A94156:164
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.
Godliness is not his Physic which he only now and then (as at Spring and Fall) makes use of, but his food, which he daily dealeth about; besides his set times for his set meals of Morning and Evening devotion, he hath many a good bait by the by, in the day time. Evening, Morning, and at Noon will I pray, and cry aloud, Psa. 55.17. Oh how love I thy Law, it is my meditation, (not some part but) all the day. Whether the actions he be about be natural or civil, he makes them sacred; whether the Company he be in be good or bad, he will mind his holy calling; whether he be riding or walking, whether he be at home or abroad, whether he be buying or selling, eating or drinking, whatsoever he be doing, or wheresoever he be going, ⟨p. 34⟩still he hath an eye to further godliness, 1because he makes that his business. What the Philosopher said of the soul in relation to the body, The soul is whole in the whole body, and whole in every part of it, is true of godliness, in reference to the life of a Christian, godliness is whole in his whole conversation, and whole in every part of it. As the constitution of mans body is known by his pulse, if it beat not at all he is dead, if it beat and keep a constant stroke, its a sign the body is sound: Godliness is the pulse of the soul, if it beat not at all, the soul is void of spiritual life, if it beat equally and constantly, it speaks the soul to be in an excellent plight.
Godliness is not his Physick which he onely now and then (as at Spring and Fall) makes use of, but his food, which he daily dealeth about; besides his set times for his set meals of Morning and Evening devotion, he hath many a good bait by the by, in the day time. Evening, Morning, and at Noon will I pray, and cry aloud, Psa. 55.17. Oh how love I thy Law, it is my meditation, (not some part but) all the day. Whether the actions he be about be natural or civil, he makes them sacred; whether the Company he be in be good or bad, he will mind his holy calling; whether he be riding or walking, whether he be at home or abroad, whether he be buying or selling, eating or drinking, whatsoever he be doing, or wheresoever he be going, ⟨p. 34⟩