A94156:504
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.
Now Reader, think with thy self thus, I am going to hear that Word which hath God for its Author, Jesus Christ for its matter, and Eternal Life for its end: Shall I like a beastly Swine, trample these invaluable Jewels under my feet? shall that which is infinitely more precious then fine gold, be esteemed by me as dirt? It is the picture of Gods own excellencies; how chary should I be of the picture, for the Persons sake? Ah, how tender should I be of that glass, which hath wine in it more worth then Heaven and Earth? Would it not be a thousand pities that I should suffer the Flies of my wandering thoughts, to corrupt and spoil this Box of Precious Ointments.
Now Reader, think with thy self thus, I am going to hear that Word which hath God for its Author, Jesus Christ for its matter, and Eternal Life for its end: Shall I like a beastly Swine, trample these invaluable Jewels under my feet? shall that which is infinitely more precious then fine gold, be esteemed by me as dirt? It is the picture of Gods own excellencies; how chary should I be of the picture, for the Persons sake? Ah, how tender should I be of that glass, which hath wine in it more worth then Heaven and Earth? Would it not be a thousand pities that I should suffer the Flies of my wandring thoughts, to corrupt and spoil this Box of Precious Oyntments.
Consider the efficacy of it: The revealed Word is like the essential Word; for the fall, as well as for the rise of many in Israel. As there is nothing so evil, but a serious holy person may get good out of it, like some Creatures we read of, he may digest and fetch nourishment out of Serpents; so there is nothing so good, but a careless, graceless heart may pervert to his hurt; like the Spider, he may suck poison out of the sweetest Rose. The Word will work one way or other; if it work not for thy salvation, it will work for thy damnation; if it be not a savour of life to life, it will be a savour of death to death: As the rain cometh down and watereth the earth, and returneth not thither again; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto me void, Isa. 55.10, 11. The Word is compared to fire: Fire doth either purify the metal, or consume it;