der God's eye: So put them over, and their well-fare, and profperity into God's hands, to preserve them. We know that Job prof pered in his outward eftate, fo long as God kept up the hedge about him, and all that he had, Job. 1. 10. So it is with our Souls, They, and the gracious principles that are in them, are preserved in, and by his hand, Fude v. 1. Sanctified by God the Father, and preferved in Chrift Jefus. 2 Chron. 32.26, Hezekiah bumbled himself for the pride of his heart. When David's Soul was in a profpering frame; fee how he prays, 1 Chro. I 29.18,0 Lord God-keep this for ever in the imaginations of the thoughts of thy people i. e. That thofe gracious impreffions might not wear off. It is worth our obferving, that the Lord Jefus knew what extraordinary gifts and graces the Apoftles were to receive'; yet all this would not do, if God fhould let them go out of his hand, Joh. 17.6.

6, And lastly: Because there will be remifness in obferving this, and what other Directions ye may have from the word, whereby the well-fare, of the Soul may be endangered, as by Communing with our own hearts, we fhall find, be fure, that ever now and then, as the matter requires, we fet time apart for more ferious examination, humiliation, and renewing the exercife

of repentance, faith, &c. Such times are like fcouring times, which Veffels ftand fometimes in need of, though washed every day. This is the way, if there be any defect, to fet all things right again, Rev. 2. 5, Remember whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works.

Thus I have fhewed you, what the work is, that profpering Souls have to do, if they defire (and they ought to defire it with all their might, and all their strength) that they may profper ftill. It is a work that never must be at an end, while the Soul is in the Body. I fay no more to it,but conclude with that I Cor. 10. 12, Let him that standeth, take beed left he fall. If any think that these Directions are too many, I fuppofe that upon farther confideration, those that do think fo, may fee reason to think otherwise : For fo far as I can apprehend, not one of them can be spared, they one help another. Those that understand nothing of a Watch, may, poffibly, wonder, what need there fhould be of fo many Wheels, fo near one another, and that they will but hinder one another; but thofe that have understanding in things of this nature, do know, that one Wheel helps forward another. It is fo here.

This is all I have to speak upon this branch of the Ufe. I now proceed to a few words

to

to each of those two Cafes, mentioned the last day.

1. How a Man may manage the business of his calling, and all his worldly affairs, fo as to promote his profperity in the World, and not prejudice, but thereby farther his Soul-prosperity?

Anf. 1. It is, without queftion, not only lawful, but every Man's duty, to be diligent in his calling, and to manage it with honesty, and integrity to his best advantage, that he may profper in the World; in refe rence to those ends, for which Callings were ordained. That he may eat the labour of his hands, Pfal. 128. 1. and not eat his fingers ends, as it is faid of idle perfons. That with quietnefs he work, and cat his own bread, 2 Thef. 3. 12. And be helpful to others, Eph.4.28.Therefore,he ought to be diligent to know the ftate of his flock, and to look well to his herds, Prov. 27. 23, 24. Not to leave all to the care of his fervants. Under this one particular, a provident care over Mens eftates in every other Calling, is likewife injoined, that fo nothing be loft, Joh.

6. 12.

2. But though this be true, yet every one that defires, that above all things, his Soul may profper, ought not to make Religion a complement, as too many do; but his chief bufinefs. The Lord Jefus owed, and payed

refpect

refpect, and fubjection to his parents, Luk. 2. 57. Yet he declared, that he must attend his heavenly Father's business, ver. 49. Thus David, Pfal. 119. 38,-thy fervant, who is devoted to thy fear. As a Scholar who devotes himself to his study, makes learning his business: So we ought to mind this one thing as most neceffary, Luke 10. 42. It's true, it may be with a Chriftian that ferioufly minds the profperity of his Soul, as it is with Mariners at Sea, they are bound for such a Coast, but whilft they are failing, they may meet with a cross Wind, which may drive them the quite contrary way: but as foon as the storm is over,they recover themfelves, and get into the right way, wherein they Sailed before. So a Chriftian (one that is fo indeed) is bound for Heaven, and the holy word of God is the Compass he fails by. Yet, a contrary wind of temptation blowing, he may be driven back; but he recovers himself again by the exercise of Faith, and Repentance, and fails on conftantly toward his heavenly Port. Thus he that minds, above all profperities, the profperity of his Soul, ought to make Religion his bufinefs; he is devoted unto it: To him to live is Chrift, Phil. 1. 21.

3. Both thefe being true: That every Man hath, or ought to have a Calling to follow, which he ought with prudence, provi

dence,

dence, and diligence to attend, for the sup port of his outward estate, according to the condition, wherein God hath fet him. Eve ry Man hath, or ought to have a Calling to follow, which he ought to manage with all his heart, all his might, and all his ftrength, as that which is for the most defirable profperity, the profperity of his Soul, therefore he ought to manage the former, in fubordination to this; God never intended them otherwife. Still he would have us to abide with God in our Calling, I Cor. 7. 24. That a Man fo drive his Trade for the World, as not to hinder his Trade for Heaven. His home-trade within doors, his Shop, his Ware-house, his Working-house, his Oxen, or his Farm, must not rob his Clofet, nor indispose him, much less take him off from those private duties of Religion, whereby Communion between God, and his Soul, may be preferved, and increased. Nor yet must his forreign Trade hinder him from walking as becomes the Gospel, in all his converfe with others, but that he may, as the matter requires, fhew forth the graces of Chrift, 1 Pet. 2. 9. 1 Thef. 5. 14, 15, Be patient to all men, not rendering evil for evil to any man, but ever follow that which is good. So far as any Man doth thus manage his worldly affairs, for his profperity in the World, he fhall not prejudice, but

thereby