A94156:364
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.
Prayer is the Midwife to bring all those mercies into the world to the Believer, which are conceived in the womb of the Promises. It is the Christians ⟨p. 142⟩messenger which he sends to Heaven for the supply of his necessities, and like Jonathans bow it never returneth empty. Oftentimes as the Echo doubleth the voice, so doth the answer the prayer; when the soul, like Gehezi asketh but one talent, God, like Naaman, forceth two upon it. The Lord is rich unto all that call upon him, Rom. 10.12. Prayer is the Thames in which all sorts of commodities are brought up for the relief of the Citizens of Zion. Some say of Cornucopia that it hath all things necessary for food in it. Prayer hath in it all things pertaining to this life and a better.
Prayer is the Midwife to bring all those mercies into the world to the Beleever, which are conceived in the womb of the Promises. It is the Christians ⟨p. 142⟩messenger which he sends to Heaven for the supply of his necessities, and like Jonathans bow it never returneth empty. Oftentimes as the Eccho doubleth the voyce, so doth the answer the prayer; when the soul, like Gehezi asketh but one talent, God, like Naaman, forceth two upon it. The Lord is rich unto all that call upon him, Rom. 10.12. Prayer is the Thames in which all sorts of commodities are brought up for the releif of the Citizens of Zion. Some say of Cornucopia that it hath all things necessary for food in it. Prayer hath in it all things pertaining to this life and a better.
It is said of the Pope, He can never want money while he can hold a pen, His writing of Pardons and Indulgences filleth his coffers. It is more true of the Christian, he need never want if he will but pray. Prayer is a key to Gods own coffers wherein there are infinite, and all sorts of comforts. I have no friends, said a good woman, but I have a prayer, and so long as I have a praying heart, God will find a pitying heart and a helping hand. It is but ask, and receive; seek, and find; knock, and it shall be opened.