Sermons preached upon several occasions by Timothy Armitage.

SERMON VI. (Book 6)

GEN. 5. 24. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

I Have given you part of the Character of one that walks with God. Now I shall shew you what he is in his calling, in his ordinary employ∣ment that God hath set him in, for he walks with God in his calling, as well as in those duties that do more immediately concern God.

1. And first of all, He looks upon his Calling that God hath set him in as an Ordinance of God: I say, he looks upon it as an Ordinance of God, and there∣fore he submits unto it, and endeavours to be faithful in it: He knows it's laid upon all men, in Gen. 3. 19. In the sweat of thy brows thou shalt eat thy bread; there are some bad drones that fortifie themselves against this Scripture, and say, this is only the Curse, In the sweat of thy brows thou shalt eat thy bread: but now the Curse is taken away by Christ for his people, and therefore they ought to work no longer; as the Lilies in the Field, they neither sow nor reap, but yet are cloathed: but now he that walks with God looks upon that Scripture not only as a Curse, but as

a Commandment, In the sweat of thy brows thou shalt eat thy bread; it's the Commandment of God, and the Commandment holds though the Curse be taken away: Man was enjoyned to labour in the state of Innocency, when there was no Curse; God made him, and it's said, he put him into the Garden to dress it: yea the very Angels, Heb. 1. 14. Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth for the good of his Saints? They all work, they have all their employ∣ment, there's not one Angel in Heaven that is idle; God himself is a pure Actor, he is an active Spirit, he is alwaies working, so saies our Saviour, My Fa∣ther worketh hitherto, and I work: though he ceased from the works of Creation, yet God hath been work∣ing ever since, he worketh hitherto every day, and I work: So that he that walks with God looks upon his Calling as an Ordinance of God, and sees the wisdom and goodness of God in it, in appointing such a way for man, there's abundance of wisdom in it; by this means wicked men are kept from being desperately wicked; if there were no work, no employment for them, there would be a studying of wickedness, a plotting and contriving of wickedness, sin would be∣come out of measure sinful, it would break from all banks and bounds, the whole earth would commit vio∣lence; nay, it's good for Gods own people, whilst they are in the world, to have employment, for by this means they are kept from many a snare, and many a temptation they are freed from: an idle man tempts the Devil; the Devil tempts man, and an idle man tempts the Devil unto those woful snares which others (being em∣ployed) are freed from; a man that walks with God looks upon his Calling God hath set him in, as an Or∣dinance of God. But then again,

2. Secondly, He desires to do all the works of his

Calling as unto God: that's another part of his walk∣ing with God in his Calling; he desires to do all the works of his Calling as unto the Lord: he knows that he hath to do with God, yea even then when he is serving of man, that he hath not only to do with God in the things of his worship, not only when he comes before God in Ordinances, and in duties, when he reads and when he prays, and when he hears; most men confess then they have to do with God; but he that walks with God knows he hath to do with God, when he is in his Calling, and therefore he takes that Counsel which is given him by the Apostle, in 1 Cor. 7. 31. And they that use this world as not abusing it, for the fashion of the world passes away: He uses the world as if he used it not, because he knows he hath to do with God in the things of the world. Now he hath to do for God, and doth all for the Lord,

First, As he sees there's a trust committed to him from God, and this is an engagement to faithfulness; his Calling is a Talent, it's one of the Talents that God hath given him, and therefore it's a trust that lies upon him, and therefore this is an engagement to faithfulness; yea, and he looks upon himself as one that is to be ac∣countable to God how he hath carried himself, not only in the waies of Gods worship, but how he hath carried himself in his Calling, with what faithfulness he hath performed the works of it; thus he eyes God in it, and he doth it as unto the Lord, as he makes God the great end of all that he doth; thus he performs the work of his Calling, as in it he makes God the great and last end. It's true, there are other subordinate ends which he looks at, and he may, even when he is indu∣strious in his Calling, as to gain a comfortable sub∣sistance for himself and his family, and that he may give to others as need be, and the like, but the main

end is for the glory of God, that God may serve himself of him, that God may improve him, and that he may be an Instrument of much good in his place and Generati∣on; and truly where men don't propound this, and make God the great end, there must needs be woful miscarriages in all that they take in hand; when men know no other end but to gain the world and heap up riches, and to build their Nests on high, and the like; when this is the only end that they propound in the work of their Calling, it's the way to all injustice, vio∣lence, fraud and deceit, and forgetfulness of God, and a whole flood of iniquity comes in: but he that walks with God, his aim is that God may have glory, and that he may be the great and last end, and therefore though he doth not gain much in the obtaining of those subordinate ends, yet he is faithful in his Calling, he goes on in obedience to Gods command, and to be faith∣ful to his Generation. That's a second particular, he that walks with God in his Calling, doth all as unto the Lord, he is the last end he looks at.

