A94156:449
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.
There are indeed some seasons for prayer, which must by no means be slighted; when the Spirit of God stirreth in thee, and cometh for thee, then make haste to God. Courtiers watch for convenient seasons to present their petitions to their Kings, and will be sure to lay hold of such seasons. If the King himself offer any discourse relating to their requests, then they will close and strike in: When the Spirit of God in a morning or evening, or in the day time, commandeth thee to go and cry to God for pardon and life (I speak of regular motions, for no other come from the Spirit) then is a fit time to present thy requests, he sendeth for thee for that end: Take heed of delaying or denying; Thou saidst seek ye my face, my heart said, thy face Lord will I seek. Suitors have their mollissima tempora fandi, their special times of wooing. Esther waited once and again for a fit time to beg her life, and the lives of her people, of the King; and when Ahasuerus put her upon it, gave her an opportunity, she then did it, and prevailed.
There are indeed some seasons for prayer, which must by no means be slighted; when the Spirit of God stirreth in thee, and cometh for thee, then make haste to God. Courtiers watch for convenient seasons to present their petitions to their Kings, and will be sure to lay hold of such seasons. If the King himself offer any discourse relating to their requests, then they will close and strike in: When the Spirit of God in a morning or evening, or in the day time, commandeth thee to go and cry to God for pardon and life (I speak of regular motions, for no other come from the Spirit) then is a fit time to present thy requests, he sendeth for thee for that end: Take heed of delaying or denying; Thou saidst seek ye my face, my heart said, thy face Lord will I seek. Suitors have their mollissima tempora fandi, their special times of wooing. Hester waited once and again for a fit time to beg her life, and the lives of her people, of the King; and when Ahashuerus put her upon it, gave her an opportunity, she then did it, and prevailed.
Whatsoever actions thou enterest upon, whether Civil, Natural, or Religious, let prayer be to thee, as the Baptist to Christ, the messenger to prepare the way before thee. Bonaventure, that Seraphical Doctor, being asked by Aquinas, How he got such Divine knowledge? pointing to a Crucifix in his study, said, Ille est liber meus, by praying to that Crucifix: A Christian by praying to God, in the name of a crucified Christ, may get saving knowledge. Be confident of this, those mercies will be most savoury, which come flying to thee upon the wings of prayer.