A94156:617
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.
At a Sessions there are some indictments read, and (it may be) some execution done; but at an Assize there are many Malefactors arraigned, and many executed, the Goal is then cleared of those vermin; A Christian should keep a petty Sessions in his heart every day, do what he can for the conviction and condemnation of his sins; but ⟨p. 275⟩before a Sacrament, he must keep an Assize, there must be a general Goal delivery; all his sins must be sought after, indicted and executed; the room of his heart must be cleared of those vipers. Particularly examine thy self of thy sins since the last Sacrament; how forgetful thou hast been of the Oath of the Lord, which thou dist then enter into; be not slight or formal in searching after thy sins, like some officers, that willingly over-look the Thieves they search for; but be as diligent to find them out, as thou wouldst be to find out the Murderers of thy father or best friend.
At a Sessions there are some indictments read, and (it may be) some execution done; but at an Assize there are many Malefactours arraigned, and many executed, the Goal is then cleared of those vermine; A Christian should keep a petty Sessions in his heart every day, do what he can for the conviction and condemnation of his sins; but ⟨p. 275⟩before a Sacrament, he must keep an Assize, there must be a general Goal delivery; all his sins must be sought after, indicted and executed; the room of his heart must be cleared of those vipers. Particularly examine thy self of thy sins since the last Sacrament; how forgetful thou hast been of the Oath of the Lord, which thou dist then enter into; be not slight or formal in searching after thy sins, like some officers, that willingly over-look the Theeves they search for; but be as diligent to find them out, as thou wouldst be to find out the Murderers of thy father or best friend.
But be sure thou compare thy heart and life with the Law of God. O how many spots will that glass discover. When the woman hath swept her house and gathered the dust up altogether, she thinks there is none left, but when the Sun doth but shine in through some broken Pane of Glass, she seeth the whole House swarm with innumerable Motes of dust, floating too and fro in the Air. The light of Gods law will make innumerable sins visible to thee, which without it will lie hid.