A94156:845
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.
Do as the Jews, They did eat and delighted themselves in thy great goodness, Nehem. 9.21. When thou art feeding thy body, delight thy soul in Gods great goodness; Thus (like Mary when Christ was at meat) thou mayst break thy box of precious Ointment and perfume the whole room with its fragrant smell.
3. In returning thanks when thou hast eaten; Thy duty is to begin thy meals with prayer, and to end them with praise. Thou canst not give God his due price for mercies, but thou mayst give him his due praise. Though thou art never able to ⟨p. 408⟩buy them of him, yet thou art able to bless him for them. If thou didst Dine at thy Neighbours Table, thou wouldst think thy self very unmannerly to turn thy back upon him without any acknowledgement of, and thankfulness for, his courtesy. Every meal thou makest, is at Gods cost; for shame be so civil as to thank him for his kindness; Saints are compared to Doves, Isa. 60.8. especially for their eyes, Thou hast Doves eyes, Cant. 5. Now Doves after every grain they peck, look upward as it were giving thanks. When God opens his hand, thou mayst well open thy lips; When thou hast eaten and art full, 1thou shalt bless the Lord thy God, Deut. 8.10.
3. In returning thanks when thou hast eaten; Thy duty is to begin thy meales with prayer, and to end them with praise. Thou canst not give God his due price for mercies, but thou mayst give him his due praise. Though thou art never able to ⟨p. 408⟩