Fuitque Hebel paftor gregis, & Kajin fuit agricola. Gen 4 2. Ou remember I told you that the Tree of gehera- Februar, 25. leave a feed Cain and Abelt refemble all verle yet it is compared by the Holy Ghoft, to the Oke or Elme- Divifion, tree, Efay the fixth chapter, which though they caft their leaves, yet there fprings out new the next yeer So albeit man must return to duft from whence he was taken, yet he fhall leave a feed Man fhall behinde him. Secondly, you heard that from this tree, doe fprout behinde him. two branches, that is, a pair of brethren, to whom all mankinde may be reduced, from whom both Sion the City of God, and Babell the City of Satan, take their beginning concerning whom in the va- mankinde, EL riety of their naines: we obferved the variety of their natures, the let, Reproone called Cain, that is, a poffeffion, fers out those people whofe variety in felicity is to get, and which count it the only mifery to lofe names; fo in the things of this life, the other called Abell, that is, vanity, doth fpofitions. fet out unto us,those which reckon all things in this life to be vanity, as the Preacher teacheth us to value them; thereby we confidered, what account we made both of the one and the other In the world Cain is called a great Jewell, and Abell defpifed as a thing of naught. bate, as the natures and di Second and third Divifion; In their Trades. In their Religion. Man confifti Now we are come to a fecond and third divifion : For in this verfe, they are divided by their trades and calling, in the next, by their religion and profeffion in the fervice of God, both which divifions have their ground, the fecond chapter and the feventh verfe: For where man is faid to confift of two parts, body and foul, the one formed of the dust of the earth, the other breathed by God, that is, to fhew that as according to Gods commandement, the first chapter of Genefis and the twenty fixt verse: He hath a care to fill the earth, by bringing forth children: fo he must be as carefull to fill heaven, by a fecond generation, that as he was to till the earth from whence his body was taken, chapter the third: So he muft imploy of Body and his study in Gods fervice, from whence he received his foul, his Soul, to fill care must be not only to leave behinde him a long generation, but both Earth, femen fanitum, Mal. the second chapter, as they must have a vocation, whereby to maintain naturall life: So they must be religious Mans vocation and offer facrifice, that leading a fpirituall life here on earth, they and religion, obtain eternall life in heaven. But as Cain was first born after the a fpirituall flesh,and then Abell: So alwaies flesh goeth before the fpirit, nature before grace, as the Apostle witneffeth, the first of the Corinthians 1.The naturall & the fifteenth chapter,That is not first which is spirituall, but that which life, then the Spirituall, and is naturall, and then that which is spirituall. Therefore God was firft why? may Aaa to and Heaven. maintain life life. Children are to teed the Ifraelites with Manna, and to give them water out of the rock, the fixteenth chapter of Exodus, before they would receive the Law, which after was published upon mount Sinai, the twentieth chapter of Exodus, For as the Apoftle fheweth, there is a debt due to the flesh Rom, the eight chapter, which must be paid before the fpirit can with quietneffe attend upon Gods fervice, which being provided for, the fpirit is the fitter to attend upon Gods worship. Before we come to their feverall vocations, we have first to connot to be trai- fider in generall, that Adam would not have either of his children ned up in idle- trained up in idleneffe, and therefore he fets not only his younger But to labor in fonne, but even his heir to a trade and occupation : knowing that neffe, and why? a vocation. Atruction in whereas God hath ordained, that man fhall live by fome painfull vocation, chapter the third, there is a thing, that both touched him and his, the neceffity whereof is fuch as Fob faith, Man is born to labor, even as a bird to flie, the fifth chapter of Fob and the feventh verfe: And as he imployeth in trade, as well the eldest as the youngest; So Abell the good, no leffe then Cain the wicked fonne, for the godly have no liberty to live without fome honest calling, and therefore the Apostle faith, Let a man abide in that calling wherein he is called, the firft of the Corinthians the leventh chapter and the twenty fourth verfe: If the godly may not live idlely, much more ought wicked children to be fet to fome trade of life, The second point to be obferved is, that there is no fooner mention made of the birth of thefe two brethren, but prefently the Holy Ghost fetteth down their trade, commending unto us from Adams example, that which Salomon after teacheth, the twenty fecond chapter of the Prov. Teach a childe in the beginning of his Sealonable in- Waies, and he will not depart from it when he is old, for without seasonable instruction, children and youth are but vanity, the cleventh chapter of Eccle. and the third verfe: Both these fonfies are not fet to one vocation, to fhew that all men are not fit and meet, for one and the for one and the fame calling; for