A94156:198
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, as it is Soul-work, so it is God-work; as the excellency of the subject in which, so also the excellency of the object about which it is conversant speaks it to be weighty. 1The Moralists tell us; That actions are specified not only from their ends and circumstances, but likewise from their objects. And the Divines assure us, that the chiefest source of mans sin and sorrow is his causing the ⟨p. 53⟩bent and stream of his inward man to run after wrong objects. If objects then can vary the species, they may much more add to the degree, to the weight of an action. Where the object is great, no slip can be small
Godliness, as it is Soul-work, so it is God-work; as the excellency of the subject in which, so also the excellency of the object about which it is conversant speaks it to be weighty. 1The Moralists tell us; That actions are specified not onely from their ends and circumstances, but likewise from their objects. And the Divines assure us, that the cheifest source of mans sin and sorrow is his causing the ⟨p. 53⟩bent and stream of his inward man to run after wrong objects. If objects then can vary the species, they may much more add to the degree, to the weight of an action. Where the object is great, no slip can be small
- 1Actions specificantur à fine objecto & circumstantiis. Eustath. de mor. Philos.Actiones specificantur à fine objecto & circumstantiis. Eustath. de mor. Philos.
Evil words spoken, or blows given to an ordinary man, bear but a common action at Law, but in case they relate to the King, they are Treason. The higher the person is with whom we converse, the holier and more exact should our carriage be. If we walk with our equals, we toy and trifle by the way, and possibly if occasion be, wander from them; but if we wait upon a Prince, especially about our own near concernments, we are serious and sedulous, watching his words, and working with the greatest diligence, for the performance of his pleasure. A Lawyer will mind the Countryman's cause when he is at leisure, when greater affairs will give him leave, and then (it may be) do it but coldly and carelessly: But if he have business committed to him by his Sovereign, which concerns the prerogative, he will make other causes stay, crowd out of the Press to salute this, attend it with all his parts, and power, and ability, and industry, and never take his leave of it till it be finished. I need not explain my meaning in this, it is obvious to every eye that godliness is the worshipping the infinite and ever blessed God; surely his service is neither to be delayed nor dallied with, it is not to be slighted or slubbered over, Cursed is he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently.