are not only lawful in themselves but most suitable to you.
  • In settling you in such an employment and calling in the world, as possibly neither yourselves nor parents could ever expect you should attain to.
  • In making your calling sufficient for you.

If God bless your labours, so as to give you and yours necessary supports and comfort in the world by it, it is a choice providence, and with all thankfulness to be acknowledged.

If you had more of the world than you have, your heads and hearts might not be able to manage it to your advantage.

And yet do not be so intent upon your particular callings as to make them interfere with your general calling.

…The application is obvious. It was an excellent saying of Seneca: ‘I do not give, but lend myself to business.’

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