A94156:387
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.
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⟩consider what thou wantest, what pardoning mercy, what purifying mercy, what sin thou didst lately foil, and art afraid it will recover again, that thou mayst beg strength to pursue the victory; what l•st lately got the better of thee, that thou mayest entreat pardon of it, and power against it; what grace thou art defective in, either in reference to thy calling, or relations, or any condition, that thou mayst request God to bestow it on thee; what new providence hath befallen thee, or new work is laid upon thee, that thou mayst beseech God to give the suitable grace and power.
Meditate on thy wants. He that is ignorant what he ailes 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 Huswife 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 cloaths, what her Husband, what her Children, what her self, and accordingly disposeth her mon•y at Market; so when thou art going to God by pr•yer, who is able to supply all thy necessities, ⟨p. 152⟩consider what thou wantest, what pardoning mercy, what purifying mercy, what sin thou didst lately foil, and art afraid it will recover again, that thou mayst beg strength to pursue the victory; what l•st lately got the better of thee, that thou maist intreat pardon of it, and power against it; what grace thou art defective in, either in reference to thy calling, or relations, or any condition, that thou mayst request God to bestow it on thee; what new providence hath befallen thee, or new work is laid upon thee, that thou mayst beseech God to give the sutable grace and power.