A94156:541
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.
What little comfort can poor Ministers take in their lives, when they converse with such dead carcasses, though they cut them with the laws curse, pierce them to the quick (one would ⟨p. 232⟩think) with the terrible day of judgment, and the unquenchable fire, yet they ail nothing, feel nothing, and complain not at all.
Reader, when thou art hearing, let thy care be, that thy soul may be changed into the similitude of the Scripture, that the word may come with power. When the threatenings are shot off, do thou fall down before them with fear: My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy righteous judgements; When God thundered, Josiahs heart trembled. When thou viewest the precepts and patterns in the word, labour to resemble them; It is said of the Earl Elzearus, one much given to passion, that he was cured by reading and hearing of Christs patience.
Reader, when thou art hearing, let thy care be, that thy soul may be changed into the similitude of the Scripture, that the word may come with power. When the threatnings are shot off, do thou fall down before them with fear: My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy righteous judgements; When God thundred, Josiahs heart trembled. When thou viewest the precepts and patterns in the word, labour to resemble them; It is said of the Earl Elzearus, one much given to passion, that he was cured by reading and hearing of Christs patience.
When the glad tidings of peace are Preached, let thine heart leap with hope. O let the nearer approach of the sun call forth, and ripen thy fruits of righteousness. When the law comes like a corrosive eating out thy festered flesh and corruption; when the Gospel is like a lenitive both refreshing and refining thee, then they come with power; when the threatenings like wine search the wound, and the promises like Oil heal it, then it cometh with authority and majesty. If search be made by a reproof for thy beloved sin, do not like Rachel hide it, neither do thou fret when thy sore is touched, but hold thine arm forth to that knife which should prick thy vein, and let out thy bad blood. Be not angry when a Prophet smites thee in the Name of the Lord; Believe it, he that hates thy sins most, loveth thee best. If thou favour thy