as there is this diverfity in the fame calling, earth, out of which man is taken, that one part of it is fandy, fome clay, and fome gravell. And as in the heavenly light, there is that diverfity which the Apoftle speaks of, the first of the Corinthians the fifteenth chapter and the fourty first verse, one ftar differing from another in glory: So the like variety appeareth in the difpofitions of men, in fo much as we fee, all men are not meet for one thing. Fourthly, from hence we learn, that albeit the labors and trades Callings muft of men be diverfe yet they must be fuch as both God alloweth, be fuch as God and fuch as are ferviceable to the publique wealth; we may not alloweth, and are ferviceable fay because Cain, a reprobate, was a husbandman, that therefore to the Com- God diflikes husbandry for God affirmeth of Noah that he was a mon-wealth, just and upright man, and yet he was an husbandman, Genefis the ninth chapter; nor that the office of keeping fheep, is therefore law full in Gods fight, because Abell the juft was a fheepheard, for Fuball the fonne of wicked Lamech was the father of them that dwelt youth, and why? All are not fit and why ? and why? in tents, and kept Sheep, Genefis the fourth chapter and the twentieth verfe and yet himfelf a wicked man, the perfon doth not make the calling lawfull, but it must be taken from God himself, and be fuch as God alloweth, touching husbandry Chrift faith, My father is the Husbandman, the fifteenth chapter of Fohn and the first verfe, and you are Gods husbandry, faith the Apoftle, the first of the Corinthians the third chapter and the ninth verfe: Therefore the calling of an husbandman is allowable; for the other calling, God himself is called the shepheard of Ifrael, the eightieth Pfalme and the firit verse and Christ faith of his Church, I have other sheep which I must gather under my government, that there may be but one fhepheard, and one Pheep-fold, the tenth chapter of Fohn and the fixteenth verse: By which titles we may collect, that both their callings are allowed of God, and for the profit, that they be ferviceable, the wife man faith of them, the King is maintained by husbandry, the fifth chapter of Husbandry Ecclefiaftes and the ninth verfe: And for Abells trade, the feventh fheep lawfull, chapter of the Proverbs and the twenty fixth verfe: The fleece of the and why ? Lambs ferve for thy cloathing, and the goat's milk for thy food,So that both are profitable And in regard of the great profit, that God vouchfafeth to mankinde by both, all men doe teftifie their thankfulneffe to God, for fo great a benefit, not only at the bringing of harvest, in the ninth chapter of Efay and the third vefe but at their theepfheering, in the first of Samuel the twenty fift chapter and the fccond verfe: And in the fecond of Samuell the thirteenth chapter and twenty third verse: by the example of Naball and Absalom, from whence we learn, not to let our felves to vain and unprofitable trades, but fuch as are both allowed of God, and ferviceable to men. More particularly, if we ask what ground Adam had for this divifion, we shall finde, that there are two of great importance. : and keeping commiflion the The first, From Gods commiffion to Adam, in the first of Genefis 1. Reason. and the twenty eighth verfe, where he willeth him to till the earth, From Gods and to beare rule over all the beafts and Cattell on the earth. So that God ground of both will have men to doe two things, the one to follow husbandry, the trades. other to keepe fheepe and other cattell: For Gods will is not that the earth fhall be covered with nettles, like the flothfull mans vineyard, in the twenty fourth of the Proverbs, nor that the cattell fhould wander about the mountaines, and be fcattered without ang fhepheard to feeke after them, in the thirty fourth of Ezekiell: But will have the one painfully tilled and dreffed, by the hand of the husbandman; and the other diligently and carefully looked unto, by the fhepheard. This was Adams commiffion, and therefore he trained up his fons accordingly. Again, The earth it self taught Adam thus to difpofe of his Children, 2. Reafon. which, as we know, divideth it felf into arable and pafture ground, the one to bear Corn, the o:her to feed and rear up Cattell whereupon, as we fee, Adam delivereth to Cain the charge of Tilling, that part which is arable, and to be plowed; and Abellis feized of the pafture grounds. The prioritie is given to husbandry, which is a cal Aaa 2 ling The fecond ground. verall vocati minde, or la. and why? ling of more excellency than the other, and therefore is committed to the elder fon. For the earth being tilled and fowed by the hufbandman, bringeth forth bread to ftrengthen mans heart, in the hundred and fourth Pfalm: and the neceffity whereof is such, as albeit it be an unkinde part for Cain to kill Abell, that is, that no ground be left for pasture, yet it is a more unkind part for Abell to kill Cain, that is, that pasture should eat up arable ground. And this ground taken from Gods commiffion, bringeth forth a fecond ground: For if there must be diverse works, as there must be where God appointeth diverse vocations, there are required diverfe