A94156:565
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
Treatise › Chapter 17: Of the Christians duty after Hearing.
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.
It is reported of a good man, that coming from a Lecture, and being demanded, Whether all were done, he should fetch a deep sigh, and say, All is said, but all is not done.
Reader, when thou hast heard the word, consider, though the Sermon be at an end, yet there must not be an end of the Sermon. Practice, which is the heart of hearing, is still behind. Observe the properties of those persons to whom, and their posterity, God will be propitious: The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting, and his righteousness to children's children: To such as keep his Covenants, and remember his Commandments to do them, Psal. 103.17, 18. They are described by their act; they lay the word up, they remember his Commandments; and by their end, to lay the word out in their lives, to do them. A good husband having received a bag of money, locketh it up safe, that none may rob him of it, and as occasion is, fetcheth it down, and layeth it out, some for food, some for clothes, some for rent, some for servants wages, some for this, some for that, as his necessities require: So (Friend) do thou lay up the precious Treasure of the word safe in ⟨p. 245⟩the Cabinet of thine heart, and bring it out as thy occasions call for it in thy life: Art thou in adversity, fetch out the Promises for thy comfort; broach that strong liquor, which was purposely tuned up for thee against a groaning hour: This is my comfort in mine affliction, for thy word hath quickened me, Psal. 119.15. Art thou in prosperity, bring forth the precepts for thy carriage: Look to that Card and Compass by which thou mayest sail evenly and trim, notwithstanding those high winds, and swelling waters: Thy Word is a light to my feet, and a lamp to my paths, Psal. 119.4. Wouldst thou resist and conquer Satan's Temptations? The word is a Shield, which (as they say of Vulcans Armour) is full proof against all thrusts and darts: By the words of thy mouth, I have kept my self from the paths of the destroyer,