[♦] Number 16 omitted in text.
And if in these days of general corruption, this part of devotion is fallen into a mock-ceremony, it must be imputed to this, that sensuality and intemperance have got too great power over us, to suffer us to add any devotion to our meals. But thus much must be said, that when we are as pious as Jews and Heathens of all ages have been, we shall think it proper to pray at the beginning and end of our meals.
I have appealed to this pious custom of all ages as a proof of the reasonableness of the doctrine of this and the foregoing chapters; that is, as a proof that religion is to be the rule and measure of all the actions of our ordinary life. For surely, if we are not to eat, but under such rules of devotion, it must appear, that whatever else we do, must, in its proper way, be done with the same regard to the glory of God.
CHAP. V.
Persons that are free from the necessity of labour and employments, are to consider themselves as devoted to God in a higher degree.
1.GREAT part of the world are free from the necessities of labour, and have their time and fortunes in their own disposal.
But as no one is to live in his employment according to his own humour, or to please his own fancy, but is to do all his business in such a manner as to make it a service unto God; so those who have no particular employment, are so far from being left at liberty to live to themselves, to pursue their own humours, and spend their time and fortune as they please, that they are under greater obligations of living wholly unto God in all their actions.
The freedom of their state lays them under a greater necessity of always chusing and doing the best things.
They are those, of whom much will be required, because much is given unto them.