A94156:962
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.
Secondly, Recreations are unseasonable in times of public calamities: The Son is very undutiful, who laughs under the rod; and that Daughter very unnatural, who is sporting when her Mother is dying: A Sword, a Sword is sharpened, and also furbished; it is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: Should we then make mirth? Ezek. 21.9, 10. Should we then make mirth? as if he had said, Such Seasons call for sighing, not for singing; for mourning, not for mirth.
Secondly, Recreations are unseasonable in times of publique calamities: The Son is very undutiful, who laughs under the rod; and that Daughter very unnatural, who is sporting when her Mother is dying: A Sword, a Sword is sharpned, and also furbished; it is sharpned to make a sore slaughter; it is surbished that it may glitter: Should we then make mirth? Ezek. 21.9, 10. Should we then make mirth? as if he had said, Such Seasons call for sighing, not for singing; for mourning, not for mirth.
The Jews tells us, the very beasts abstained from copulation in time of the Deluge. 1Naturalists tell us of the Bees, that when one is sick, the rest in the Hive are all sad. Experience tells us, that the very birds, who in Summer sing division prettily, with divers tunes and variation of their pleasant voices, in Winter forbear their notes, and seem to sympathize with the season: And shall not we humble our hearts when Gods hand is lifted up? How much is he displeased, when his chastenings are despised! Amos 6.5, 6, 7. In that day did the Lord God call to weeping and mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep: And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of Hosts; Surely this iniquity shall not be purged away till ye dye, saith the Lord of Hosts,