A94156:759
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 21: How to exercise our selves to godliness on a Lords Day.
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.
Fifthly, If thou wouldst make Religion thy business on a Lords day, Tune thine heart to spiritual joy and delight therein. Holy alacrity and joy is not only a crown and credit to, but also a special part of Christianity. The Kingdom of God consisteth not in meats and drink, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, Rom. 14.17. Gods ways are not so bad, but that the Travellers in them may be cheerful; His work is good wages, and therefore its no wonder that his Servants are so joyful.
Fifthly, If thou wouldst make Religion thy business on a Lords day, Tune thine heart to spiritual joy and delight therein. Holy alacrity and joy is not onely a crown and credit to, but also a special part of Christianity. The Kingdom of God consisteth not in meats and drink, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, Rom. 14.17. Gods ways are not so bad, but that the Travellers in them may be chearful; His work is good wages, and therefore its no wonder that his Servants are so joyful.
Because believers have ever cause of comfort, therefore they are commanded always to rejoice, Phil. 3. Whether their sins or sufferings come into their hearts, they must not sorrow as they that have no hope; In their saddest conditions, they have the spirit of consolation. There is seed of joy sown within them, when it is buried under the clods, and appears not above ground. But there are special times when God calls for this grain to spring up; They have some red letters, some holy days in the Calendar of their lives, wherein this joy as Wine at a Wedding, is most seasonable, but among all those days it never relisheth so well, it never tasteth so pleasantly as on a Lords day, joy suits no person so much as a Saint, and it becomes ⟨p. 365⟩no season so well as a Sabbath. Joy in God on other days is like the Birds Chirping in winter, which is pleasing, but joy on a Lords day is like their warbling Tunes, and pretty notes in Spring, when all other things look with a suitable delightful aspect. This is the day which the Lord hath made (he that made all days, so especially of this day, but what follows) we will rejoice and be glad therein,