OF INDUSTRY IN OUR Particular Calling, AS GENTLEMEN.

I Have largely treated upon the duty recommended in this pre∣cept, and urged the observance of it in general, at a distance; I now intend more particularly and closely to apply it, in reference to those persons, who seem more espe∣cially obliged to it, and whose ob∣serving it may prove of greatest Page  128 consequence to publick good; the which application may also be most sutable and profitable to this audi∣ence; those persons are of two sorts; the one Gentlemen, the other Scholars.

I. The First place, as civility demandeth, we assign to Gentlemen; or persons of eminent rank in the World, well allied, graced with ho∣nour, and furnished with wealth; the which sort of persons I conceive in a high degree obliged to exercise industry in business.

This at first hearing may seem a little paradoxical and strange; for who have less business than Gentle∣men, who do need less industry, than they? He that hath a fair estate, and can live on his means, what hath he to doe, what labour or trouble can be exacted of him; what hath he to think on, or trouble his head with, but how to invent recreati∣ons and pastimes to divert himself, and spend his wast leisure pleasant∣ly? Page  129 why should not he be allowed to enjoy himself, and the benefits, which nature or fortune have freely dispenced to him, as he thinketh best, without offence? why may he not say with the rich man in the Gospel,*Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry? Is it not often said by the Wiseman,* that there is nothing better under the sun, than that a man should make his soul to en∣joy good in a chearfull and comfor∣table fruition of his estate? Accor∣ding to the passable notion and de∣finition, What is a Gentleman but his pleasure?

If this be true, if a Gentleman be nothing else but this; then truly he is a sad piece, the most inconsidera∣ble, the most despicable, the most pitifull and wretched Creature in the World: If it is his privilege to doe nothing, it is his privilege to be most unhappy; and to be so will be his fate, if he live according to it; for he that is of no worth or Page  130 use, who produceth no beneficial fruit, who performeth no service to God, or to the World, what ti∣tle can he have to happiness, what capacity thereof? what reward can he claim, what comfort can he feel? to what temptations is he ex∣posed, what guilts will he in∣cur?

But in truth it is far otherwise; to suppose that a Gentleman is loose from business is a great mistake; for indeed no man hath more to doe, no man lieth under greater en∣gagements to industry than he.

He is deeply obliged to be con∣tinually busie in more ways than other men who have but one sim∣ple calling or occupation allotted to them; and that upon a triple ac∣compt; in respect to God, to the World, and to himself.

1. He is first obliged to conti∣nual employment in respect to God.

He out of a gratefull regard to divine bounty for the eminency of Page  131 his station, adorned with dignity and repute, for the plentifull ac∣commodations and comforts of his life, for his exemption from those pinching wants, those meaner cares, those sordid entertainments, and those toilsome drudgeries, to which other men are subject, is bound to be more diligent in God's service, employing all the advantages of his state to the glory of his munificent benefactour, to whose good provi∣dence alone he doth owe them; for who maketh him to differ from ano∣ther?* and what hath he that he did not receive from God's free bounty?

In proportion to the bulk of his fortune his heart should be enlarged with a thankfull sense of God's goodness to him; his mouth should ever be filled with acknowledgment and praise, he should always be ready to express his gratefull resent∣ment of so great and peculiar obli∣gations.

He should dedicate larger portions of that free leisure, which God hath Page  132 granted to him, in waiting upon God, and constant performances of devotion.

He in frequently reflecting on the particular ample favours of God to him should imitate the holy Psalmist, that illustrious pattern of great and fortunate men; saying after him, with his spirit, and disposition of soul;*Thou hast brought me to great honour, and comforted me on every side, therefore will I praise thee and thy faithfulness, O God.

Lord,* by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong:* Thou hast set my feet in a large room:* Thou preparest a table before me;*—thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over;—to the end that my glory may sing praise unto thee, and not be silent: The Lord is the por∣tion of mine inheritance, and of my cup; thou maintainest my lot; The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places,* yea I have a goodly heritage; therefore I will bless the Lord.

Page  133 In conceiving such meditations his head and his heart should con∣stantly be employed; as also in contriving ways of declaring and discharging real gratitude; asking himself,*What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits? What shall I render to him, not onely as a man for all the gifts of nature, as a Chri∣stian for all the blessings of grace, but as a Gentleman also, for the ma∣ny advantages of this my conditi∣on, beyond so many of my bre∣thren, by special providence indul∣ged to me?

