2. The second property is that the works of our callings must be profitable
and slackly perform the duties of their own callings, are nevertheless very ready to talk about and inquire into the state and lives of other men; and it is food and drink to them. Let a good report be given about a man and it is not regarded; but evil reports are taken up at the first rebound — they spread like wildfire. And all this arises from vain curiosity, which is condemned here as the bane of all societies. These busybodies are like those who read books with the intent only to discover its faults. And they are like the spider that creeps over the whole garden only to gather poison. But men that fear God must learn to know their own business, and to allow their talk and meditation to be employed in that way.
Secondly, here is condemned the curiosity of those who intrude on the duties of other men's callings. As I showed before, it is a dangerous sin. This appears by the example of Uzzah,2Sam 6.6 who was slain for touching the Ark, even though his intent was only to keep it from falling — for he had no such calling; and by the example of the men of Bethshemesh, fifty thousand of whom died for looking into that Ark of God,1Sam 6.19 when they had no calling to do so; and by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who felt compelled to challenge the office of Moses.Num 16.1-3
Thirdly, hereby is condemned the study and practice of figure29 for thereby many, on false grounds, go in search of what will befall other men, either in life or death — things that God would not have known before they come to pass. casting and judicial astrologies; In a word, everyone that does not do the duties of his own calling diligently, and with good conscience, is hereby condemned.
2. The second property is that the works of our callings must be PROFITABLE, not only to the doers, but to the Commonwealth. The law of nature teaches this. Under this second property, sundry men are to be blamed.