A94156:651
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 19: How a Christian may exercise himself to godliness at the Table.
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.
There is a story of a King of France named ladoveyus, that when he was converted to Christianity, one day hearing Remigius the Bishop reading the Gospel of our Saviours passion, he presently fell into this passionate expression, O that I had been but there with my French-men, I would have cut all their throats; little considering that his and others iniquities were Christs greatest and most ⟨p. 302⟩cruel enemies. Reader when thou art at the Table, think of those sins which caused such sufferings. Consider the deepness of that stain, which the blood only of God could wash out. Ah what a sickness is sin, when nothing less then the blood of the Son of God can heal it!
There is a story of a King of France named ladoveyus, that when he was converted to Christianity, one day hearing Remigius the Bishop reading the Gospel of our Saviours passion, he presently fell into this passionate expression, O that I had been but there with my French-men, I would have cut all their throats; little considering that his and others iniquities were Christs greatest and most ⟨p. 302⟩cruel enemies. Reader when thou art at the Table, think of those sins which caused such sufferings. Consider the deepness of that stain, which the blood onely of God could wash out. Ah what a sickness is sin, when nothing less then the blood of the Son of God can heal it!
Secondly, as at the Table some Subjects must be considered, so some graces must be exercised; A Sacrament is a special season, a spring time for those trees of Gods own planting, to bud, blossom, and put forth their fruit. Now Reader, if ever, rouse up thy spirit, and stir up the gifts of God which are in thee. Call aloud to thy graces which may possibly be sleeping, as David. Psa. 57.8. Awake my glory, awake Psaltery and Harp, I my self will awake early. Awake my graces, can ye not watch with my dearest Saviour one hour? Awake my faith, love, and Repentance, I my self will awake presently. It is not the Hawk which sitteth hood-winked on the fist, but the seeing, flying Hawk which doth the service, The Clock which standeth still, is of no use; it is the going, moving Clock which attains its end: Grace acted will now do thee eminent service, and help thee to attain the end of the Sacrament.