DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0083
a Devout and Holy Life. 81
I shall now show, that this regularity of devotion, this holiness
of common life, this religious use of everything we have, is a
devotion that is the duty of all orders of Christian people.
Fulvins has had a learned education, and taken his degrees in
the University, he came from thence, that he might be free from
any rules of life. He takes no employment upon him, nor enters
into any business, because he thinks that every employment or
business, calls people to the careful performance and just dis-
charge of its several duties. When he is grave, he will tell you
that he did not enter into holy orders, because he looks upon it
to be a state that requires great holiness of life, and that it does
not suit his temper to be so good. He will tell you, that he
never intends to marry, because he cannot oblige himself to that
regularity of life, and good behaviour, which he takes to be the
duty of those who are at the head of a family. He refused to
be Godfather to his nephew, because he will have no trust of any
kind to answer for.
Fulvius thinks that he is conscientious in this conduct, and is
therefore content with the most idle, impertinent, and careless
life.
He has no Religion, no Devotion, no pretences to Piety. He
lives by no rules, and thinks all is very well, because he is neither
a priest, nor a father, nor a guardian, nor has any employment or
family to look after.
But Fulvius, you are a rational creature, and as such, are as
much obliged to live according to reason and order, as a priest is
obliged to attend at the altar, or a guardian to be faithful to his
trust; if you live contrary to reason, you do not commit a small
crime ; you do not break a small trust; but you break the law
of your nature, you rebel against God who gave you that nature,
and put yourself amongst those, whom the God of reason and
order will punish as apostates and deserters.
Though you have no employment, yet as you are baptized
into the profession of Christ's religion, you are as much obliged
to live according to the holiness of the Christian spirit, and per-
form all the promises made at your baptism, as any man is
obliged to be honest and faithful in bis calling. If you abuse
this great calling, you are not false in a small matter, but you
abuse the precious blood of Christ; you crucify the Son of God
afresh; you neglect the highest instances of divine goodness;
you disgrace the church of God; you blemish the body of Christ;
you abuse the means of Grace, and the promises of Glory ; and
it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the day of judg-
ment, than for you.
It is therefore great folly, for anyone to think himself at liberty
6
I shall now show, that this regularity of devotion, this holiness
of common life, this religious use of everything we have, is a
devotion that is the duty of all orders of Christian people.
Fulvins has had a learned education, and taken his degrees in
the University, he came from thence, that he might be free from
any rules of life. He takes no employment upon him, nor enters
into any business, because he thinks that every employment or
business, calls people to the careful performance and just dis-
charge of its several duties. When he is grave, he will tell you
that he did not enter into holy orders, because he looks upon it
to be a state that requires great holiness of life, and that it does
not suit his temper to be so good. He will tell you, that he
never intends to marry, because he cannot oblige himself to that
regularity of life, and good behaviour, which he takes to be the
duty of those who are at the head of a family. He refused to
be Godfather to his nephew, because he will have no trust of any
kind to answer for.
Fulvius thinks that he is conscientious in this conduct, and is
therefore content with the most idle, impertinent, and careless
life.
He has no Religion, no Devotion, no pretences to Piety. He
lives by no rules, and thinks all is very well, because he is neither
a priest, nor a father, nor a guardian, nor has any employment or
family to look after.
But Fulvius, you are a rational creature, and as such, are as
much obliged to live according to reason and order, as a priest is
obliged to attend at the altar, or a guardian to be faithful to his
trust; if you live contrary to reason, you do not commit a small
crime ; you do not break a small trust; but you break the law
of your nature, you rebel against God who gave you that nature,
and put yourself amongst those, whom the God of reason and
order will punish as apostates and deserters.
Though you have no employment, yet as you are baptized
into the profession of Christ's religion, you are as much obliged
to live according to the holiness of the Christian spirit, and per-
form all the promises made at your baptism, as any man is
obliged to be honest and faithful in bis calling. If you abuse
this great calling, you are not false in a small matter, but you
abuse the precious blood of Christ; you crucify the Son of God
afresh; you neglect the highest instances of divine goodness;
you disgrace the church of God; you blemish the body of Christ;
you abuse the means of Grace, and the promises of Glory ; and
it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the day of judg-
ment, than for you.
It is therefore great folly, for anyone to think himself at liberty
6