A94156:315
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.
It is not deceitful in such a degree, so much through weakness as through wilfulness, it is desperately carried towards deadly courses. It devotes it self wholly to deceive and destroy. How many pretences ⟨p. 115⟩will it have to make thee to omit holy performances? if thou overcome them how subtle will it be to make thee heedless and heart-less in the service of God? It will fill thee with cares and thoughts of the World, purposely to choke the good seed of the Word; if at any time thou wind it up to any seriousness in an ordinance, how quickly, and how swiftly like a Clock or a Jack, doth it run down. Surely Reader, the Master that hath such a cozening Servant, must look narrowly to him, if he would not be cheated by him. If thou dost not watch at the Altar, the Birds will devour the Sacrifice.
It is not deceitful in such a degree, so much through weakness as through wilfulness, it is desperately carried towards deadly courses. It devotes it self wholly to deceive and destroy. How many pretences ⟨p. 115⟩will it have to make thee to omit holy performances? if thou overcome them how subtle will it be to make thee heedless and heart-less in the service of God? It will fill thee with cares and thoughts of the World, purposely to choak the good seed of the Word; if at any time thou wind it up to any seriousness in an ordinance, how quickly, and how swiftly like a Clock or a Jack, doth it run down. Surely Reader, the Master that hath such a cozening Servant, must look narrowly to him, if he would not be cheated by him. If thou dost not watch at the Altar, the Birds will devour the Sacrifice.
Those that were before the Throne day and night, were full of eyes behind and before and within, Rev. 4.6, and 8. Extraordinary heed is necessary when we come into Gods House. We had need to have our eyes about us, when we come to deal immediately with him who is of purer eyes, then to behold iniquity. The Athenians in time of their Sacrifice, had a Monitor to bid them be serious, calling on them, Hoc agite, mind the work ye are about, Plut. Cyprian observeth that in the Primitive times, the Deacon oft cried out to the people, Sursum corda, lift up your hearts; and the Pastor stirred them up with, Oremus, attendamus, Let us pray, let us attend; Commanding their greatest attention when they were about Religious actions.