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

Set him about what religious exercise you will, and he is, according to the Apostles words, zealous (or fiery fervent) of good works; like spring water, he hath a living principle, ¹and thence is warm in winter, or like Debris in Cyrene is seething hot: As Augustus said of the young Roman, Quicquid vult, valde vult; Whatsoever he goeth about, that concerns the glory of his Saviour and the good of his soul, he doth it to purpose. As Paul saith of himself, I follow after if that I may apprehend, Phil. 3.10. The word in the original is emphatical [Greek or Hebrew], I prosecute it with all my strength and power, that I may attain if it be possible. The word is either an allusion to persecutors, Matth. 5.10, 11, 12. for its used of them frequently, so Piscator takes it. ⟨p. 30⟩Or to Hunters, ²according to Aretius; take either and the sense is the same, and very full. As persecutors are industrious and incessant in searching up and down for poor Christians and hailing them to prison; and as Huntsmen are up betimes at their sport, follow it all day, and spare for no pains, even sweating and tiring themselves at this their pleasure; so eager and earnest, so indefatigable and industrious was Paul, and so ought every one of us to be (the command is delivered to us, in the same word, Heb. 12.14.) about godliness.

Set him about what religious exercise you will, and he is, according to the Apostles words, zealous (or fiery fervent) of good works; like spring water, he hath a living principle, ¹and thence is warm in winter, or like Debris in Cyrene is seething hot: As Augustus said of the young Roman, Quicquid vult, valde vult; Whatsoever he goeth about, that concerns the glory of his Saviour and the good of his soul, he doth it to purpose. As Paul saith of himself, I follow after if that I may apprehend,