ity_ hinders our spiritual
progress, then we must give it up, and be engaged in something else; but
in few cases only this is needful. Far the greater part of the
occupations in which believers are engaged are not of such a nature as
that they need to give them up in order to maintain a good conscience,
and in order to be able to walk with God, though, perhaps, certain
alterations may need to be made in the manner of conducting their trade,
business, or profession. About these parts of our calling which may need
alteration, we shall receive instruction from the Lord if we indeed
desire it, and wait upon him for it, and expect it from him.

2. Now suppose the believer is in a calling in which he can abide with
God, the next point to be settled is, "_Why do I carry on this business,
or why am I engaged in this trade or profession?_" In most instances, so
far as my experience goes, which I have gathered in my service among the
saints during the last fifteen years and a half [_i. e._ in 1845], I
believe the answer would be, "I am engaged in my earthly calling that I
may earn the means of obtaining the necessaries of life for myself and
family." Here is the chief error from which almost all the rest of the
errors which are entertained by the children of God, relative to their
calling, spring. It is no right and scriptural motive to be engaged in a
trade or business or profession _merely_ in order to earn the means for
the obtaining of the necessaries of life for ourselves and family, _but
we should work because it is the Lord's will concerning us_. This is
plain from the following passages: 1 Thess. iv. 11, 12; 2 Thess. iii.
10-12; Eph. iv. 28. It is quite true that, in general, the Lord provides
the necessaries of life by means of our ordinary calling: but that that
is not THE REASON why we should work, is plain enough from the
consideration that if our possessing the necessaries of life depended
upon our ability of working, we could never have _freedom from anxiety_,
for we should always have to say to ourselves, And what shall I do when
I am too old to work, or when by reason of sickness I am unable to earn
my bread? But if, on the other hand, we are engaged in our earthly
calling because _it is the will of the Lord concerning us that we should
work_, and that thus laboring we may provide for our families, and also
be able to support the weak, the sick, the aged, and the needy, then we
have good and scriptural reason to sa