A94156:427
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.
This fervency is necessary to prepare thy soul for the mercy thou desirest: What men get lazily, they spend lavishly; but that food which a devout woman longeth for, she prizeth much, and eateth with most delight. When one whispered Demosthenes in the ear that he was beaten, and desired him to plead his cause, the Orator would not believe him, till at last the man cried out. Now, saith he, I feel your cause.
This fervency is necessary to prepare thy soul for the mercy thou desirest: What men get lazily, they spend lavishly; but that food which a devout woman longeth for, she prizeth much, and eateth with most delight. When one whispered Demostenes in the ear that he was beaten, and desired him to plead his cause, the Orator would not believe him, till at last the man cryed out. Now, saith he, I feel your cause.
It is the intension of the Spirit, which giveth efficacy to our petitions: It is not the length of the arm, but the strength of it, which draweth the bow, so as to make the arrow fly fast and far. Fervency to prayer, is as wings to the Bird, by which it mounteth up to heaven: The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous prevaileth much, James 5.16. When prayers are drivelled, like rheum out of a mans mouth, they fall down at his feet. The Mother will let the child alone, if it only whimper and whine a little in the cradle, but when it crieth outright, then she hasteth to take it up: This poor man cried (was not dull and drowsy, there is his fervency) and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles, Psal. 34.9. here is his prevalency. There is no getting to the Indian Mines by the cold Northern Seas, though because it is a shorter cut, some have attempted ⟨p. 175⟩that way, but they lost their labour. Other duties are a serving God, Prayer is a seeking God: Now they that seek him early shall find him,