The Christian Mans Calling, By the same author – Dedication
There is extant of the ſame Authors, Two excellent Treatiſes, in large Octavo, viz.
The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration, or a Treatiſe containing the Nature, Neceſſity, Marks and Means of Regeneration; as alſo, the duty of the Regenerate.
Heaven and Hell Epitomized, or the true Chriſtian Characterized.
THE Chriſtian-mans 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 per… it, In
Religious Duties.
Natural Actions.
His Particular Vocation,
His Family Directions, and
His own Recreations.
By GEORGE SWINNOCK, M.A. Preacher of the Goſpel at Great-Kimbel in the County of Bucks.
To be read in Families for their Inſtruction and Edification.
Non dormientibus provenit regnum caelorum, nec otio & deſidia torpentibus beatitudo aeternitatis ingeritur. Proſp. de vita Contemplat.
Luk. 2.46. Wiſt ye not that I muſt be about my Fathers buſineſs.
foreign, Phil. 3.20.
London, Printed for T.P. and are to be ſold by Dorman Newman, at the Kings Arms in the Poultry, next Grocers-Alley. 1662.
TO THE Worſhipful and his Honored Patron, RICHARD HAMPDEN Of Hampden in Buckinghamſhire Eſq And to the Honorable Lady LAETITIA HAMPDEN, His Vertuous Conſort.
THough Philoſophers difference Man ſpecially from Brutes, Lactant. de ira Dei.by his chief Natural quality, Reaſon; yet ſome Divines like rather to do it by his Supernatural excellency, Religion: Probably upon this twofold ground, partly becauſe Religion is the higheſt and trueſt reaſon, & therefore cauſeth the greateſt Eſſential diſtiction. What can be more rational, then for the Supreme Truth to be believed, the chiefeſt Good to be embraced, the first cauſe to be acknowledged; and thoſe who were made by God, and live wholly upon him, to improve all for him, and to live wholly to him? The giving up our Souls and Bodies unto God, is called our reaſonable Sacrifice, Rom. 12.2. Thoſe that are irreligious, are termed unreaſonable, 2 Theſſ. 3.2. Indeed Atheiſts are but Beaſts ſhaped in the proportion, and dreſt in in the habits of men. It is impoſſible for man to manifeſt more want of Reaſon, then in wandring from God, the Fountain of his being, and the well-ſpring of all his bleſſedneſs: Who ever, unleſs bereft of his wits, and diſtracted, would murther his Body, much leſs his precious Soul for ever? As ſoon as ever the Prodigal came to himſelf, he came to his Father: 'Twas a clear ſign he had loſt his reaſon, when he left bread in his Fathers houſe, for busks amongſt Swine. Means hearts naturally are (like Nebuchadnezzars) the hearts of Beaſts, grazing onelyonly in fleſhly Paſtures, and ſavouring onelyonly Senſual Pleaſures, till their reaſon returneth to them, then they bleſs and honor the moſt high God, who liveth for ever, Dan. 4.31. then they minde Spiritual Dainties, and relliſh Celeſtial Delights. The irreligious are Fellow-Commoners with Beaſts, the Religious with Angels.
Partly, becauſe Religion is the end and excellency of the Rational Creature, of which Brutes are wholly incapable: Brutes were made to ſerve God, Men onelyonly to worſhip him. The Iewiſh Talmud propoundeth the queſtion, Why God made man just on the Evening before the Sabbath? and giveth this anſwer, That he might immediately enter upon the Sanctification of the Sabbath, in the worſhip of the bleſſed God, the end for which he was made. Purity or Religion, was our primitive, and therefore muſt n…eds be our principal perfection: All who have any knowledge of the great God, will eaſily grant, that man was a curious piece, rare workmanſhip indeed, when he came immediately out of his Makers hands: It is is impoſſible, but that the childe muſt be amiable and beautiful in a high degree, which was begotten by, and is the Picture of ſuch a Father.
