A94156:1064
The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…
The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature and necessity of it is discovered. : As also the Christian directed how he may perform it in [brace] religious duties, natural actions, his particular vocation, his family directions, and his own recreations. / By George Swinnock ...
London: printed for T.P., 1662
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Be sure that wickedness do not woo for thee: Do not send the unclean Spirits either of lust or covetousness, or pride, to make the match. When men do as those Sons of God, 1who saw the Daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them Wives of them, Gen. 6.1. hand over head; it is no wonder that they are married and marred together. Consider, a Wife or a Husband, is the greatest outward comfort or Cross in this World; and let prayer be the messenger thou employest about it: A ⟨p. 526⟩good wife is from the Lord, Prov. 19.14. It is Gods special gift, and therefore do thou go to him for it. Peter Martyr saith, That Adam in that deep sleep in which God formed Eve out of him, was then praying for a meet help: And Isaac went forth to pray, when he had sent forth for a Wife. He had need to have good counsel, who is to take one to be his constant companion. When Joshua entered into a League with the Gibeonites, and never asked counsel of God, how sad were the effects of it! If thou enterest into a League with a man or a maid (for I know not what Sex thou art of) and dost not ask counsel of God, expect a sad consequence of such rashness. Why shouldst thou, as our Proverb is, for a little land, take a fool by the hand; sell the comfort of thy life, for a little perishing wealth, and make thy whole time on earth bitter, out of a love to a little fading Treasure.
Be sure that wickedness do not woo for thee: Do not send the unclean Spirits either of lust or covetousness, or pride, to make the match. When men do as those Sons of God, 1who saw the Daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them Wives of them, Gen. 6.1. hand over head; it is no wonder that they are married and marr'd together. Consider, a Wife or a Husband, is the greatest outward comfort or Cross in this World; and let prayer be the messenger thou imployest about it: A ⟨p. 526⟩