He hath all the common duties of piety, of charity, of sobriety to discharge with fidelity; for being a Gentleman doth not exempt him from being a Christian, but rather more strictly doth engage him to be such in a higher degree than o∣thers; It is an obligation peculiarly incumbent on him, in return for God's peculiar favours, to pay God all due obedience, and to exercise him∣self in all good works; disobedience Page  134 being a more heinous crime in him than in others, who have not such encouragements to serve God.

His obedience may be inculcated by those arguments which Joshua and Samuel did use in pressing it on the Israelites;* Onely (said Samuel) fear the Lord and serve him in truth, for consider how great things God hath done for you; and, I have given you (saith God by Joshua) a land for which ye did not labour;* and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; Of the vineyards and olive∣yards which ye planted not, do ye eat; Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth.

His disobedience may be aggrava∣ted,*as Nehemiah did that of the Is∣raelites, They took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards and olive-yards, and fruit-trees in a∣bundance; so they did eat and were filled, and became fat; and delighted themselves in thy great goodness; ne∣vertheless Page  135 they were disobedient and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs—they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness, which thou ga∣vest them; neither turned they from their wicked works.

A Gentleman hath more talents committed to him, and consequent∣ly more employment required of him; If a rustick Labourer, or a mechanick Artisan hath one talent, a Gentleman hath ten; He hath innate vigour of spirit, and height of cou∣rage fortified by use, he hath ac∣complishment and refinement of parts by liberal education, he hath the succours of parentage, alliance and friendship;* he hath wealth, he hath honour,* he hath power and authority, he hath command of time and leisure;* he hath so many preti∣ous and usefull talents entrusted to him,* not to be wrapped up in a nap∣kin,* or hidden under ground;* nor to be squandred away in private satis∣factions; but for negotiation, to be Page  136 put out to use, to be improved in the most advantageous way to God's service: Every talent doth require a particular care and pains to man∣age it well.

He particularly is God's Steward, entrusted with God's substance, for the sustenance and supply of God's family; to relieve his fellow-ser∣vants in their need, upon seasonable occasions, by hospitality, mercy and charitable beneficence; according to that intimation of our Lord,* Who is that faithfull and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler of his houshold, to give them their por∣tion and meat in due season? and ac∣cording to those Apostolical pre∣cepts,* As every one hath received a gift (or special favour,)* even so minister the same to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; and, Charge the rich in this world,*—that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to dis∣tribute, willing to communicate.

Page  137 And he that is obliged to purvey for so many, and so to abound in good works, how can he want busi∣ness? how can he pretend to a Writ of ease?

Surely that Gentleman is very blind, and very barren of invention, who is to seek for work fit for him, or cannot easily discern many em∣ployments belonging to him, of great concern and consequence.

It is easie to prompt and shew him many businesses indispensably belonging to him, as such.

It is his business to minister re∣lief to his poor neighbours in their wants and distresses by his wealth. It is his business to direct and advise the ignorant, to comfort the afflic∣ted, to reclaim the wicked, and en∣courage the good by his wisedom. It is his business to protect the weak, to rescue the oppressed, to ease those who grone under heavy burthens by his power; to be such a Gentleman and so employed as Job was;* who did not eat his morsel a∣lone Page  138 so that the fatherless did not eat thereof;* who did not withhold the poor from their desire, or cause the eyes of the widow to fail;* who did not see any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;* who delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

It is his business to be hospitable;* kind and helpfull to strangers;* fol∣lowing those noble Gentlemen,*A∣braham and Lot,* who were so ready to invite and entertain strangers with bountifull courtesie.

It is his business to maintain peace, and appease dissentions among his neighbours, interposing his counsel and authority in order thereto; whereto he hath that brave Gentle∣man Moses recommended for his pattern.*

It is his business to promote the welfare and prosperity of his Coun∣trey with his best endeavours,* and by all his interest; in which prac∣tice the sacred History doth pro∣pound Page  139 divers gallant Gentlemen (Joseph,*Moses, Samuel, Nehemiah, Daniel, Mordecay, and all such re∣nowned Patriots) to guide him.

It is his business to govern his fa∣mily well;* to educate his children in piety and vertue;* to keep his ser∣vants in good order.

