A94156:310
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.
If the Egyptians did reverence Mercurius Trismegistus so much, that they did forbear, out of respect to him, to pronounce his name rashly; what respect shouldst thou bear to Ordinances which are the name of God? Exod. 20.24. How fearful shouldst thou be of taking the name of God in vain.
The blind Heathen were choice and devout in the service of dumb Idols; they served them in ⟨p. 111⟩white, an emblem of purity. They thought nothing too good for those false Gods, for whom the worst was not bad enough. Solon, the Athenian Law-giver, enacted, that none should serve the Gods, Obiter, or by the by; that their sacrifices should be all select and chosen, and that the Sacrificers should purify themselves some days before hand. Lycurgus had made a law that no man should be at any great charge in a sacrifice, least he should grow weary of Divine service, yet when Phidias the famous carver advised the Athenian, to make the statute of Minerva of marble rather then Ivory 1. Because it was more durable, this reason was approved. 2. Because less chargeable; at the mention hereof, with much rage and wrath, they commanded him silence. They had an higher respect for those lies and falsehoods, then many have for the true God. 1When they were going to offer sacrifice, their Priest cried [Greek or Hebrew] who is here. Those present answered [Greek or Hebrew] many and good. Were they so choice and chary in the service of their dunghill deities; and wilt not thou friend be circumspect and conscientious in the service of the living God? did they think nothing costly enough for inanimate creatures, and wilt thou offer to the Lord thy God, that which cost thee nothing? Can thy box of precious ointment, though it be worth never so much, be bestowed better then on thy dearest Saviour, and can thy care and caution, thy love and labour be employed better then in his service? Or dost thou think that the false Gods were more affected with their dishonour, ⟨p. 112⟩