3. But again, Thirdly, He desires to be holy and spiritually minded whilst he is in his outward employ∣ment; that's another part of his walking with God; he desires to be holy in the midst of the world, and therefore it is that he takes that Counsel that the Apo∣stle gives in 1 Cor. 7. 31. To use the world as not abusing it, because the time is short, and the fashion of the world passeth away; he bewails nothing more than a carnal heart whilst he is in the world, it's death to him, it's worse than death: To be spiritually minded is life and peace, but to be carnally minded is death; therefore he looks upon that Scripture with joy, that doth prophesie of holiness, abundance of holiness that shall be given out in that day, in Zach. 14. 20. In that day there shall be holiness unto the Lord upon the Bells

of Horses: he looks upon that Scripture, and his heart doth close with it as a gracious promise; he prays for the accomplishment of it, his heart leaps within him to think that there is a time coming when there shall be holiness to the Lord in the conversations of all his people in their employments: that though their hands be put to the things of the world, yet their hearts shall be up, their hearts shall be breathing after God, the heart shall be conversing with Christ; he knows that his Calling was made for him, and not he for his Calling, it was made to be subservient to his best good, to be a servant to him, not to be his Master, and therefore still he desires to keep his heart free for God; he knows that if he make a God of the world, the world will make a slave of him, and therefore he desires to walk as one that Christ hath made free, and still his heart is breathing and thirsting after God, whilst he is in the midst of worldly Employments. That's a Third.

4. Again, Fourthly, He that walks with God in his Calling, is careful to sanctifie all by the Word and Prayer, so saies the Apostle in 1 Tim. 4. 5. All things are sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer: he knows that there's a Curse upon the whole Creation, sin hath brought a curse upon every creature, there's a curse upon every way of man, there's a curse and a snare in every Calling, in every Employment that man sets his hand unto, and therefore it is his desire that all may be sanctified unto him; he knows that the creature is not comfortable, no condition comfortable, unless God be kept close to the creature, and therefore he looks up continually to God for his blessing, that all may be sanctified to him; he knows that the earth can bring forth nothing but Bryars and Thorns, it's the curse of the world, and so it's the curse of every con∣dition,

that though he plough and sow, and though he labour with never so much industry, his Calling brings forth nothing but Bryars and Thorns, he meets with nothing but vanity and vexation, crosses and molesta∣tions, and that which is worst of all, he is not able to bear them, therefore he desires that all may be sancti∣fied unto him by Word and Prayer; he knows that it's not the industry of man that makes rich, it's not the blessing of the hand unless the Word of God goes along with it: in all his waies to take God along, that so he may have the blessing of the Lord upon the works and labours of his hand. That's a fourth. Again,

5. Fifthly, He is careful that the world and his out∣ward employments don't justle out the things of God: This is another part of his walking with God in his Calling; he knows the things of God are of greatest concernment: his Calling and the things of this world are but for a time, for this moment, whilst he is tra∣velling over the bridge to Eternity, and therefore he knows he shall wrong his own soul, if the cares of the world, and the things of the world, and over-eager pursuit after the world, should hinder him in his pur∣suit after God and Christ: He looks upon that as good counsel which Christ gives in Matth. 5. saies he there, Seek the Kingdom of God and the righteousness there∣of in the first place, and all things shall be added: Let the things of God have the preheminence, he gives them the precedency in his heart and affections, in his practice and pursuit, still the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of it is sought in the first place: there∣fore he desires to set up God above the world, and saies, Lord, sit thou here, sit thou here in the highest place, sit thou in my heart, in the excellency of my spirit, let the things of God have the precedency; and as for the world, Thou world sit thou at my foot-stool;

he saies to the world as Abraham said to his Servants, in Gen. 22. 5. when he went to sacrifice his son Isaac, he saies to the young men, Stand you here, and I and the Lad will go up to the Mount and worship: and thus saies the heart to the world, World stand thou here, Calling, Employment, stand thou here till I go up yonder and worship, till I go and converse with God, and behold the face of Christ, stay thou here in the Valley till I go up to the Mount and worship: for he gives the things of God and Christ the precedency, because he knows they abide for ever, the Word of the Lord that abides for ever, and so the love of God and Christ abide for ever, and communion with God and Christ endures for ever, the Image of Christ upon his soul endures for ever, he therefore gives these the precedency in his affections, and in his pursuit; therefore it is, that he is not willing to grasp too much of the world, he is fearful to grasp too much of the world, to have more of the world than he knows how to manage with the performance of his duty to God, he is fearful, I say, that the world should justle out his betters, and therefore will not grasp too much of the world, and is careful so to order the things of the world, as that he may gain time to seek after the great things of God and Christ. That's a Fifth particular. Again,

6. Sixthly, He that walks with God in his Calling lives by Faith: he lives by faith whilst he works in his Calling; he doth not only live by faith for the things of heaven, he doth not only exercise faith, for the bles∣sings of the world to come, but he lives by faith in his Calling, and therefore he goes on chearfully, he knows his person and his works are accepted, whatsover his work is though never so mean it's accepted, and all his labours, and faithfulness in his Calling are accepted:

he exercises his faith for the covering of his infirmities, he knows that he is subject to dishonour God continual∣ly, there's much weakness doth escape from him whilst he is in the world, and therefore he exercises his faith for the covering of those infirmities; he lives by faith for the protection of God in his Calling, thus he lives by faith: he knows there's a promise, and he lives upon it, He shall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy waies, that thou dash not thy foot against a stone: In all thy waies, in every good and lawful way in thy Calling there is a promise of protection, and he lives by faith upon this promise: And there is a promise of blessing also, Blessed art thou coming in, and blessed art thou going out, and he exercises faith in that promise also. That's another part of his walking with God. But again,

