The works of George Swinnock, M.A

and his grace and bounty to reward them largely for all their sufferings for his sake; had they believed that God when he called them to straights, would without any sinful means have brought them off safe on earth, or safe to Heaven, they would never have used such sinful shifts for their own safety. Faith would secure the soul against all those temptations, and prevent such sinister and sinful doings. He that believeth, maketh not haste. He will patiently wait Gods leisure, and submit to his pleasure, and not venture upon forbidden courses, and unlawful ways, to deliver himself out of distress.

and his grace and bounty to reward them largely for all their sufferings for his sake; had they believed that God when he called them to straights, would without any sinful means have brought them off safe on earth, or safe to Heaven, they would never have used such sinful shifts for their own safety. Faith would secure the soul against all those temptations, and prevent such sinister and sinful doings. He that beleiveth, maketh not haste. He will patiently wait Gods leasure, and submit to his pleasure, and not venture upon forbidden courses, and unlawful ways, to deliver himself out of distress.

Unbelief is the dung which makes the soil of corrupt nature so fruitful in the unfruitful works of darkness. Whence cometh such immoderate love of a perishing world, but from want of Faith and Belief of that transcendent glory that is to be revealed? Whence cometh such dullness and deadness in holy duties, but from unbelief, either of the holiness and jealousy of that God with whom we have to do, or of his goodness and mercy, that his reward will pay the charge of diligence in his work? Whence comes such cozening, and cheating, and over-reaching in dealings with men, that from distrust of Gods power and providence, ⟨p. 711⟩as if he could not, or would not spread a Table for his Children in the most barren Wilderness? Whence comes that impatience and murmuring in adversity, but from want of Faith, which would encourage the heart in the Lord his God, in the saddest estate, and when the Fig-tree doth not blossom, nor the Vine yield its fruit, enable the soul to rejoice in the Lord, and be glad in the Rock of his salvation. Whence cometh such pride and carnal confidence in prosperity, but because men believe not the meanness, and vanity, and emptiness of riches, and that divine mercy, not the merits of men are the original of them? There is no sin so monstrous but unbelief will venture upon it. He that believeth not, will never be allured by divine promises, nor affrighted at divine threatenings, nor obey divine precepts, nor submit to divine providences. As Cicero said of Parricide, I may say of Unbelief, Its a teeming vice, a well of wickedness; many sins are bound up in it. No wonder the Apostle gives such a serious warning, and so strict a charge against Infidelity, as the mother and nurse of all Apostasy; Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, whereby ye depart away from the living God,