A94156:853
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.
If thou art a rich person, do thou frequently mind this duty. Great House-keepers, must be Good House keepers; All must contribute (according to their abilities) to the poor's necessities; but where God gives much, he requires much; he expecteth an harvest suitable to the seed he soweth. It is credibly reported of Mr. Sutton, Founder of Sutton's Hospital, ⟨p. 413⟩that he used often to repair into a private garden, 1where he poured forth his prayers unto God, and amongst other passages was overheard, frequently to use this expression, Lord, thou hast given me a liberal and large estate; give me also an heart to make a good use it. I am confident an heart to use wealth aright, is a greater mercy then the greatest heap of wealth; I had rather have a little, with an heart to improve it for God, then much, then millions without such an heart. Make thee friends of the unrighteous Mammon, that when that fails thee, thou mayst be received into the Celestial habitation. 2When Dionysius the Syracusian Tyrant, saw what heaps of gold and silver his Son had hoarded up in his closet, he asked him what he meant to let it lie there, and not to make friends with it, to get the Kingdom after his death; O Son, saith he, thou hast not a spirit capable of a Kingdom. The rust of many a rich mans wealth will eat his heart with pain and torment in the other World, and the Apostle calls upon such to weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon them, James 5.1, 2, 3, 4. God findeth fault with them that could fare on the finest bread, and fattest flesh themselves, and yet forget the afflictions of others, Amos 6.5.
If thou art a rich person, do thou frequently mind this duty. Great House-keepers, must be Good House keepers; All must contribute (according to their abilities) to the poors necessities; but where God gives much, he requires much; he expecteth an harvest sutable to the seed he soweth. It is credibly reported of Mr. Sutton, Founder of Suttons Hospital, ⟨p. 413⟩