A94156:428
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 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, Prov. 8.17. A low voice doth not cause a loud echo, neither doth a lazy prayer procure a liberal answer. Sleepy requests cause but dreams, mere fancied returns. Where there is a cushion of ease under the knees, and a pillow of idleness under the elbows, there is little work to be done.
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 drivel'd, like rhume out of a mans mouth, they fall down at his feet. The Mother will let the childe alone, if it onely whimper and whine a little in the cradle, but when it crieth outright, then she hasteth to take it up: This poor man cryed (was not dull and drowsie, there is his fervency) and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles,