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

In the next place I proceed to Natural Actions, and then to Recreations; about both which thy care must be that they exceed not their bounds, and that they taste and savour of Religion. Mandrakes if duly taken, is good physic; but if immoderately, it casts into a dead sleep and congeals the spirits. It requireth much piety and prudence not to abuse those things whilst thou art using them; Satan catcheth many a soul with these baits, and then throweth them into the fire. But if Religion be thy business, that which is poison to others, will be nourishing food to thee.

In the next place I proceed to Natural Actions, and then to Recreations; about both which thy care must be that they exceed not their bounds, and that they taste and savour of Religion. Mandrakes if duly taken, is good physick; but if immoderately, it casts into a dead sleep and congeales the spirits. It requireth much piety and prudence not to abuse those things whilst thou art using them; Satan catcheth many a soul with these baits, and then throweth them into the fire. But if Religion be thy business, that which is poison to others, will be nourishing food to thee.

After these I speak to Particular Callings, that they might be managed so, as not to be hurtful but helpful to our General Callings. I conclude the Book with Government of Families, wherein thou mayst learn that thy house must be dedicated to God. Religion in thy house must of necessity be minded, or the whole Family is cursed. The Naturalists observe of the Eagle, that building her nest on high she is much maligned by a venomous Serpent called Parias, which because it cannot reach to the nest, maketh to the windward and breathes out its poison, that so the air being infected, the Eagles young may be destroyed; but by way of prevention, the Eagle by a natural instinct keepeth a kind of Agath-stone in her nest, ¹which being placed against the wind, preserveth her young. Satan the crooked Serpent is ever busy to poison the Air in thine house, and thereby to destroy thy self, servants and whole household; the only stone for prevention is to set up Religion. Neighbour, I have many a time pressed this duty upon thee, and I do again in the name of the blessed God charge thee, as thou wilt answer it at the Bar of Christ, that thou immediately set up the worship of God in thy Family. Thou knowest how many Sermons I preached from