A94156:235
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
Treatise › Chapter 8: A Complaint that this Trade is so dead, and the Worlds trade so quick.
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.
Offer a crust to a dog and he will catch at it, offer ⟨p. 73⟩him a Crown and he will contemn it; offer these men the crusts of vanity, and how greedily are they embraced, while the Crown of Glory is most unworthily despised; like beastly swine they trample this pearl under their feet, and love to wallow in the mire.
Offer a crust to a dog and he will catch at it, offer ⟨p. 73⟩him a Crown and he will contemn it; offer these men the crusts of vanity, and how greedily are they imbraced, while the Crown of Glory is most unworthily dispised; like beastly swine they trample this pearl under their feet, and love to wallow in the mire.
But possibly you may say, that there are many that make Religion their business, only they are so near me that (according to the rule of Optics which requires a due distance between the faculty and the object) I cannot behold them; they abound in every Country, Parish, Family, All are Christians and make the Worship of God their main work.
But possibly you may say, that there are many that make Religion their business, onely they are so near me that (according to the rule of Opticks which requires a due distance between the faculty and the object) I cannot behold them; they abound in every Country, Parish, Family, All are Christians and make the Worship of God their main work.
I must answer as he did when he saw the vast Army of Antiochus, There are many men, but few Soldiers; many mouths but few hands; there are many nominal but few real Christians; many that flourish like fencers, beating only the air, but few that fight in earnest the good fight of faith. Godliness hath many complemental servants that will give her the cap and the knee, a few good words and outward ceremonies, but Godliness hath few faithful friends that make her the Mistress of their affections, that give her the command of their hearts, and that wait upon her, and walk with her all the day long. Pretenders to her service are indeed like the sand of the sea numerous but practitioners or faithful servants are like the pearl of the sea rare and precious; many court her, but few marry her; for indeed men generally deal with Godliness as the Germans with the Italians, or the Dutch