A94156:935
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.
It is reported of a Primitive Christian, 1that as he was on a time playing with a bird, two or three youths going by, saw him, and one of them spake to the other, See how this old man plays like a child with a Bird, which the good old man overhearing, called him to him, and asked him, what he did with the Bow in his hand, and how he used it? whereupon the young man bent his bow, showed him ⟨p. 447⟩what he did with it, and unbent it again. Why do you unbend it? saith the Old man; because saith the youth, if my Bow should always stand ready bent; it would prove a slug and be unserviceable. Such is the condition of man, saith the Old Christian; If his mind were always bent and intent about the best things, the wings of devotion would soon flag, and the arrows of contemplation fly but slowly towards Heaven.
It is reported of a Primitive Christian, 1that as he was on a time playing with a bird, two or three youths going by, saw him, and one of them spake to the other, See how this old man plays like a child with a Bird, which the good old man overhearing, called him to him, and asked him, what he did with the Bow in his hand, and how he used it? whereupon the young man bent his bow, shewed him ⟨p. 447⟩what he did with it, and unbent it again. Why do you unbend it? saith the Old man; because saith the youth, if my Bow should always stand ready bent; it would prove a slug and be unserviceable. Such is the condition of man, saith the Old Christian; If his mind were always bent and intent about the best things, the wings of devotion would soon flag, and the arrows of contemplation flye but slowly towards Heaven.
- 1St. John Cass. Col. 24. cap. 21St. Iohn Cass. Col. 24. cap. 21