The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

The Rivers lightly salute the earth as they pass along, and make no stay, but pass forward to the Ocean. Thy affections should but slightly touch the earth, weeping for worldly crosses as if thou weepest not, and rejoicing for Worldly comforts as if thou rejoicedst not, and so pass on to the Ocean of thy happiness; Its said, Germanicus reigned in the Romans hearts, Tiberius only in the Provinces. Thy general must reign in the City, in thy heart; thy particular calling only in the Suburbs of thy hands. Reader, if the World ever get into the ⟨p. 478⟩throne of thine inward man, fare well all Religion. I have read of a custom among the Germans, to know whether their children be bastards or not, to throw them in Fluvium Rhenum, into the River Rhine; If they floated above, then they acknowledged them to be their own; but if the waters carried them away, then they esteemed them as Bastards; Truly Reader, if thou canst float above the waters of thy worldly employments, thou art a child of God, but if that carry thee away by lying near thy affections, look to thy self and fear thy condition. It is not the greatness of mans estate or employment so much as the nearness of it to his heart which will hinder holiness. A small hat held near our eyes, will hinder our sight of the Sun, which a great mountain a far off will not do. A little near the affections will hinder our sight of Christ, when thousands far from the heart may, as employed, further it. Besides the closer we lay the flowers of our earthly mercies to our breasts, the sooner they wither. A nosegay in the hand will continue fresh and sweet; (as is generally observed) much longer then when it is stuck in the bosom.

The Riviers lightly salute the earth as they pass along, and make no stay, but pass forward to the Ocean. Thy affections should but slightly touch the earth, weeping for worldly crosses as if thou wepst not, and rejoycing for Worldly comforts as if thou rejoycedst not, and so pass on to the Ocean of thy happiness; Its said, Germanicus reigned in the Romans hearts, Tiberius onely in the Provinces. Thy general must reign in the City, in thy heart; thy particular calling onely in the Suburbs of thy hands. Reader, if the World ever get into the ⟨p. 478⟩throne of thine inward man, fare wel all Religon. I have read of a custom among the Germans, to know whether their children be bastards or not, to throw them in Fluvium Rhenum, into the River Rhine; If they floated above, then they acknowledged them to be their own; but if the waters carried them away, then they esteemed them as Bastards; Truely Reader, if thou canst float above the waters of thy worldly imployments, thou art a child of God, but if that carry thee away by lying near thy affections, look to thy self and fear thy condition. It is not the greatness of mans estate or employment so much as the nearness of it to his heart which will hinder holiness. A small hat held near our eyes, will hinder our sight of the Sun, which a great mountain a far off will not do. A little near the affections will hinder our sight of Christ, when thousands far from the heart may, as imployed, further it. Besides the closer we lay the flowers of our earthly mercies to our breasts, the sooner they wither. A nosegay in the hand will continue fresh and sweet; (as is generally observed) much longer then when it is stuck in the bosome.