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

2. That thy particular calling may not encroach upon thy general, be careful that it steal not away thy time. Thy piety Reader, and thy prudence is so to order thine affairs relating to heaven and earth, to God and thy family, that they may not interfere or cross each other. A wise forecast will much help thee in this particular. As to the winding a skein of silk, he that begins at the right end, will make ⟨p. 479⟩quick riddance of it; so to the dispatching of Worldly employments, that they may not prove heavenly impediments, he that hath discretion to forecast them well, may do very much. However thy duty is to give the affairs of thy soul, and thy God, precedency. I know the Devil and thy corrupt heart will often jostle and quarrel with thy Closet and Family duties, by suggesting to thee that they must of necessity be omitted, because otherwise such and such concernments of thy calling (upon which the welfare of thy self, Wife, and Children doth depend) will be neglected. As when Moses spake of the Israelites sacrificing to God, then Pharaoh spake of work to put them off; so when thou art thinking of entering upon the performance of duties, whether in secret or private, thy back friend (the evil one) will send thee a message, either by thy Wife, or friend, or thine unregenerate part, that some other affairs of weight call for thy company elsewhere, and therefore a dispensation must be granted thee at present, as to thy solemn devotion. Friend, if thou lovest Jesus Christ, take heed of hearkening to such temptations; let the flesh but once obtain such a conquest over thee, and thou shalt hear of it again, it will pursue its victory to purpose. Sins is a subtle Sophister, it will bring Arguments and Reasons for all it doth; as is plain in Sauls sparing Agag, and the best of the flock: The beasts were to be Sacrificed to God; and in Jeroboam's Calves, they were set up to save the Jews those tiresome journeys to Jerusalem; but take heed that thy heart be ⟨p. 480⟩not hardened through the delightfulness of sin. Remember, Piety is the best path to outward prosperity.

2. That thy particular calling may not incroach upon thy general, be careful that it steal not away thy time. Thy piety Reader, and thy prudence is so to order thine affairs relating to heaven and earth, to God and thy family, that they may not interfere or cross each other. A wise foreceast will much help thee in this particular. As to the winding a skein of silk, he that begins at the right end, will make