A94156:386
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.
Above all, meditate on the infinite Majesty, Purity and Mercy of that God against whom thou hast sinned. Those three Attributes duly weighed would like Moses three strokes fetch water out of a rock: Ah couldest thou that hast heard of this God by the hearing of the ear, but see him with the seeing of the eye, thou wouldest quickly abhor thy self in dust and ashes. How ugly, how loathsome would sin be, couldst thou behold the Glory, Holiness and Grace of that God whom thereby thou hast offended? Ah how great an evil must that be which is so opposite and offensive to the greatest good? Think also on the blood of the dearest Jesus, which was let out by thy lusts; and surely when thou beholdest those knives before thee which made those bloody mortal wounds in his blessed body, Anger and Grief will both strive within thee for the mastery.
Above all, meditate on the infinite Majesty, Purity and Mercy of that God against whom thou hast sinned. Those three Attributes duly weighed would like Moses three strokes fetch water out of a rock: Ah couldest thou that hast heard of this God by the hearing of the ear, but see him with the seeing of the eye, thou wouldest quickly abhor thy self in dust and ashes. How ugly, how loathsom would sin be, couldst thou behold the Glory, Holiness and Grace of that God whom thereby thou hast offended? Ah how great an evil must that be which is so opposite and offensive to the greatest good? Think also on the blood of the dearest Jesus, which was let out by thy lusts; and surely when thou beholdest those knives before thee which made those bloody mortal wounds in his blessed body, Anger and Grief will both strive within thee for the mastery.
Meditate on thy wants. He that is ignorant what he ails cannot complain, at least so as to be relieved. The messenger who knoweth not the errand upon which he comes, must expect to be sent back as wise as he came. Do as the good Housewife when she is going to market where provision is to be had doth; First, she considereth with her self what her family needs, what food, what clothes, what her Husband, what her Children, what her self, and accordingly disposeth her money at Market; so when thou art going to God by prayer, who is able to supply all thy necessities, ⟨p. 152⟩