A94156:312
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.
The waters of the Sanctuary, are like the waters given to a suspected Wife, if she were innocent, it witnest her honesty, made her fruitful if barren, and did her good; but if she were guilty swelled her belly, rotted her bowels, and did her hurt. If thou make godliness thy business in the ordinances of God, thou mayst get much spiritual good, thou mayst meet Christ in them, receive grace through them, and thrive as the babe by the breasts, in health and strength, but if thou like the horse in the Mill, only goest thy round in Religious duties, never minding the true end of them, nor thy carriage in them, thy prayer will be an abomination, the word a savour of death unto death, and the very sacrament a seal of thy damnation. It doth therefore nearly concern thee to hearken to that counsel which I shall give thee from the word, to prevent thy miscarriage in the duties of Gods worship; For preparation to duties, I shall speak, ⟨p. 113⟩when I come to treat of sanctifying the Lords day.
The waters of the Sanctuary, are like the waters given to a suspected Wife, if she were innocent, it witnest her honesty, made her fruitful if barren, and did her good; but if she were guilty sweld her belly, rotted her bowels, and did her hurt. If thou make godliness thy business in the ordinances of God, thou mayst get much spiritual good, thou mayst meet Christ in them, receive grace through them, and thrive as the babe by the breasts, in health and strength, but if thou like the horse in the Mill, onely goest thy round in Religious duties, never minding the true end of them, nor thy carriage in them, thy prayer will be an abomination, the word a savour of death unto death, and the very sacrament a seal of thy damnation. It doth therefore nearly concern thee to hearken to that counsel which I shall give thee from the word, to prevent thy miscarriage in the duties of Gods worship; For preparation to duties, I shall speak, ⟨p. 113⟩when I come to treat of sanctifying the Lords day.
First, Be heedful and watchful over thy self, when thou art about religious duties. Heedless service is fruitless service; What measure of care we give God in duties, the same measure of comfort we may expect from duties,