A94156:568
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 › A good Wish about the word, wherein the former heads are epitomized.
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.
A good Wish about the word, wherein the former heads are epitomized.
The holy Scriptures being of such authority, 1as the hand writing and heart of God himself, and so singular a mercy to me, that by the guidance of this Star I am directed (as the wise men) to Jesus Christ; I wish in general that I may set an high price upon every part thereof, (that every piece may be currant with me) for his sake, whose Image and superscription it beareth. O that my carriage before, at, and after hearing, may witness to God and my conscience, 2that I esteem the law of his lips above thousands of Gold and Silver; In particular, I wish that ⟨p. 248⟩as the Jews when they went to hear the law, 3sanctified themselves, and washed their clothes; so before I go to read or hear the word, I may sanctify my soul, and wash my heart from all superfluity of naughtiness, and with meekness receive that ingrafted word which is able to save my soul. 4I wish that like Jehoshaphat I may prefer one Micaiah, before four hundred false Prophets; yet that I may ever make a difference betwixt an evil Ministers Preaching and practice, and even when the Minister is full of grace, may so distinguish between the treasure and the vessel, as not to value the Message for the Messengers sake, but to bid the workman welcome for the words sake. I wish that I may be so sensible of my own inability, to profit by this holy ordinance, 5and of the speakers impotency to Preach home to my conscience, that I may cry mightily to my God, that he would open my heart to receive the word with all affection, and so direct the Arrows, which the Preacher taketh out of the quiver of Scripture, that they may hit and pierce my dearest corruptions.