A94156:119
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.
CHAP. III. What Godliness is.
For the first, what Religion is. The derivation of the word, will somewhat help to the explication of the thing, the Latin word Religio from which our English word comes, 1Some derive a Relegendo, because men by serious reading come to be Religious, grace sometimes findeth a passage through the sight into the soul. The eye (as in Austin ⟨p. 13⟩and Junius) hath affected the heart, Zanchy derives it a Religendo, or rather a re-eligendo from choosing again, or a second time, because a Religious person chooseth God for his chiefest good and portion. His first choice was carnal of the flesh and the creature but his second choice is spiritual of God and Christ, and this choice is Religion. Austin and Lactantius (to whom I rather incline) derive it a Religando from binding or knitting, 2because it is the great bond to join and tie God and man together. As the parts of the body are knit to the head, by the nerves and sinews, so man is knit to God by Religion. Sin and irreligion separate God and man asunder, your iniquities have separated between you and your God, Isa. 59.2. Godliness and Religion unite God and man together, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Cor. 6.16: Atheism is a departing or going away from God, Eph. 4.18. Heb. 3.12. Religion is a coming or returning unto God, Heb. 10.22.