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

This complaint is urged with a threefold consideration.

First, How eager is the worldling for wealth and earthly things? though they loiter about the meat which endureth to eternal life, yet they can labour for the meat that perisheth; though they are so negligent about the Kingdom of Heaven, yet the Kingdom of Earth suffereth violence. What pains do the Mariners take for treasure? What perils doth the Soldier under go for plunder? what labour and industry doth the Husbandman use for ⟨p. 75⟩profit? he riseth early, sits up late, denieth himself, loseth his sleep, rides and runs too and fro, embraceth all opportunities, is eaten up almost with cares and fears, all for the earthly ma••••, whilst the heavenly Mansions are like the unknown part of the world, which no man regardeth or looketh after: They pant after the dust of the earth as greedily as hot creatures do after the air to cool their scorched entrails, Amos 2.7. The Serpents curse is entailed on that poisonous brood, the dust is their diet, they feed on ashes, Gen. 3.14. Amos 7. They laugh at dangers and trample upon difficulties, they force their way through darkness, and the shadow of death, through stifling damps and overflowing floods, through rocks and mountains in the pursuit of earthly treasures, Job 28.9, 10, 11. Its said of the Dutch they are so industrious at Navigation that if it were possible to sail in ships to Heaven they would not come short of that Haven: Ah what pity is it that this jewel should hang in a swines snout, which would so well become the Christians finger; that this diligence, this violence should be exercised about mens earthly and particular, which would so well suit their heavenly and general calling. The ambitious person, like the Panther,