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

Further, Godliness is Eternity-work and therefore must needs be of infinite weight, and is worthy of all our pains and diligence. We esteem Lands which we hold in fee-simple to us and our heirs for ever, at a far greater rate, and are more diligent to secure our Titles to them, then those lands which we have only a lease of, or a life in. Mens estates are of more or less value, according to the term of years they have in them; Ministers are often much more exact in their Printing, then in their Preaching. Such in whose ordinary Preaching, words like a spring run full and fast; and sense, or at least judgement, like a pond stands still; will if they Print, screw their parts to the highest pitch, and spare for no pains, that if possible) sense and sentences, reason and expressions may keep equal pace. Even those whose Sermons when delivered in their Auditories smell (as Chalcus said of Demosthenes orations) of the Lamp, ¹are the fruits of much prayer, and study, yet when they are to publish them to the World, they will survey every sentence, weigh every word, bestow more care and labour on them, hence possibly ou• proverbial speech, when a thing is done exactly. This is done in Print. But what is the ground of this? I suppose one of the chiefest: because men print in a sense for Eternity, Sermons preached, or mens words pass away (with many) like wind, ⟨p. 57⟩how soon are they buried in the grave of oblivion; but Sermons printed are mens works, live when they are dead, and become an image of eternity; This shall be written for the generation to come.

Further, Godliness is Eternity-work and therefore must needs be of infinite weight, and is worthy of all our pains and diligence. We esteem Lands which we hold in fee-simple to us and our heirs for ever, at a far greater rate, and are more diligent to secure our Titles to them, then those lands which we have onely a lease of, or a life in. Mens estates are of more or less value, according to the term of years they have in them; Ministers are often much more exact in their Printing, then in their Preaching. Such in whose ordinary Preaching, words like a spring run full and fast; and sense, or at least judgement, like a pond stands still; will if they Print, scrue their parts to the highest pitch, and spare for no pains, that if possible) sense and sentences, reason and expressions may keep equal pace. Even those whose Sermons when delivered in their Auditories smell (as Chalcus said of Demosthenes orations) of the Lamp,