A94156:466
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.
A good Wish about prayer, wherein all the forementioned particulars are epitomized.
Prayer is one of my nearest and solemnest approaches to the most high God, 1and one of my choicest privileges on this side the place of praise: wherein I may go to my God at all times and acquaint him what I ail, where it is well, where it is ill with my poor soul: I wish in general that I may never suffer this key (to Gods own treasury) to rust for want of use, nor to be ineffectual to the opening of the Divine bounty by my unskilfulness ⟨p. 193⟩in turning it, that neither by my unfitness for the duty, miscarriage at the duty, nor misbehaviour after the duty, I may demean my self unworthy of so great a favour, so high an honour, and so good a Master. In particular, I wish that I may (at least morning and evening) before I enter upon this ordinance, 2whether in my closet or family, make a privy search for those Barabasses which have moved sedition in my soul, and murdered my dearest Saviour, and that I may have such a sight of them all, in their horrid nature, and bloody colour, that I may arraign them at the Tribunal of God with confusion of face, and contrition of heart, and may with all possible ardency plead for their execution. 3I wish that my necessities may ever be in my memory, that as the sick child, I may point readily to the place of my pain, when ever I go to make my moan to my heavenly Father, and that affected with the weight and importance of them, I praying feelingly, may pray the more fervently.
PRayer is one of my nearest and solemnest approaches to the most high God, 1and one of my choicest priviledges on this side the place of praise: wherein I may go to my God at all times and acquaint him what I ail, where it is well, where it is ill with my poor soul: I wish in general that I may never suffer this key (to Gods own treasury) to rust for want of use, nor to be ineffectual to the opening of the Divine bounty by my unskilfulness