The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

Reader, take heed of these and other sinful ends, least God answer thee according to the Idols of thine heart. Children go to Fairs for babies, ⟨p. 221⟩and rattles, but men go for some serviceable commodities, for the supply of their own, and their Relations necessities. Though foolish men go to Church to quarrel with the Person teaching, or to admire at some fine cadencies or allusions in the Doctrine taught; do thou go to the word for the relief of thy spiritual wants; As a new born babe desire the sincere milk of the word, that thou mayst grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2.2. Here is a good end of a good action, not to gaze upon the people or Pastor, but to grow by his Preaching. Some men go to Gardens to gather Gilly-flowers or Roses, merely to smell to them, or look on them and in a short time throw them away, when a good house-wife goeth to her garden for a better end; she gathereth them to make a precious conserve or syrup of them, which she keeps constantly by her to comfort her in a time of sickness. Though too many go to a Sermon, merely to look on the gaudiness of its dress, or to sent the wit and fancy of the preacher, which sight and sent are quickly gone; do thou gather those flowers which grow in Eden, the garden of the Lord, that thou mayst by faith make such a cordial of them as may be ever ready at hand to revive thy spirit in each fainting fit, whether of death, or any civil or spiritual danger, whilst thou livest.

Reader, take heed of these and other finful ends, least God answer thee according to the Idols of thine heart. Children go to Fayrs for babies, ⟨p. 221⟩and rattles, but men go for some serviceable commodities, for the supply of their own, and their Relations necessities. Though foolish men go to Church to quarrel with the Person teaching, or to admire at some fine cadencies or allusions in the Doctrine taught; do thou go to the word for the releif of thy spiritual wants; As a new born babe defire the sincere milk of the word, that thou mayst grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2.2. Here is a good end of a good action, not to gaze upon the people or Pastor, but to grow by his Preaching. Some men go to Gardens to gather Gilly-flowers or Roses, meerly to smell to them, or look on them and in a short time throw them away, when a good house-wife goeth to her garden for a better end; she gathereth them to make a precious conserve or syrrup of them, which she keeps constantly by her to comfort her in a time of sickness. Though too many go to a Sermon, meerly to look on the gaudiness of its dress, or to sente the wit and fancy of the preacher, which sight and sente are quickly gone; do thou gather those flowers which grow in Eden, the garden of the Lord, that thou mayst by faith make such a cordial of them as may be ever ready at hand to revive thy spirit in each fainting fit, whether of death, or any civil or spiritual danger, whilst thou livest.