It is his business to look to his e∣state, and to keep it from wasting; that he may sustain the repute of his person and quality with decen∣cy; that he may be furnished with ability to doe good, may provide well for his family, may be hospita∣ble, may have wherewith to help his brethren; for if, according to St. Paul's injunction, a man should work with his own hands,*that he may have somewhat to impart to him that needeth;* then must he that hath an estate, be carefull to preserve it, for the same good purpose.

It is his business to cultivate his mind with knowledge, with gene∣rous dispositions, with all worthy accomplishments befitting his condi∣tion, Page  140 and qualifying him for honou∣rable action; so that he may excell, and bear himself above the vulgar le∣vel no less in real inward worth, than in exteriour garb; that he be not a Gentleman merely in name or shew.

It is his business (and that no slight and easie business) to eschew the vices,* to check the passions, to withstand the temptations, to which his condition is liable; taking heed, that his wealth, honour and power do not betray him unto pride, inso∣lence, or contempt of his poorer brethren; unto injustice, or oppres∣sion; unto luxury, and riotous ex∣cess; unto sloth, stupidity, forget∣fulness of God, and irreligious pro∣faneness.

It is a business especially incum∣bent on him to be carefull of his ways, that they may have good in∣fluence on others, who are apt to look upon him as their guide and pattern.

He should labour and study to be a leader unto vertue, and a notable Page  141 promoter thereof; directing and ex∣citing men thereto by his exempla∣ry conversation; encouraging them by his countenance and authority; rewarding the goodness of meaner people by his bounty and favour: He should be such a Gentleman as Noah, who preached righteousness by his words and works before a pro∣fane World.

Such particular affairs hath every person of quality, credit, wealth and interest, allotted to him by God, and laid on him as duties; the which to discharge faithfully will enough employ a man, and doth re∣quire industry, much care, much pains, excluding sloth and negli∣gence: so that it is impossible for a sluggard to be a worthy Gentleman, vertuously disposed, a charitable neighbour, a good patriot, a good husband of his estate; any thing of that, to which God, by setting him in such a station, doth call him.

Thus is a Gentleman obliged to industry in respect of God, who just∣ly Page  142 doth exact those labours of piety, charity, and all vertue from him. Farther,

2. He hath also obligations to mankind, demanding industry from him, upon accompts of common humanity, equity and ingenuity. For,

How can he fairly subsist upon the common industry of mankind without bearing a share thereof? how can he well satisfie himself to dwell statelily, to feed daintily, to be finely clad, to maintain a pom∣pous retinue merely upon the sweat and toil of others, without himself rendring a compensation, or making some competent returns of care and pain, redounding to the good of his neighbour?

How can he justly claim, or rea∣sonably expect from the World the respect agreeable to his rank, if he doth not by worthy performances conduce to the benefit of it? can men be obliged to regard those, from whom they receive no good?

Page  143 If no Gentleman be tyed to serve the publick, or to yield help in su∣staining the common burthens, and supplying the needs of mankind, then is the whole order merely a burthen and an offence to the World; a race of drones, a pack of ciphers in the commonwealth, standing for nothing, deserving no consideration or regard: And if any are bound, then all are; for why should the whole burthen lie on some, while o∣thers are exempted?

It is indeed supposed, that all are bound thereto, seeing that all have recompences publickly allowed to them upon such consideration; di∣vers respects and privileges peculiar to the order, grounded upon this supposition, that they deserve such advantages by conferring notable benefit to the publick; the which indeed it were an arrogance to seek, and an iniquity to accept for doing nothing.

It is an unsufferable pride for any man to pretend or conceit himself Page  144 to differ so much from his brethren, that he may be allowed to live in ease and sloth, while the rest of man∣kind are subject to continual toil and trouble. Moreover,

3. A Gentleman is bound to be industrious for his own sake; it is a duty which he oweth to himself, to his honour, to his interest, to his wel∣fare. He cannot without industry continue like himself, or maintain the honour and repute becoming his quality and state; or secure himself from contempt and disgrace; for to be honourable and slothfull are things inconsistent; seeing honour doth not grow, nor can subsist with∣out undertaking worthy designs, constantly pursuing them, and hap∣pily atchieving them; it is the fruit and reward of such actions, which are not performed with ease.

External respect, and semblance of honour, for the sake of publick order, may be due to an exteriour rank, or title; but to pay this is not to honour the person, but his title, Page  145 because it is supposed that men of real worth and use do bear it; or lest by refusing it to one, the whole order may seem disrespected; but yet true honour or mental e∣steem is not due upon such ac∣compts; nor is it possible to render it unto any person, who doth not by worthy qualities, and good deeds appear to merit it.