A Religious life (which conſiſteth in exalting God in our affections, as our chiefeſt good; and in our actions, as our utmoſt end) is the life of God himſelf: How high, how noble, how excellent a life doth the bleſſed God live! Epheſ. 4.18. Others live like Beaſts, like Devils; true Chriſtians onelyonly like Angels, like God, above theſe carnal comforts, and droſſie delights; The way of life is above to the wiſe, Prov. 15 24. Atheiſts, like Hedge-Sparrows, ſettling here below, are eaſily taken in Satans ſnares, and deſtroyed; when Saints, like Eagles, ſoaring aloft, are free both from his ſhot and limetwigs, They are not terrified with the worlds affrightments, having Armor of proof. Thoſe that are at the top of ſome high Tower, regard not the croaking of Frogs, nor hiſſing of Serpents below; like the Moon at the full, being fixed in Heaven, they can keep their courſe, though Dogs bark at them here on earth; It is called foreign by the Grecians.They are not entangled in the Worlds allurements. The World indeed like a Serpent (ſome write of) when ſhe cannot overtake the fleeing paſſengers, doth with her beautiful colours ſo amaze many, that they have no power to paſs away, till ſhe hath ſtung them; but they ſee her emptineſs and vanity under all her painting and dawbery: Beſides, their eyes behold the glorious God in ſome meaſure, in his brightneſs and beauty, and are ſo dazzled therewith, that as thoſe that look on the great Luminary of the world, in its Meridian ſplendor, they can ſee no glory in any thing beſides. Theſe poor Candles are ſlighted into diſappearance, becauſe the Sun himſelf hath ariſen upon them. How quickly, how quietly did Abraham leave his Kindred and Countrey, when once the God of Glory appeared to him, Acts 7.2. Ah what pitiful fare is the Worlds moſt luſcious food, to them that ever feaſted with the Holy Ieſus!
The old Grecians, Euſtath. in Homer.who had altogether fed on acorns before, when bread came in among them, made no reckoning of their maſt, but reſerved it onelyonly for their Swine. Senec. de Benef.The Lacedemonians deſpiſed their iron and leathern money, when gold and ſilver was brought into their Cities: When a Soul once cometh to know the onelyonly true God, and Ieſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent; what toys and trifles, what babies & butterflies are the honors, and riches, and pleaſures of this beggarly World to him? nay, how doth he befool and bebeaſt himſelf, Pſal. 73.31.for doting ſo much upon ſpecious dreams, and gilded nothings! Now he is elevated to the top of the Celeſtial Orbes, even to Heaven, and therefore the whole earth is but a ſmall ſpot of ground, a little point in his eyes.
The driving of this high and heavenly trade, is the ſum and ſubſtance of this Treatiſe; which I preſent to you both, as a teſtimony of my gratitude, Diodo. Sic. lib. 2.for the great engagements you have laid upon me. The Storks amongſt Fowls, is ſaid to leave one of her young in the place where ſhe hatcheth them. The Egyptians amongſt men are famous in hiſtory for a thankful people, and are recorded to have made Eunuches of ingrateful perſons, that the world might not be plagued with their poſterity. Quidam furtive gratias agunt, & in angulo, & in aurem; non eſt iſta verecundia ſed inficiandi genus. Senec. de benef. lib. 2. cap. 23.The Maſter of Moral Philoſophy, upbraideth them ſharply that ſteal favours by private acknowledgements: the truth is, a publique confeſſion of your kindeneſs, as it is the leaſt (ſince providence hath given me the opportunity) ſo it is (next my prayers) the greateſt requital I am able to make you. If my pains have yielded any fruit in theſe parts, thoſe that received it, owe the ackowledgement (under God) to you.
