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 ...

A good wish about the Lords day, wherein the for∣mer heads are Epitomized.

THe first day of the Week being of divine institu∣tion, * 1.1 and Baptized by God himself with that Honorable name of the Lords day, partly in regard of its Author, This is the day which the Lords hath made; partly in regard of the blessed Redeemer, who rose that day and Triumphed over the Grave, the Devil, the Curse of the Law, and Hell; it being a day Sanctified for the glory of my Saviour, of which I may say as of Jacob, The Lord hath chosen it to himself for his peculiar Treasure, Psa. 135.4. and a day set apart for the spiritual and eternal good of my precious soul, wherein I may enjoy communion with my God in all his Ordinances, without interrup∣tion, I wish in general that as the Spirit may be in me in the week days, so that I may be in the Spi∣rit on the Lords day, filled therewith, and enabled thereby to have my conversation all the day long in Heaven. O that my care in fitting my soul for it, my holy carriage at it, and my sutable conversation after it, may testifie that I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of my God, then to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness; and that I esteem one day in his Courts, better then a thousand else-where. I wish in particular that I may prepare for it, * 1.2 as for a Wedding day, wherein Christ and my soul are to be espoused together, and to that end before it cometh,

may be careful, so to order my earthly affairs that they may not incroach upon this Holy ground; and so open the door of my heart, and adorn it with spi∣ritual excellencies, that the King of Glory may enter in, and think himself a welcome Guest in my soul: O that I might never give my God cause to complain of me, as once of the Jews, Your Sabbaths and so∣lemn feasts I cannot away with, for your hands are defiled. As Nehemiah shut the Gates of the City, that no burdens might be carried in on the Sabbath day, so let me secure the Gate of my heart, that no Worldly things may disturb me in Sabbath duties. O let me not like Martha be careful, and troubled about many things, but on this day especially, sit at Christs feet, mind the one thing necessary, and chuse the good part which shall never be taken from me. I wish that I may long more for it then ever a Bride-groom did for his Bride; that when it is come in, I may bid it heartily Welcome, and that as my Saviour rose early, that morning to justifie me, so I may rise early on this day to glorifie him.

I desire that this holy day may be an high day in my account, both because the Lord of the Sabbath hath separated it to sacred uses, and because it is the day of his resurrection, whence so much good cometh to my soul. * 1.3 By his passion he layd down the price of my redemption; but by his rising again (the Judge of Quick and dead sending his officer, an Angel, to roul away the stone, open the prison door, and let him out) he manifesteth to the world that the debt is discharged and the law fully saatisfied: O of what value should this day be to me! My Redeemers humili∣ation

indeed, was like Josephs imprisonment, but his delivery out of the grave, like Josephs enlargement and preferment, whereby he came into a capacity to advance and enrich all his relations.

I pray that I may look on this day as a special season to sow to the spirit in, and improve it accordingly. * 1.4 I believe that my God will not hold him guiltless that takes his name or spends his day in vain. O let me not like a foolish child, play by that candle which is set up for me to work by, lest I go to the bed of my grave in the dark of sin and sorrow. * 1.5 I wish that I may not neg∣lect either secret or family duties on this sacred day, but yet that I may so perform them, that they may be helps, not hinderances to publique Ordinances; that since God loveth the gates of Sion above all the the dwellings of Jacob, I may set an high price upon, and have an ardent love to the habitation of Gods house, and the place where his honor dwelleth; * 1.6 that as a true child of my heavenly Father, I may love most, and like best, that milk which is warm from the breasts of publick ordinances: I wish that I may call the Lords day my delight, it being a day wherein I enter into the suburbs of the holy City; and begin that work of praysing, pleasing, and enjoying my God, which I hope to be employed in to eternity; that it may be my meat and drink to do the Will of my God. O that I might so savour the things of the Spirit, and so taste the Lord to be gracious, that love may be the Load∣ston to draw me to my closet, family and to Church; and season every service I am called to upon the Sabbath; * 1.7 Because every part of this day is of great price, more worth then a whole World, I desire that not the least

moment of it may be squandred away, but (as the Dis∣ciples after the miracle of loaves) I may gather up with care and conscience, the smallest fragments, that nothing be lost. My God giveth me good mea∣sure, heaped up, pressed down, shaken toge∣ther, and running over; why should I be niggardly to him (to my self indeed, for it is my profit, not his) when he is so liberal, so bountiful to me. I wish in regard the blessed God is not onely the Master, * 1.8 but also the Marrow of his day, that no Lords day may satisfie me, without the Lord of the day. Alass what is the best time, without the Rock of eternity? what is the best day without the Ancient of days? what are the Ordinances of God without the God of Or∣dinances? what are Sabbaths, Sermons, Sacraments, and Seasons of Grace without the dearest Saviour, but as broken Cisterns, glorious Dreams, or guilded nothings? I have read of a good soul who answered his Friend, Speak to me while you will, no words can satisfie, except you mention Christ; write to me what you will, it will not satisfie, except in your Letters I may read Christ. O that in no Ser∣mon I might be contented till I hear Christ, and that in no Chapter I might be pleased till I can read Christ; that as the Needle touched with the Load-stone, never resteth till it turn to the North, so my heart may be re•••• less in holy duties, till it turneth to, and hath fellowship with the Lord of Heaven. The Lords day is an excellent resemblance of my future blessed∣ness, wherein I shall enjoy my Saviour fully, and my God shall be all in all to me; Lord, let never this day pass without some taste of those celestial pleasures.

Meditation on the Works and Word of my God, being a duty most in its prime and season on a Sabbath day, I beg that what time I spare from publique, private, or secret performances, I may imploy to this purpose, that I may behold my God to be infinite in wisdom, power, and goodness in his foot-steps of creation, and stand amazed at that rare Workmanship, those curious con∣trivances of his (which Angels look into with admira∣tion) that appear in his Master-peice, that work of Redemption: and for his word, let my heart be able to say with David, O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

I wish that I may watch over my thoughts, words, * 1.9 and actions all the day long; in special, that as when the holy things belonging to the Sanctuary were to be remo∣ved, they were covered all over, lest any dust should soil them; so I may cover my heart with such cir∣cumspection that no dust of sin may cleave to it. O that I might be so wise and watchful, that there may not be the least minute of the day wherein I may not either do, or receive some good. Lord, let no Sabbath pass without some saving good to my precious soul.

I desire Finally, * 1.10 that I may not lose the heat of the day in the cool of the Evening; I mean, that what good, If gain from my God, through his Ordinances in the day, may not be lost by my negligence at night; but that as a wise Commander, I may then double my Guard, and expect with much importunity some even∣ing dews of comfort and grace. O that I might so keep the Sabbath of my God, chuse the things that please him, and take hold of his Covenant, that I might so turn away my foot from the Sabbath, from

doing my pleasure on his holy day, * 1.11 and call the Sab∣bath my delight, the holy of the Lord; that I may have (with the Eunuch) within the House of my God, a name better then of Sons and Daughters, even an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Intro∣duction.
• * 1.2

  Preparation
• * 1.3

  Esteem the day as a pri∣viledge.
• * 1.4

  A price to get and in∣crease grace.
• * 1.5

  Publique Ordiuances to be estee∣med the chiefest work of the day.
• * 1.6

  Delight in it
• * 1.7

  Sanctifie the whole day.
• * 1.8

  Communi∣on of God in Ordinan∣ces.
• * 1.9

  Watchful∣ness.
• * 1.10

  Conclusion of the day.
• * 1.11

  Is. 56.4, 5. and 58.13.