Nor can a Gentleman without in∣dustry uphold his real interests a∣gainst the attempts of envy, of trea∣chery, of flattery, of sycophantry, of avarice, to which his condition is obnoxious; to preserve his wealth and estate, which are the supports of his quality, he must endure care and pains; otherwise he will by greedy harpyes and crafty lurchers be rifled or cozened of his substance; it will of it self go to wreck, and be imbezill'd by negligence.

He cannot without industry guard his personal welfare from manifold inconveniences, molestations and mischiefs; Idleness it self will be Page  146 very troublesome and irksome to him. His time will lie upon his hands, as a pestring encumbrance. His mind will be infested with vari∣ous distractions and distempers; vain and sad thoughts, foul lusts, and unquiet passions will spring up therein, as weeds in a neglected soil. His body will languish, and become destitute of health, of vigour, of activity, for want of due exercise. All the mischiefs which naturally do spring from sloth and stupidity will seise upon him.

4. Thus upon various accompts a Gentleman is engaged to business, and concerned to exercise industry therein; we may add, that indeed the very nature of gentility, or the true notion of a Gentleman doth imply so much.

For what, I pray, is a Gentle∣man, what properties hath he, what qualities are characteristical or pe∣culiar to him, whereby he is distin∣guished from others, and raised a∣bove the vulgar? are they not espe∣cially Page  147 two, Courage and Courtesie? which he that wanteth is not other∣wise than equivocally a Gentleman, as an Image or a Carkase is a Man; without which gentility in a conspi∣cuous degree is no more than a vain shew or an empty name: And these plainly do involve industry, do ex∣clude slothfulness; for Courage doth prompt boldly to undertake, and re∣solutely to dispatch great enterprises, and employments of difficulty; It is not seen in a flaunting garb, or strut∣ting deportment; not in hectorly, ruffian-like swaggering or huffing; not in high looks, or big words; but in stout and gallant deeds, em∣ploying vigour of mind and heart to atcheive them; how can a man otherwise approve himself for cou∣rageous, than by signalizing himself in such a way?

And for Courtesie, how otherwise can it be well displayed, than in sedulous activity for the good of men? It surely doth not consist in modish forms of address or comple∣mental Page  148 expressions, or hollow pro∣fessions (commonly void of mean∣ing, or of sincerity;) but in real performances of beneficence, when occasion doth invite, and in wait∣ing for opportunities to doe good; the which practice is accompanied with some care and pain, adding a price to it; for an easie courtesie is therefore small because easie, and may be deemed to proceed rather from ordinary humanity, than from gentile disposition; so that in fine he alone doth appear truely a Gen∣tleman, who hath the heart to un∣dergo hard tasks for publick good, and willingly taketh pains to oblige his neighbours and friends.

5. The work indeed of Gentle∣men is not so gross, but it may be as smart and painfull as any other. For all hard work is not manual; there are other instruments of acti∣on beside the plow, the spade, the hammer, the shuttle; nor doth e∣very work produce sweat, and visi∣ble tiring of body; the head may Page  149 work hard in contrivance of good designs, the tongue may be very active in dispensing advice, persua∣sion, comfort, and edification in ver∣tue; A man may bestir himself in going about to doe good; these are works employing the cleanly indu∣stry of a Gentleman.

6. In such works it was, that the truest and greatest pattern of gen∣tility that ever was did employ himself: who was that? Even our Lord himself; for he had no parti∣cular trade, or profession; no man can be more loose from any en∣gagement to the World than he was; no man had less need of bu∣siness, or pains-taking than he; for he had a vast estate, being heir of all things, all the World being at his disposal, yea infinitely more, it be∣ing in his power with a word to create whatever he would to serve his need, or satisfie his pleasure; Omnipotency being his treasure and supply; He had a retinue of Angels to wait on him, and minister to Page  150 him; whatever sufficiency any man can fansie to himself to dispense with his taking pains, that had he in a far higher degree; Yet did he find work for himself, and continu∣ally was employed in performing service to God, and imparting be∣nefits to men;* nor was ever indu∣stry exercised upon Earth compara∣ble to his.

Gentlemen therefore would doe well to make him the pattern of their life, to whose industry they must be beholden for their salva∣tion: in order whereto we recom∣mend them to his grace.