Though neither of you love to hear your own praiſe, nor did I ever love flattery, knowing by too much experience, that pride will burn and continue (like the Elementary fire) of it ſelf without any fuel; yet I eſteem it my duty to publiſh ſome things to the world or example to others. The place to which I am preſented, hath not half a maintenance, nor ſo much as a houſe belonging to the Miniſter; but the Lord hath given you ſuch compaſſion to Souls, that you have given me both a convenient dwelling, and a conſiderable maintenance (beſides the Tythes, above ſeventy pound per annum, out of your own inheritance) that I enjoy, through the good hand of my God upon me, a competent encouragement, and comfortable employment. When others refuſe to draw out their purſes to hungry bodies, the gracious God hath enabled you both to draw out your purſe and hearts unto ſtarving ſouls: Soul-charity is the higheſt and nobleſt charity, and ſuch fruit as will much abound to your account at the day of Chriſt, Phil. 4.17. Hereby, like wiſe Merchants, you return your riches into the other world by bills of Exchange. How much are you both in debted to free Grace! Vſually the richeſt mines are covered with the moſt barren earth; and men who receive much from God very quietly (like narrow mouth'd glaſſes) will part with nothing without much ſtir and reluctancy. God hath beſtowed on you large hearts, as well as large inheritance. Many a Veſſel hath been ſunk with the weight of its burthen: Some Mariners out of love to their lading, have loſt their lives; but God hath made you Maſters of (not as many other ſervants to) a fair Eſtate.
It is alſo your honor, that the Ark, the worſhip of the bleſſed God, findeth entertainment in your houſe: Your whole Familie, though large, have ſet-meals daily for their inward man, as well as for their outward; your children and ſervants are commanded by you to keep the way of the Lord, Gen. 18.19. and as if your houſe were built of Iriſh Oak, which will ſuffer no Spider near it, no iniquity is allowed to dwell in your tabernacle. I have with m…ch delight obſerved your care and conſcience to have all your Family preſent at morning and evening duties. O 'tis a bleſſed and beautiful ſight to behold a little Church in a great houſe! Many great perſons think the company of the glorious God too mean for them in their houſes; Religion waiteth at their doors like a Beggar, and cannot obtain the favour to be called in, when the Vermine (as in the Egyptian Palaces) of pride and drunkenneſs, and ſwearing, reſide amongſt them, and crawl in every room of their dwellings. The ſervice of the living God, which is the greateſt freedom, they count their bondage and fetters; The Society of the Lord Ieſus is to them, as to the Devils, a torment, Mat. 8. Alas, alas, Whether is man fallen, that the company of his Maker ſhould be eſteemed his diſhonor! that the Worſhip of God, which is the preferment of Glorious Angels, ſhould be judged a diſparagement! Ah, how will their judgements be altered, when they come to dye, to throw their laſt caſts for Eternity! Steph. Gardiner. Fox. Acts and Monu.then (as that Popiſh Prelate ſaid of juſtification by Faith, That it was good Supper Doctrine, though not ſo good to break faſt on) they will confeſs, that it is good to dye in the Lord; they will cry out, O let me dye the death of the Righteous, and let our latter end be like theirs! how lightly ſoever now they think of living their lives. The Perſian Meſſenger, though an Heathen, could not but obſerve the worth of Piety in ſuch an hour of extremity: …ſchiles in Traged.When the Grecian forces hotly purſued us (ſaith he) and we must needs venture over the great water Strymon frozen then, but beginning to thaw, when a hundred to one we had all dyed for it, with mine eyes I ſaw many of thoſe Gallants, whom I and heard before ſo boldly maintain, There was no God, every one upon their knees, with eyes and hands lifted up, begging hard for help and mercy, and entreating that the ice might hold till they got over: Thoſe Gallants who now proſcribe godlineſs their hearts and houſes (as if it were onelyonly an humour taken up by ſome preciſe perſons, who will needs be wiſer then their neighbours, and Galba like, ſcorn at them who fear, or think of death) when they themſelves come to enter the liſt with the King of Terrors, and perceive in earneſt, that this ſurly Sergeant Death will not be denied, but away they muſt into the other world, and be ſaved, or tormented in flames for ever, as they have walked after the Spirit, or after the fleſh here; without queſtion they will change their note, ſing another tune, and ſay, Beatus es Abba Arſen…, qui ſemper hanc horam ante ocules habuiſti, Bibl. Patr.as dying Theophilus did of devout Arſenius, Thou art bleſſed, O Arſenius, who hadſt always this hour before thine eyes.
