The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Apollidorus dreamed one night that the Scythians had taken him and flayed off his skin,¹ with an intent to boil him, and as he was lifting into the Cauldron, his heart said unto him, Its I that have brought thee to all this. There is a real truth in this, that the heart brings men both to all their sins, and all their sufferings. As the Chaos had the seed of all creatures, and wanted nothing but the motion of the good Spirit to produce them; so the heart hath the seed of all evil, and wanteth nothing but the motion of the evil spirit, and a fit opportunity to bring it forth.

Apollidorus dreamed one night that the Scythians had taken him and flea'd off his skin,¹ with an intent to boil him, and as he was lifting into the Cauldron, his heart said unto him, Its I that have brought thee to all this. There is a real truth in this, that the heart brings men both to all their sins, and all their sufferings. As the Chaos had the seed of all creatures, and wanted nothing but the motion of the good Spirit to produce them; so the heart hath the seed of all evil, and wanteth nothing but the motion of the evil spirit, and a fit opportunity to bring it forth.

1. 1Plut. Moral.

It is in vain to go about an holy life, till the heart be made holy. The Pulse of the hand beats well or ill, according to the s•ate of the heart, and the inward vital parts. Our earthly members can never be mortified, unless the body of sin and death be destroyed. The foul bird of sin must be killed in the nest, the heart, or it can never be thrown on the dunghill, die in the life. Therefore the Holy Ghost calls on men to take away the cause, if they would have the effect to cease. O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness. Cleanse your hearts ye sinners, and purify your hands ye double-minded; first the heart cleansed, then the hands,