A94156:206
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.
Zeuxis the famous Limner made painting his business, and was exceeding careful and curious in drawing all his lines; he would let no piece of his go abroad into the world to be seen of men, till he had turned it over and over; viewed it ⟨p. 58⟩on this side and that side, again and again, and being asked the reason, answered, Because what I paint, I paint for eternity; so it is with every man and woman in the exercise of godliness, it is of eternal concernment; we pray, we hear for eternity, we read, we sing, we watch, we fast we live, we die for eternity; O how exactly, how diligently should all be done?
Zeuxis the famous Limner made painting his bufiness, and was exceeding careful and curious in drawing all his lines; he would let no piece of his go abroad into the world to be seen of men, till he had turned it over and over; viewed it ⟨p. 58⟩on this side and that side, again and again, and being asked the reason, answered, Because what I paint, I paint for eternity; so it is with every man and woman in the exercise of godliness, it is of eternal concernment; we pray, we hear for eternity, we read, we sing, we watch, we fast we live, we die for eternity; O how exactly, how diligently should all be done?
The Holy Ghost urgeth it as a reason, why mens eyes and hearts should not be set upon riches, because they are not eternal. In one place Solomon tells us, That riches are not, Prov. 23.5. In another place, that they are not for ever, Prov. 27.4. because things that are not for ever, are as if they were not at all. Eternal life is the true life, saith Augustine, this is but the shadow or semblance of life. The affairs of time are but trifles to the affairs of eternity; but our eyes and hearts must be set upon godliness, because it is for ever, it will do a soul good for ever; our Saviour doth from this argument command us to make godliness our chief employment; Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth to everlasting life,