A94156:1115
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.
Seventhly, Maintain peace and love in thy family. Contentions will hinder Religion; Strife like fire is wholly opposite to the water of grace. As in times of warring the laws of men are silent in a state, (inter arma silent leges) so in jarring families the Laws of God can be little heard. God was not in the tempestuous rough wind, nor in the fire, but in the still low voice, 1 Kings 19.12. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you, 2 Cor. 13.11. If thy house be in a flame, it is time for thy best friends to be gone. Thy ⟨p. 554⟩House should be a lesser Heaven; in it thy God must be worshipped and glorified, but in heaven there are no storms; tempests ascend no higher then the middle Region. Where God is served with perfect purity, there is perfect peace. As in the Ringing of Bells where every one keepeth its place, and time, and order, they make an harmonious sound, and delight the Daughters of Music; but when they jar and strike against each other, their noise is harsh and distasteful. The holy performances of Families that live in love, are Heavens music; but brawlings in houses (make prayers ungrateful, and) have too much resemblance of the yellings in Hell. When the wind of contention is high, the smoke of thy incense cannot ascend, it will be beaten down again. In stormy weather, one but a little way distant sometimes cannot hear his Neighbour calling; storms of passions will hinder Gods hearing thy petitions.
Seventhly, Maintain peace and love in thy family. Contentions will hinder Religion; Strife like fire is wholly opposite to the water of grace. As in times of warring the laws of men are silent in a state, (inter arma silent leges) so in jarring families the Laws of God can be little heard. God was not in the tempestuous rough wind, nor in the fire, but in the still low voyce, 1 Kings 19.12. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you, 2 Cor. 13.11. If thy house be in a flame, it is time for thy best friends to be gone. Thy ⟨p. 554⟩