A94156:1079
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.
Rather use a form out of a Book, then omit the duty. They who cannot dress their meat themselves, must be beholden to their Neighbours to do it for them: Set upon it presently, it is thy honour, thy privilege, and use crutches till thou art able to go alone; only do not content thy self with them (Alas, who ever was proud of stilts!) but labour to gain knowledge in spiritual things, by reading, secret praying and conference, that thou mayest throw them away.
Rather use a form out of a Book, then omit the duty. They who cannot dress their meat themselves, must be beholden to their Neighbours to do it for them: Set upon it presently, it is thy honor, thy priviledge, and use crutches till thou art able to go alone; onely do not content thy self with them (Alas, who ever was proud of stilts!) but labour to gain knowledge in spiritual things, by reading, secret praying and conference, that thou mayest throw them away.
2. The Word of God must be read in thy Family, and thy Household instructed there: As by prayer thy duty is to acquaint God with thy family-wants; so by reading some portion of Scripture daily, thy duty is to acquaint thy family with Gods will. An house without light, is in a dreadful, lamentable ⟨p. 532⟩[…] ⟨p. 335⟩[…] ⟨p. 534⟩condition; Thy household without the Word, sit in darkness, and thereby in the shadow of death. The Commandment is a lamp, and the Law is Light, Prov. 6.23. Alas, how can thy servants or children do their heavenly Masters and Fathers work, when they are wholly ignorant of his will. The weeds of sin grow of themselves, but the ground must be ploughed, and sown, and harrowed, and watered, before good Corn will spring up.