A94156:538
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.
The word is Preached to many, and not to their profit. They hear the Minister as Chickens hear the Hen; the Hen calls to the Chickens to come to her, they lye scraping in the dust, still many times and will not hear her, till the Kite come and devoureth them. So God endeavoureth in his word by his Ministers to cluck sinners to himself. Wisdom crieth, understanding putteth forth her voice. But they lie scratching, and digging in the earth, and will not hear him, till at last the Devil comes and destroyeth them; but when the word cometh with power, the soul heareth it as Peter heard the Cock; He goeth out and weepeth bitterly, when he hears of the boundless mercy which he hath deserted, and the matchless misery which he hath deserved; and the infinite love which he hath abused, and the righteous law which he hath transgressed, he is cut to the heart, he goeth out and weeps bitterly.
The word is Preached to many, and not to their profit. They hear the Minister as Chickens hear the Hen; the Hen cals to the Chickens to come to her, they lye scraping in the dust, still many times and will not hear her, till the Kite come and devoureth them. So God endeavoureth in his word by his Ministers to cluck sinners to himself. Wisdom cryeth, understanding putteth forth her voice. But they lie scratching, and digging in the earth, and will not hear him, till at last the Devil comes and destroyeth them; but when the word cometh with power, the soul heareth it as Peter heard the Cock; He goeth out and weepeth bitterly, when he hears of the boundless mercy which he hath deserted, and the matchless misery which he hath deserved; and the infinite love which he hath abused, and the righteous law which he hath transgressed, he is cut to the heart, he goeth out and weeps bitterly.
The word is compared to rain Deut. 32.2. now the rain falls upon flints and doth no good; makes no impression. Ministers drop it on many to as little purpose as Bede did when he Preached to an heap of stones. They spend their strength in vain, and labour in vain; nay like many high-ways and low grounds, they are the worse for these showers. But this rain falls on others to much advantage; My Doctrine shall drop as the rain, and my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers on the herbs.