7. Seventhly, He is careful to avoid those stumbling blocks and snares that might endanger him in his walking with God; that's another part of his walk∣ing with God: It's commendable for men to be indu∣strious in their Calling, but how many stumbling-blocks on the right-hand and on the left, that men dash against, and so lose all their industry and diligence by dashing against those stumbling blocks! One stumbles at self-end, self-seeking, he propounds himself only, and his own good, and therefore he loses all; others meet with other snares and fall into them, deceit, co∣zenage and falshood; some are over-eager in their pursuit after the world; and others stumble at the stone of Slothfulness and Idleness; it's hard to walk in a mid∣dle way; but he that walks with God knows that there's a snare in every condition, and therefore he is watchful against those snares: Every Calling, every Employment hath some special snares and stumbling∣blocks; men that are employed about high things,

great matters, they meet with one kind of snare, men in low conditions meet with another kind of snare, every high condition, and every low condition hath its snares, and therefore he is careful to observe what estate, and what the calling and condition in that estate that he is in doth most expose him unto, and he is careful in watching against those snares therein.

8. Eighthly, Again, In the last place, He abides with God in his Calling; that's another part of those that walk with God, he abides with God in his Cal∣ling: the Apostle gives that counsel in 1 Cor. 7. about the 15, or 16 Verses, That every one should abide in the Calling that God hath set them in: and this coun∣sel he labours to walk up unto, he is content in the place God hath set him, or submits unto it with con∣tentation, and therefore he abides in the way that God hath set him in. The Apostle doth not mean, that it is not lawful for a man to change his Calling, for certain∣ly that may be done upon occasion; the Merchant may turn Husbandman, or the Husbandman may turn Mer∣chant, if he sees occasion for it: but God would have his people to abide in their Callings, not rashly to change them, but to see God in them, and submit there∣unto with content. Thus you see what that man is that walks with God; if you follow him in his ordinary works and employments, you shall find him such in the waies of his Calling, and therefore oh that you would look up to the Lord to make this truth practical to you. Truly these are high lessons, but they are such as every gracious heart is breathing after, and following hard unto, and bewails wherein it comes short; I say, this is or should be found in every gracious heart, therefore look unto God that he may make you such whilst you walk in your Callings. Oh it were a blessed time Bre∣thren if all your hearts were brought up to this, thus

to walk with God (as you have heard) in your Cal∣lings, we should soon see the new heavens that is spoken of, God hath promised to create new heavens and new earth, if mens hearts were once set to walk thus with God in his waies, and in their employments, we should soon see new earth, men must be new, new hearts, new conversations, first new men and then a new world, look up to the Lord to make you thus faithful in your Callings; it's the main thing that God looks after, faith∣fulness, walking with him whilst we are performing the works of our Calling; it's not so much the Calling that God regards, but your faithfulness in it let the Calling be what it will: if a man have a Calling never so honourable, yet if he be not faithful in it, he is no way pleasing to God; and on the other side, if a man have a Calling never so mean, and never so low, yet if he be faithful in it, it's well pleasing to God: oh it's that which will stick by you, yea, it's that which will follow you when you leave the world: your Callings can't follow you, they must leave you, they must be left behind below, but thy faithfulness, that faithfulness that hath been exer∣cised in thy employment, and in thy work, that will never leave thy soul, that will follow it even unto heaven: and now you that fear the Lord, though others be un∣faithful, yet you are engaged to faithfulness, you are ingaged to walk with God in the works of your Cal∣ling, for you have the promise of protection, you have the promise of blessing, this is ingagement to you, you have a promise that the Lord will be with you, that his Angels shall be with you, that they shall keep you con∣tinually when you are in your way, and in the works of your Calling, and therefore this is an engagement unto you, and you have the promise of blessing: the Lord if he bless you in your way, what an engagement is this unto you to be faithful! he will not only be with

you when you are in those duties that do more nearly concern his worship, but he hath promised to be with you by his protection, and by his blessing even whilst you are in the works of your Calling, and therefore walk up to God there in your Calling; it's a Talent left to you by God, and it doth engage an ingenious man to be faithful, therein you are betrusted, and herein an instrument to do good to souls and bodies, and there∣fore you are engaged herein as it is your duty; there∣fore be faithful in all; Oh what encouragement is here, for Christians to consider this, whatsoever their Cal∣ling is, though never so mean, they are accepted in it, the Lord accepts it, while they study faithfulness to carry it faithfully in a mans Calling, in the meanest work that ever they took in hand they are accepted, as if their work were the most honourable work in the world, and therefore if you have acceptance, not only when you come before God in his worship, but when you are in your own waies, in your Callings and Employments your person and works are accepted, it's a great en∣gagement unto you to be found faithful in the works of your Calling. And so much for this time.