2. To do a work in Constancy.
2. TO DO A WORK IN CONSTANCY. The Second thing required in doing the works of a man's calling in a good manner, which also serves for a good continuance in the calling, is constancy. And it is nothing else than a perseverance in good duties, which is needed all the more because it is no commendation for us to choose a good and fit calling,
56 For even as the soldier in the field must not change his place in which he is placed by the General, but must abide by it, even to giving his life; so must the Christian continue and abide in his calling without change or alteration. and enter into it, unless we see its duties through to the end.
There is a certain lightness in the nature of man whereby it comes to pass that many like other men's callings better than their own; and hereupon they are moved by every light occasion to alter their calling. But in the text in hand, the Holy Spirit meets with this lightness by commanding every man to continue constant in doing the duties of his particular calling; Let every man abide in that vocation in which he was called. And we must be careful to avoid,
Three impediments to Constancy: A. Ambition, B. Envy, and C.
Impatience.
A. Ambition. This is a vice whereby any man, thinking better of himself than there is cause that he should, becomes malcontent with his particular calling, and seeks for himself a higher place and a better estate. We have an example of this Ambition in our first parents, who by Satan's allurement, became malcontent with that estate in which they were created, and sought to attain to the condition of God Himself.Gen 3.5 And this sin of theirs clings fast to the nature of every man, and by it we are easily carried to a dislike of our condition. Thus Absalom through Ambition was moved to seek his father's kingdom, judging basely of his present estate; for out of natural self-love springs Ambition.
And to better redress this vice in ourselves, every man must enter into consideration of his own estate: we must think to ourselves that in respect to our bodies we are but dust and ashes,Gen 18.27 and to dust we must return again Ecc 3.20 — that in respect to the disposition