A94156:953
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.
Thirdly, have an eye to the season of them. Scholars have their play-hours; yet if they be found playing when they should be at their books, they must expect to be beaten; The Master that doth not grudge his servant time to visit his friends, and rejoice with his familiars, yet if he should do it when his work lieth upon the spoil, he could not but take it very ill. God alloweth us liberty for moderate delights, but it is only when our general and particular callings will give us leave. Cardinal Angelot is chronicled for a sordid person, for stealing away the oats which his man had given his mare; how sordid are those parents who steal their children's food, to pursue their own pleasures! He that neglecteth his particular calling to follow his sports, is like him that starveth his son, to feed his swine; And he that omits his prayers and religious duties to mind his pleasures, is like him that is condemned to be hanged, and hath only three days allowed him to procure his pardon in, yet he spends all that time in hawking or hunting.
Thirdly, have an eye to the season of them. Scholers have their play-hours; yet if they be found playing when they should be at their books, they must expect to be beaten; The Master that doth not grudge his servant time to visit his friends, and rejoyce with his familiars, yet if he should do it when his work lieth upon the spoil, he could not but take it very ill. God alloweth us liberty for moderate delights, but it is only when our general and particular callings will give us leave. Cardinal Angelot is chronicled for a sordid person, for stealing away the oats which his man had given his mare; how sordid are those parents who steal their childrens food, to pursue their own pleasures! He that neglecteth his particular calling to follow his sports, is like him that starveth his son, to feed his swine; And he that omits his prayers and religious duties to mind his pleasures, is like him that is condemned to be hanged, and hath only three days allowed him to procure his pardon in, yet he spends all that time in hawking or hunting.
Recreations are like some fruits not always in season, though at sometimes they are very wholesome, yet at other times they are very hurtful. The wise man tells us there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance,