3. The Right Use of Callings
the body; some also serving for building, such as the calling of a Carpenter and Mason. In a word, look how many things are necessary for the good estate of any society — there are so many personal callings which do not belong to the essence and being of a society, but serve only for the good of it. And to one of these two kinds, all lawful personal callings may be referred.
So much for callings in general, and of the kinds of callings.
3. The Right Use of Callings The third point to be considered, which is the most principal, is this:
How every man may in a good and holy manner use his calling. Let this still be remembered, that I am not speaking of extraordinary callings, or of the general calling of a Christian, but only of ordinary and personal callings. The handling of this point is of great weight and moment, for by the right use of every calling, its works are made good works, even though otherwise they are but common and lowly in themselves. In a good work, three things are required. First, it must be done in obedience; secondly, in faith; thirdly, it must be directed to the glory of God. Now, the works of every calling when they are performed in a holy manner, are done in faith and obedience, and serve notably for God's glory, however lowly the calling is. For example, a man is by profession a shepherd; the calling is lowly and common, and its duties are suitable; yet if there is grace to use that calling aright, then its duties are good works before God.
They were done with conscious obedience to God, for His glory, and the good of the master. The lowliness of the calling does not abase the goodness of the work. For God does not look at the excellence of the work, but at the heart of the worker. And the action of a shepherd in keeping sheep, performed as I have said, in his kind, is as good a work before God as the action of a judge in giving sentence; or a Magistrate in ruling, or a Minister in preaching. Thus then, we see there is good reason why we would seek to know how every man is to rightly use his particular calling. In the right use of any calling, four things are to be considered and performed:
1. Good choice of a calling.