A94156:167
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.
Thirdly, To exercise our selves to godliness, implieth to persevere in it with constancy to our dissolution. Men follow their Trades, and open their Shops till death shut their eyes, and gives them a writ of ease; men pursue their earthly works, till death sound a retreat, and command their appearance in the other World. Many a one hath breathed out his last in the midst of his labour: His life and his labour have ended together. Let every man abide in the calling whereto he is called saith the Apostle. 1 Cor. 7.24.
Thirdly, To exercise our selves to godliness, implyeth to persevere in it with constancy to our dissolution. Men follow their Trades, and open their Shops till death shut their eyes, and gives them a writ of ease; men pursue their earthly works, till death sound a retreat, and command their appearance in the other World. Many a one hath breathed out his last in the midst of his labour: His life and his labour have ended together. Let every man abide in the calling whereto he is called saith the Apostle. 1 Cor. 7.24.
They who make Religion their business, are constant, immovable and do always abound in the work of the Lord. Their day of life is their day of labour, the sun ariseth and man goeth to his labour, until the Evening, Psa. 104.23. Death only is their night of resting, when they die in the Lord, then, and not till then they rest from their labours. Saints are compared to Palm Trees, because they flourish soon; to Cedars, because they ⟨p. 36⟩continue long; 1they often set out with the first, but always hold on to the last. The Philosopher being asked in his old age, why he did not give over his studies; answered, When a man is to run a race of forty furlongs, he will not sit down at the thirty ninth and lose the price. The pious soul is faithful unto death, and enjoyeth a Crown of life. As Cesar he is always marching forward, and thinks nothing done whilst any thing remains undone;