A94156:938
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.
A Holy man could indeed wish that his body needed no such diversion, but when he findeth ⟨p. 448⟩that after long sitting, or much labour, his body clogged and tired, he is forced to give way to reason. For vain and sinful recreations, Reader, I must in the Name of God forbid them; I am not about to teach thee how to honour God by doing Satan's work. They that study the Devils books, will hardly learn Christs Lesson. There be some that take pleasure in unrighteousness, Rom. 1.32. Holy things are too good to be sported with, and vicious things are too bad; things of an indifferent nature are fit to be the subjects of our recreations. Those sports which are of evil report amongst Saints, or which thou hast experienced to be bellows to blow up the fire of thy passion, or fuel to thy covetousness, must be avoided. Avoid all occasions and appearances of evil; sports sinful in the act, like the play between Abners and Joabs Soldiers, will be bitterness in the end.
A Holy man could indeed wish that his body needed no such diversion, but when he findeth ⟨p. 448⟩that after long sitting, or much labour, his body clogd and tired, he is forced to give way to reason. For vain and sinful recreations, Reader, I must in the Name of God forbid them; I am not about to teach thee how to honour God by doing Satans work. They that study the Devils books, will hardly learn Christs Lesson. There be some that take pleasure in unrighteousness, Rom. 1.32. Holy things are too good to be sported with, and vicious things are too bad; things of an indifferent nature are fit to be the subjects of our recreations. Those sports which are of evil report amongst Saints, or which thou hast experienced to be bellows to blow up the fire of thy passion, or fuel to thy covetousness, must be avoided. Avoid all occasions and appearances of evil; sports sinful in the act, like the play between Abners and Joabs Souldiers, will be bitterness in the end.