A94156:1114
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.
Reader, this particular of overseeing, that all under thy roof mind their proper work, will be some help to godliness, and a great stop to wickedness. 1Iphicrates would never let his soldiers be idle in their Garrisons, but would set them to lop trees, or dig, or carry burdens: saying, That if they had nothing to do, they would mutiny or commit some villainy. The bird that sitteth still, is a fit mark for the murderer of souls, when the flying Bird is safe. As corrupt blood is the cause of all natural, so is idleness of all spiritual diseases. When persons in a family neglect their task, then is their hour of temptation; Idleness is often the cause of Drunkenness. They leave their workhouse who run to the Ale-House, Amos 6.2. Uncleanness is the Daughter of Idleness; Lust will easily creep in upon those that are lazy, as did appear sadly in Sodom, Ezek. 16.49. Otia si tollas, periere Cupidinis arcus; hence fellow-servants ⟨p. 553⟩commit uncleanness together. Idleness is the mother of unrighteousness. They who neglect their tasks turn thieves; they must not starve (they say) and will not work, therefore they must steal, 2 Thes. 3.12. When Servants are idle, many times they rob their Masters; Talebearing also is one of the fruits that groweth upon this tree. When Servants are idle, they run tattling from house to house making difference amongst Neighbours, 1 Tim. 5.13. Pro. 11.23. Carping Momus was never found working. Truly Friend, thou canst not think the wrong thou dost thy family, if thou suffer them like Millstones to consume themselves thus for want of work. 2St. Greenham (as Bishop Hall calleth him) when a Woman tempted much by the Devil came to him for advice, gave her this direction; Never be idle, but be always well employed; for in my own experience I have found it, when the Devil came to tempt me, I told him that I was not at leisure to hearken to his temptations, but was busy in my calling, and thereby resisted his assaults.