Bleſſed be God, ye walk not in the vicious ways of ſuch voluptuous wretches; but to the joy of all that know and love you, ſit like wiſe Pilots, in the hindermoſt part of the ſhip, dwell in the meditation of your deaths, and thence endeavour to ſteer the veſſel of your converſations aright. Give me leave (Honored Friends) out of the unfeigned reſpect which I bear to you both (which if I know my own heart, is not ſo much for the favours received from you, though I ſhall ever acknowledge them; but for what of God and godlineſs I have ſeen in you) to beſeech you, that as ye have received, how ye ought to walk, and to pleaſe God, ſo ye would abound more and more, 1 Theſſ. 4.1. God hath done great things for you, and God expecteth great things from you: To whom much is given, of them much is required. Where the Husbandman beſtoweth the greateſt coſt, there he looketh for the greateſt crop: The rents which your Tenants pay, are ſomewhat anſwerable to the Farms which they enjoy. Ye have more obligations to ſerve God then others, and more opportunities for his ſervice; and therefore having fairer gales, ſhould ſail more ſwiftly then others, towards the Haven of Happineſs; your trading muſt be ſuitable to the talents with which ye are entruſted: Perfection will be your reward; and proficency is your work. Heavenly mindedneſs and Humility, which are the greateſt glory of our Engliſh Gentry, are excellent helps to growth in grace. Children that feed on aſhes, cannot thrive. Silly Piſmires, that continually buſie themſelves about their hoards and heaps of earth, never grow bigger. Indeed great perſons are liable to great temptations: Flies will ſtrive to faſten upon the ſweeteſt Conſerves. The longeſt robes are apteſt to contract moſt dirt. Satan (as ſome write of the Iriſh to take their enemies) digeth trenches in the earth (as it were) and covereth the ſurface of it with the green turfs of carnal comforts and contentments: which men treading upon, and taking to be firm ground, fall in to their ruine. But your ſight of the glory to be revealed by the Proſpective glaſs of faith, will help you to wink more on theſe withering vanities. Ah what a muckheap to that, is all the wealth of this lower world! Naturaliſts tell us, that the Loadstone will no… draw in the preſence of the Diamond. Sure am, the world, notwithſtanding all its pomp and pride, glory and gallantry, hath but little influence upon Chriſtians when they behold their undefiled inheritance. Humility is alſo helpful to proficiency in holineſs: The lofty mountains are barren, when the low valleys abound in corn; As the Spleen ſwelleth, the whole body conſumeth: as pride groweth, the new man decayeth. This high wind raiſeth ſtrange tempeſts in the ſoul: He giveth grace to the humble, 1 Pet. 5.6. God layeth theſe richeſt mines in …ge loweſt parts of the earth. Trees even in time of drought, whoſe roots are deep in the ground, bear fruit when corn and graſs wither: Chriſtians, like the Sun in the Zenith, muſt ſhew leaſt, when at the higheſt; and as branches fully laden, bend the more downward. Why ſhould the mud… wall ſwell becauſe the Sun ſhineth on it? We may ſay of every mercy and excellency we enjoy, as the Prophet of his hatchet, Alas Maſter, for it is borrowed, 2 Kings 6.5.
If ye pleaſe alſo to peruſe the enſuing Tractate, poſſibly it may be ſome ſmall furtherance to you in your courſe of Chriſtianity. The intent of it is to diſcover and direct how Religion, the great end for which we are born, and the great errand upon which we are ſent into the World, may be made our principal buſineſs; and how our Natural and Civil Actions, and all o…r ſeeming diverſions may be ſo managed, that they may (like an elegant Parentheſis) not at all ſpoil, but rather adorn the ſenſe of Religion: I hope the worth of the matter handled, notwithſtanding, my weakneſs in the manner of handling it, will make it acceptable to you. I could wiſh the face of the Diſcourſe were clean, I may ſafely ſay it is far from being painted; and pardon me if I ſuffer the ſtream now to run in two Channels: Such as it is I humbly tender.
