The plain teacher Author:Richard Steele Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE PLAIN TEACHER. CHAP. I. THE NATURE OF A LIFE OF BUSINESS, AND OBLIGATIONS TO IT. THE supreme felicity, and great end of man, is to know, love, an... more »d glorify God his Creator, Redeemer and Benefactor. John xvii. 3. But as we are beings endowed with powers and faculties of body and mind, fitted and designed for actions relative to our present state of being; and are placed by Divine Providence in mutual dependence upon each other, by the perpetual return of wants, which of ourselves we are incapable of relieving or supplying; both reason and religion require, that all, as they are able, should be employed in Mich a manner as may be beneficial to themselves, and the society to which theyrelate; and a very considerable part of the beauty and excellence of the Christian life, consists in due affections and conduct with respect to the persons and things of the present state, and in acting upon principles of wisdom, goodness, justice and integrity to one another. The real and imaginary wants of mankind have created great diversity in their employments. Some are chiefly labouring to support the life, or restore the health of the body. Others to defend men's persons or estates, and secure or promote the private or public peace and prosperity. Some to improve the mind in useful and entertaining knowledge: or, in the more important concerns of religion and virtue, which, though not always the most advantageous, yet are certainly not the least noble emplojanents. While others, in vast variety, are contributing to the convenience and delight of their brethren of mankind. Heaven formed each on other tf depend, As master, or as servant, or as friend j Bids each on oilier for assistance call, Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all; And builds on wants, a...« less