[¹] Ephes. vi. 5.
[²] Coloss. iii. 22, 23.
This passage sufficiently shews, that all Christians are to live wholly unto God in every state and condition; doing the work of their common calling in such a manner, and for such ends, as to make it a part of their service to God. For if poor slaves are not to comply with their business as men-pleasers, if they are to look wholly unto God in all their actions, and serve in singleness of heart, as unto the Lord; surely men of other conditions must be as much obliged to go through their business with the same singleness of heart; not as pleasing the vanity of their own minds, not as gratifying their own selfish, worldly passions, but as the servants of God in all that they have to do.
12. *It is therefore absolutely certain, that no Christian is to enter any farther into business, nor for any other ends, than such as he can, in singleness of heart, offer unto God as a reasonable service. For the Son of God having redeemed us for this only end, that we should, by a life of reason and piety, live to the glory of God; this is the only rule and measure for every order and state of life. Without this rule, the most lawful employment becomes a sinful state of life.
*Take away this from the life of a clergyman, and his holy profession serves only to expose him to the greater damnation. Take away this from tradesmen, and shops are but so many houses of greediness and filthy lucre. Take away this from gentlemen, and the course of their life becomes a course of sensuality, pride, and wantonness. Take away this rule from our tables, and all falls into gluttony and drunkenness. Take away this measure from our dress and habits, and all is turned into such paint, and glitter, and ridiculous ornaments, as are a real shame to the wearer. Take away this from the use of our fortunes, and you will find people sparing in nothing but charity. Take away this from our diversions, and you will find no sports too silly, nor any entertainments too vain and corrupt to be the pleasures of Christians.
13. If therefore we desire to live unto God, it is necessary to bring our whole life under this law, to make his glory the sole rule and measure of our acting in every employment of life. For there is no other true devotion, but this of living devoted to God in the common business of our lives.
*So that men must not content themselves with the lawfulness of their employments; but must consider whether they use them, as they are to use every thing, as strangers and pilgrims, that are baptized into the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that are to follow him in a wise and heavenly course of life, in the mortification of all worldly desires, and in purifying and preparing their souls for the blessed enjoyment of God.
For to be vain, or proud, or covetous, or ambitious in the common course of our business, is as contrary to these holy tempers, as cheating and dishonesty.
If a glutton was to say, in excuse of his gluttony, that he only eats such things as it is lawful to eat, he would make as good an excuse for himself as the greedy, covetous, ambitious tradesman, that should say, he only deals in lawful business. For as a Christian is not only required to be honest, but to be of a Christian spirit, and make his life an exercise of humility, repentance, and heavenly affection; so all tempers contrary to these, are as contrary to Christianity, as cheating is contrary to honesty.
14. All this is only to shew us the absolute necessity of such uniform piety, as extends to all the actions of our common life.