The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Sleep is the great Leveller, which makes all equal. The strongest Sampson is as liable in his sleep to be slain, as the smallest infant; When a deep sleep from the Lord had seized on Saul and his Soldiers, how easily might David if he had pleased, have killed them? He took away Sauls Spear and Cruse of Water, to assure him that he could have taken away his life. Ah! how soon may the Devil, or World, or Flesh, defile, deceive, and destroy a sleeping soul! Bees, that have many enemies, Mice, Spiders, Drones, Hornets, Birds and Beasts, never dare, say Naturalists, to give themselves to security, but night and day have their Scouts, and Sentinels, and Corp-du-guard, to keep watch and ward, lest some of their many enemies should on a sudden surprise them; The Christian may learn this duty from such creatures; Spiders weave their Cobwebs near the Flowers where the Bees use to gather, and also just over the passage out of their Hives, that so at their going out, but especially at their coming in, laden and weary, they may catch them, and make a prey of them. David saith, In the way wherein I walked, have they privily laid a snare for me. So mayst thou Reader say, In the way wherein I daily walk, doth Satan privily lay Baits to catch me, at my Table, in my Closet, in my Shop, in my Bed, in the Streets; in all places where I go, he hath laid snares for my soul. If there be a snare, and such danger in all things, then let me advise thee, if thou wouldst avoid them, in the words of Paul to Timothy, Watch thou in all things, 2 Timoth. 4. 5.

Sleep is the great Leveller, which makes all equal. The strongest Sampson is as liable in his sleep to be slain, as the smallest infant; When a deep sleep from the Lord had seised on Saul and his Souldiers, how easily might David if he had pleased, have killed them? He took away Sauls Spear and Cruse of Water, to assure him that he could have taken away his life. Ah! how soon may the Devil, or World, or Flesh, defile, deceive, and destroy a sleeping soul! Bees, that have many enemies, Mice, Spiders, Drones, Hornets, Birds and Beasts, never dare, say Naturalists, to give themselves to security, but night and day have their Scouts, and Centinels, and Corp-du-guard, to keep watch and ward, lest some of their many enemies should on a sudden surprise them; The Christian may learn this duty from such creatures; Spiders weave their Cobwebs near the Flowers where the Bees use to gather, and also just over the passage out of their Hives, that so at their going out, but especially at their comming in, laden and weary, they may catch them, and make a prey of them. David saith, In the way wherein I walked, have they privily laid a snare for me. So mayst thou Reader say, In the way wherein I daily walk, doth Satan privily lay Baits to catch me, at my Table, in my Closet, in my Shop, in my Bed, in the Streets; in all places where I go, he hath laid snares for my soul. If there be a snare, and such danger in all things, then let me advise thee, if thou woulst avoid them, in the words of Paul to Timothy, Watch thou in all things,