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

And now Reader, whoever thou art, out of affection to thy precious soul and eternal salvation, let me prevail with thee not to use Religion as men do perfumes, refresh themselves with them whilst they have them, but they can well enough be without them, but to make it thy chief, and main and principal business. What shall I say to thee? Assure thy self, Religion will be thy best friend at last. O if thou hadst but the same apprehensions of it now which thou wilt have on a dying bed, and day of Judgement, thou wouldst make it thine only business; them Religion will be Religion indeed, & of infinitely more worth to thee then millions of worlds; All other things will then, like leaves in Autumn, fall from thee; but though all thy most loving friends will part with thee, Religion will walk with thee in the valley of the shadow of death; it will direct and refresh thee in the pleasant waters of life, and it will protect and comfort thee in those salt waters of sickness, and when thou passest the Mare mortuum, the Sea of death. When the world, in thy extremity will serve thee as the herd do a Deer that is shot, push thee out of their company. When thy wife and children will, like Orpah to Naomi, kiss thee, and take their leave of thee, Religion will, like Ruth, stick close to thee, where thou goest it will go; where thou lodgest it will lodge; death it self shall not part thee and it.

And now Reader, whoever thou art, out of affection to thy precious soul and eternal salvation, let me prevail with thee not to use Religion as men do perfumes, refresh themselves with them whilst they have them, but they can well enough be without them, but to make it thy chief, and main and principal business. What shall I say to thee? Assure thy self, Religion will be thy best friend at last. O if thou hadst but the same apprehensions of it now which thou wilt have on a dying bed, and day of Judgement, thou wouldst make it thine only business; them Religion will be Religion indeed, & of infinitely more worth to thee then millions of worlds; All other things will then, like leaves in Autumn, fall from thee; but though all thy most loving friends will part with thee, Religion will walk with thee in the valley of the shadow of death; it will direct and refresh thee in the pleasant waters of life, and it will protect and comfort thee in those salt waters of sickness, and when thou passest the Mare mortuum, the Sea of death. When the world, in thy extremity will serve thee as the herd do a Deer that is shot, push thee out of their company. When thy wife and children will, like Orpah to Naomi, kiss thee, and take their leave of thee, Religion will, like Ruth, stick closs to thee, where thou goest it will go; where thou lodgest it will lodge; death it self shall not part thee and it.