The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

Reader, Let me tell thee, if Religion be thine occupation, thy business, God will hear from thee in the morning, one of the first things after thou art up will be to fall down and worship him. Thy mind will be most free in the morning, and thine affections most lively (as those strong waters are fullest of spirits which are first drawn) and surely thou canst not think but that God who is the best and chiefest good, hath most right to them, and is most worthy of them.

As a godly man gives religion the precedency of the day, so he gives it the precedency in the day; The Jews (some say) divide their day into prayer, labour and repast, and they will not omit prayer, either for their meat or labour. Grace (as well as nature) teacheth a godly man not to neglect either his Family or body, but it teacheth him also to prefer his soul, and his God before them both. Seneca though an Heathen, could say, I am greater, and born to greater things then to be a drudge to, and the slave of my body. A Christians Character, is that he is not carnal, or for his body, but spiritual, or for his soul, Rom. 8. It was a great praise which Ambrose speaks of Valentinian, Never man was a better servant to his Master, then Valentinians body was to his soul.

This is the godly mans duty, to make Heaven his Throne, and the Earth his foot-stool. Its the exposition which one gives upon those words, Subdue the Earth, Gen. 1.28. that is thy body, and all earthly things to thy soul. Our earthly callings must ⟨p. 26⟩give way to our Heavenly, we must say to them as Christ to his Disciples. Tarry you here while I go and pray yonder, and truly godliness must be first in our Prayers, Hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, before, give us this day our daily bread; and first in all our practices seek first the Kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and all other things shall be added to you.