A94156:397
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 was wonderful both to Christ and his friends, to behold the acceptance of his Spouses gracious performance, how it ascended to Heaven, elationibus fumi, like pillars of smoke, and came up for a memorial before God. The desire of nature in prayer, is like sparks which fly out of the tunnel of the chimney, and then vanish; but the desire of grace in prayer, is like pillars of smoke, which mounteth up to the highest Heavens.
It was wonderful both to Christ and his friends, to behold the acceptance of his Spouses gracious performance, how it ascended to Heaven, elationibus fumi, like pillars of smoak, and came up for a memorial before God. The desire of nature in prayer, is like sparks which fly out of the tunnel of the chimney, and then vanish; but the desire of grace in prayer, is like pillars of smoak, which mounteth up to the highest Heavens.
When Jacobs sons went down to Egypt to fetch corn, they carried some along with them to support them by the way; when the Christian goeth to Christ by prayer for more spiritual food, he must carry some along with him to strengthen him in the duty: A little water poured into the pomp, will fetch up much: a little grace acted in a duty, may help thee to much more. As the ship is sometimes wind-bound, that it cannot move towards its haven; so without the exercise of grace, the soul is wind-bound, there is no stirring towards Heaven. A graceless man in prayer (as was said of Alcibiades) may talk much, but speaketh little.
2. Some things which will hinder the duty must be refused.