1.HAVING already stated the general nature of devotion, and shewn, that it implies not any form of prayer, but a certain form of life, that is offered to God, not at any particular times or places, but every where and in every thing; I shall now descend to some particulars, and shew how we are to devote our labour and employment, our time and fortunes, to God.
As a Christian should consider every place as holy, because God is there; so he should look upon every part of his life as a matter of holiness, because it is to be offered to God.
The profession of a clergyman is an holy profession, because it is a ministration in holy things. But worldly business is to be made holy, by being done as a service to God, and in conformity to his will.
For as all men, and all things in the world, as truly belong unto God, as any places, things, or persons, that are devoted to divine service; so all things are to be used, and all persons are to act in their several states for the glory of God.
Men of business therefore must not look upon themselves as at liberty to live to themselves, to sacrifice to their own humours and tempers, because their employment is of a worldly nature: but they must consider, that as the world, and all worldly professions, as truly belong to God as persons and things that are devoted to the altar; so it is as much the duty of men in worldly business to live wholly unto God, as ’tis the duty of those who are devoted to divine service.
2. As the whole world is God’s; so the whole world is to act for God. As all men have the same relation to God, as all men have all their powers and faculties from God; so all men are obliged to act for God with all their powers and faculties.
*As all things are God’s; so all things are to be used and regarded as the things of God. For men to abuse things on earth, and live to themselves, is the same rebellion against God as for angels to abuse things in heaven; because God is just the same Lord of all on earth, as he is of all in heaven.
Things may, and must differ in their use: but yet they are all to be used according to the will of God.
Men may, and must differ in their employments; but yet they must all act for the same ends, as dutiful servants of God, in the right and pious performance of their several callings.
3. Clergymen must live wholly to God in one particular way; that is, in the exercise of holy offices, in the ministration of prayers and sacraments, and a zealous distribution of spiritual goods.