Sir, to your favourable eye, whoſe happineſs it is to inherit your Anceſtors graces, as well as their riches. It was counted a great honor to the Family of the Curio's, that there were three excellent Orators in it one after another; and to the Family of the Fabii, Plutarch.that there were in it three Preſidents of the Senate ſucceſsively: It is your glory to deſcend not onelyonly of a Father who walked with God, and of a Grandfather, who (it is hoped) dyed in the faith;) but alſo of a great Grandfather, who was famous for ſerving the will of God in his generation. The holy Apoſtle ſpeaketh to the glory of Timothy, concerning his unfeigned faith which dwelt firſt in his Grandmother Lois, and his Mother Eunice, 2 Tim. 1.5. To the glory of free-grace I mention it, Holineſs in your houſe did not run onelyonly in the maſculine race; your tender Mother was like Dorcas, full of good works, and a dutiful Daughter to the Father of mercies; and your Honoured Grandmother yet alive, is an old Diſciple of the holy Jeſus: O how much are you bound to the Lord, that grace ſhould thus run in a blood! Boleſlaus King of Poland, when he was to ſpeak or do any thing of concernment, would take out a little picture of his Fathers, that he carried about him; and kiſſing it would ſay, I wiſh I may ſpeak or do nothing at this time, unworthy thy name.
Sir, it is your priviledge to reap the benefit of their Precious Prayers; and your piety, more and more to imitate their Gracious patterns. How exactly ſhould you walk, having ſuch lights (ſo near) to direct you? And how Accurately ſhould you write in every line of your life, having ſuch fair copies before your eyes: It is no ſmall advantage likewiſe,
*Daughter to the right Honorable the Lord Pagit.Madam, to your fair hands, who are a branch of a Noble and Honorable ſtock; but your birth from above, is your preſent greateſt credit, and will be your future chiefeſt comfort. Alexander muſt derive his Pedigree from the gods, or elſe he thinketh himſelf ignobly born: To be born of God, to have heavenly blood running in your veins; to be the Spouſe of the deareſt Saviour, to have your name written in the Book of Life, will ſtand you inſtead, and (as many figures) amount to millions, in an hour of death, and dreadful day of judgement, when civil and natural priviledges (though now favours) will ſtand for cyphers, and ſignifie nothing. The Jews indeed tell us, that women are of an inferiour creation, and therefore ſuffer them not to enter their Synagogues, but appoint them galleries without; but they ſpeak more truly and wiſely, who call women the ſecond edition of the epitome of the world: Souls have no Sexes, in Chriſt there is neither male nor female. Perſevere (honored Lady) in your pious courſe, to confute thoſe painted carcaſſes, who ſpend all their time in priding and pleaſing their brittle fleſh, and neglect their immortal ſpirits; to publiſh to the World, that greatneſs & goodneſs are not inconſiſtent. O 'tis a rare and lovely ſight to behold Honor and Holineſs matched and married, lodging and livlng together: As a Diamond well ſet in a golden Ring, is moſt ſparkling; and as light in Stars of the greateſt magnitude, is moſt glorious and ſhining; ſo Grace is often moſt amiable in perſons that are moſt Honorable. The Exceeding Advantage your Ladyſhip hath (this way) of doing God much ſervice, is an awakening argument to endeavours after much ſanctity: It is a farther encouragement,
that you are joyned to a loving Yoke-fellow, who will draw equally with you in the road to Canaan: That you may both walk in the day of your lives, like Zachariah and Elizabeth (that Peerleſs Pair, as one calleth them) in all the Commandments of the Lord, blameleſs; that when the night of death ſhall overtake you, you may expire like the Arabian Phoenix, in a bed of ſweet Spices (the graces and comforts of the Spirit, leaving a ſweet ſavour behinde you) that your children may be heirs to your Spiritual riches, and ſee the eternal felicity of Gods choſen: And that your houſe may throughout all Generations be known by this name, Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is there, is the deſire, and ſhall be the prayer of,
Your Servvnt for Jeſus ſake, George Swinnock.