A94156:403
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.
Be sure Reader to put away iniquity far from thee, when thou art drawing near to the throne of grace, then shalt thou make thy prayer unto God, and he shall hear, Job 22.23, 27. Prayer is (as it were) a plaster to heal a man that is wounded. Now as a plaster to one pierced with an Arrow or Bullet ⟨p. 161⟩will do no good, till the Dart or Bullet be taken out of the body, so prayer will not be healing and prevalent till sin (in regard of love and delight) be taken out of the soul.
Be sure Reader to put away iniquity far from thee, when thou art drawing neer to the throne of grace, then shalt thou make thy prayer unto God, and he shall hear, Job 22.23, 27. Prayer is (as it were) a plaister to heal a man that is wounded. Now as a plaister to one peirced with an Arrow or Bullet ⟨p. 161⟩will do no good, till the Dart or Bullet be taken out of the body, so prayer will not be healing and prevalent till sin (in regard of love and delight) be taken out of the soul.
As all sin in general most be laid by, so Worldly thoughts and wrath in particular. Wrath; Anger like Leaven soureth the acrifice; I will that men lift up holy hands without wrath, 1 Tim. 2.8. He that beggeth peace at Gods hands, must not do it with war in his own heart. How canst thou think that God will forgive thee many millions, when thou wilt not for give thy b•other one mite. God is peremptory that he will reserve for them his wrath, who will not remit their wrongs, Mat 6.15. 1Hierom confessed of himself that when he had been angry, he durst not enter into the Church, but totum animo & corpore contremuisse, he did tremble very much both in body and mind: Christians must be singular as in their principles, so in their practices; It is more comfortable to love a friend, but this an Heathen may do, it is more honourable to love an Enemy, and this every Christian must do.