A94156:1092
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 serious and diligent about the concernments of God and thy soul, that others may take example by thee. The biggest Stars are brightest and give light to those that are of a lesser magnitude; Thou who art the greatest, shouldst be the most gracious in the family; if the Sun shine not on the mountains, it must needs be set in the valleys. If thy children and servants behold thee careful of thy language, and conscientious in thy carriage, when they see thee humble, fervent, constant and serious in holy duties, they may learn by thee and write after thee; such a patten may tend exceedingly to thy spiritual profit.
Be serious and diligent about the concernments of God and thy soul, that others may take example by thee. The biggest Stars are brightest and give light to those that are of a lesser magnitude; Thou who art the greatest, shouldst be the most gracious in the family; if the Sun shine not on the mountains, it must needs be set in the vallies. If thy children and servants behold thee careful of thy language, and consciencious in thy carriage, when they see thee humble, fervent, constant and serious in holy duties, they may learn by thee and write after thee; such a patten may tend exceedingly to thy spiritual profit.
It is observed of Caesar by Cicero, that he would never say to his Souldiers Ite sed Venite, Go ye, but, Come ye, marching before them himself, and giving them a pattern. Do thou Reader, go before ⟨p. 541⟩thy Family in Sobriety and Sanctity, as their faithful Captain, and they may sooner then thou expectest follow after thee.
Naturalists tell us of the Mulberry tree, that there is nothing in it but what is Medicinal in some sort or other; the fruit, the root, the bark, the leaf, all are useful. Truly, so it ought to be with thee: All thy expressions, all thy actions should be instructions to thy Inferiors. Thy behaviour in private, in public towards God, towards thy Wife, towards thy Children, towards thy Servants, towards thy Neighbours, should all be Lectures to teach others Religion and Righteousness; that you may be able to say to your Children, as Seneca to his Sister, Though I can leave you no great portion, yet I leave you a good pattern.