A94156:652
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.
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.
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 Ha•wk which sitteth hood-winkt 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.
First, Act faith; Dormit fides & dormit Christus, saith Austin; If faith sleepeth, Christ sleepeth. Call forth first that Commander in chief, and then the private Soldiers, the other graces will all follow. Faith must be the eye whereby thou seest Christ, Zach 12.10. They shall see him whom they have pierced, and mourn; Faith is the mouth by