A94156:463
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.
If after thy expectation, thou findest little fruit of thy petitions, do not therefore lay aside that calling, Continue in prayer, and watch in the same, Col. 4.2. Anglers, though they have fished many hours and caught nothing, do not therefore break their Cane, and Line, but draw out their hook, and look upon their bait, which (it may be) was fallen off, or not well hung on, and mend it, and then throw it in again; So when thou hast been earnest in prayer, and yet received no answer, reflect upon thy prayers, consider whether something were not amiss, either in thy preparation for the duty, or in the matter or manner of thy petitions; it is possible thou mightest desire stones instead of bread, or fuel for thy lusts, or didst forget to deliver thy petitions to the only Master of Requests, the Lord Jesus, that he might present it to the Father, if any of these were the fault, no wonder if they failed; what ever it be, be diligent to find it out, amend it and fall to thy work again with confidence, that thou shalt not work at the labour in vain. The Archer if he shoot once, and ⟨p. 191⟩again, and miss the mark, considereth what the reason was, whether he did not shoot too high, or too low, or too much on the right hand, or too much on the left hand, takes the same Arrow again, only reformeth his former error, and winneth the wager.
If after thy expectation, thou findest little fruit of thy petitions, do not therefore lay aside that calling, Continue in prayer, and watch in the same, Col. 4.2. Anglers, though they have fished many hours and caught nothing, do not therefore break their Cane, and Line, but draw out their hook, and look upon their bait, which (it may be) was fallen off, or not well hung on, and mend it, and then throw it in again; So when thou hast been earnest in prayer, and yet received no answer, reflect upon thy prayers, consider whether something were not amiss, either in thy preparation for the duty, or in the matter or manner of thy petitions; it is possible thou mightest desire stones instead of bread, or fuel for thy lusts, or didst forget to deliver thy petitions to the onely Master of Requests, the Lord Jesus, that he might present it to the Father, if any of these were the fault, no wonder if they failed; what ever it be, be diligent to find it out, amend it and fall to thy work again with confidence, that thou shalt not work at the labour in vain. The Archer if he shoot once, and