A94156:322
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.
Indeed the Christian hath no natural power for these spiritual performances, but God gives him his Spirit for this purpose, that he might be enabled to do sacred duties, with suitable graces; we know not how to pray as we ought, but the spirit helpeth our infirmities, 1Rom. 8.26. Man is impotent, but the spirit is an able assistant, helpeth our infirmities. The word is either an allusion to a Nurse which helps her weak little Child to go, so the spirit affords his hand and helps us to go to God in ⟨p. 119⟩duties, or (as the composition of the word imports) its an allusion to those who lift at a weighty piece of Timber, too heavy for one alone, one man tugs and pulls hard, but he cannot wag it, till one stronger then he comes and helps him, then he bears it away cheerfully; so the Christian be pulls and hales at his own heavy heart in a duty: to perform the duty aright, and yet makes nothing of it till the spirit comes and helps him, and then he goes along comfortably through the duty. As to Preaching there is required external mission, so to every prayer and performance there are required internal motions; therefore we find the spirit of grace and supplication joined together Zach. 12.10. Samson when his lock was cut off, became like another man, the Christian when the spirit withdraweth, that grace be not acted, he performeth duties like a carnal man. It is the breath of the Spirit of God in a duty, which is so sweet and savoury to God, gifts may do somewhat as to the outward part of a duty, as a Carver may make an Image with the external lineaments of a man, but unless grace and spiritual life be in it, it is but the counterfeit, the resemblance of a true duty.
Indeed the Christian hath no natural power for these spiritual performances, but God gives him his Spirit for this purpose, that he might be enabled to do sacred duties, with sutable graces; we know not how to pray as we ought, but the spirit helpeth our infirmities, 1Rom. 8.26. Man is impotent, but the spirit is an able assistant, helpeth our infirmities. The word is either an allusion to a Nurse which helps her weak little Child to go, so the spirit affords his hand and helps us to go to God in