gifts, for the performance of thofe works; Cain must have a gift meet for him that fhall till the earth. Aud Abell being a shepheard, Severall gifts must have that abilitie that is fit for that vocation. In regard of required in fe- which variety of works, the Apoftle faith, Every one hath his proper ons, and why? gift af God, one after one manner, another after another, in the first to the Corinthians, the feventh chapter, and the feventh verfe, to teach us that feverall gifts are to be imployed in feverall vocations. In the We I've either fentence uttered by God we have feen, that it is Gods will that eveby care of ry one shall live either by the care of his minde, or by the sweat of bour of body: his body. For as members of our naturall bodies have their severall offices, in the twelfth chapter to the Romans; and the twelfth chap ter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians; So (as all the members doe not labour, for fome doe only take care, as the eye and the ear, other doe labor and sweat, as the hands and feet) in the body Politick there are divers members, and they accordingly have severall gifts from God. For as there is not only labour, but danger; fo God hath qualified fome men with gifts of minde, fit for the preventing and avoiding of the one, and to others he hath given strength of body, to endure and sustain the other. As there are some trades little that require sweat and labour, and very fo there are callings that require great care and providence, and leffe labour; and therefore God diftributeth severall gifts for the performance of them: To fome he giveth more strength of body and great limbes; to others he giveth excellency of wit, to forefee and prevent danger: He giveth not to all men gifts alike but denyeth to one that which one, denyed to he giveth to others; That the eye should not say to the foot. I have no need of thee, in the twelfth chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthi but that all might be ready to fuccour one another. The tilling of the ground requirethgreat paines and labour, and confifteth of great strength of body, but the office of a fhepheard is not a matter of paines, fo much as of forefight and providence: And therefore husbandmen that take great bodily paines; after their feed is fowen, have many holidayes, and a long time of reft; but the office of keeping fheepe and the care belonging to it never ceafeth, but lasteth day and night. Such was the care that Facob had of Labans sheepe, in the thirty first chapter of Genefis, and the fourtieth verfe: Such care did the fhepheards take every night, whome the Angells found watching all night, in the second chapter of Luke: Therefore God Some callings require more the firft than the latter: and why? Gifts given to another why? : and ans, care; . giveth Cain a more strong body; but Abell, as his calling required leffe bodily paines, fo he was more weake of conftitution, and was endu,d with more fharpneffe of wit, than his Brother. fer to trades Before we speak of the fecond calling, becaufe this diverfity requires a choice to be made, Abell must not be made a husbandman, nor Cain a shepheard. That example, of Adams diftribution in this point, should make us fet our children to fuch trades as they Children to be are capable of: David was not accustomed to bear Sauls heavie Ar- they are capamor, but was fitter to use the fling, in the firft of Samuell the feventeenth ble of, and why? chapter and the thirtie ninth verfe: Another confeffeth him felf unfit to be a Prophet,feeing he was alwaies an husbandman: therefore men must followt hofe trades of life, for which they are fit; The want of which difcretion, is the confufion of Church and Common-wealth. There are faith Salomon, that have the price of wifedome Inconvenience in their hands, and have not wisdome in their hearts, in the fixteenth of the contrary chapter of the Proverbs: Such as have preferment in places, where they deserve it nor; contrary-wife it is a great benefit to the Common-wealth, when men fet their children to fuch trades as they are fit for. So Facob leeing that Ifaac had great bones made him an husband- Examples. ty The conclufion is, that which the Apostle St. Paul faith, Such as have diverse gifts, we should imploy them to the glory of Chrift our head, from whom we receive them, in the twelfth chapter of the Romanes and the fixt verfe: And that every one, as he hath received the gift, fo he doe dispose and minifter the fame one to another, as God dipofeth of his manifold graces, in the first of Peter the fourth chapter and the tenth veric. The second calling wherein Abell was fent, hath this ground, Ground of 4the husbandman is occupied in tilling the ground, which is a thing bells calling, keeping sheep. without life. But fheep are living things, and they that undertake to keep them, must have an overfight to keep them in order. And because they are of all cartell moft fubje&t to wander, they must be kept in with bands, in the eleventh chapter of Zachariah : In regard of the great care, that shepheards take of their Rock, the Governors of Common-wealths are termed by the name of thepheards: So the Prophet Feremiah speaking of temporall Magi Aaa 3 ftrates, |