A94156:789
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.
When thine heart is like Wax hardened, bring it by meditation to the warm beams of this Sun, and they will soften it.
So when David considered the work of Redemption, how doth he magnify God, and vilify himself. What am I! and what is my Fathers House, that thou hast brought me up hitherto! and yet this was a small thing in thine eyes O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come, 1 Chron. 16.16, 17. O Friend, as rubbing the Limbs with hot Oils is a great means to recover them when they are benumbed; so when thy heart is dull and dead, on a Lords day, if thou wouldst but ply it with the meditation of the infinite love and goodness of God in sending his Son to dye for thy soul, it would be a Sovereign means to quicken and revive it.
So when David considered the work of Redemption, how doth he magnifie God, and vilifie himself. What am I! and what is my Fathers House, that thou hast brought me up hitherto! and yet this was a small thing in thine eyes O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come, 1 Chron. 16.16, 17. O Friend, as rubbing the Limbs with hot Oyls is a great means to recover them when they are benumb'd; so when thy heart is dull and dead, on a Lords day, if thou wouldst but ply it with the meditation of the infinite love and goodness of God in sending his Son to dye for thy soul, it would be a Soveraign means to quicken and revive it.
Consider also the Word of God which thou hast heard on that day; Do thou like Mary, ponder it in thine heart. Meditation to the word, is what fire is to water; though water be naturally so cold, yet put fire under it, and it will make it hot and boiling; so though thine heart be cold in regard of affection to the word, put but this fire under it, and it will boil with love to it; O how love I thy law! there is his heat of affection (the expression is both by way of interrogation and acclamation, showing the fervency and intension of his love) but what was the fire which caused it? it is my meditation all the day,