The works of George Swinnock, M.A

If thou wouldst make Religion thy business and main work, think often and seriously of thy death and departure of this world; He that guides and steers the ship aright, sits in the stern or hinder• most part of it; He that would order his works, his way, according to God, must be frequent in the meditation of his end; The end of his days, must be at the end of all his thoughts. Zeno Cittiaeus, consulted with the Oracle, how he might live well, and received this answer,¹ If he would be of the same colour with the dead.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.

Reader, if thou wouldst live much and well, get thy heart as much affected with godliness, in health, as it will be in sickness; Have the same thoughts of it, the same seriousness about it, the very same carriage towards it, whilst the world salutes thee with its smiling face, and bewitching features, which thou wilt wish thou hadst had, when thou shalt come to take thy leave of it, and lye upon thy dying bed. Be of the same colour with the dead. O what thoughts have the dead of godliness, and of making it ones business! The dead in Christ, and the dead out of Christ, have both other manner of thoughts of Religion, and making it ones occupation, then thou canst possibly imagine.

Those who while they live delay repentance, and dally about Religion, minding it as if they minded it not, who neither in their dealings with men, nor duties towards God, nor in their relations nor vocations, make it their business, but misspend their precious time, misemploy their weighty talents, neglect God and their eternal welfares, as if they had not been made to mind either; when they come to dye and perceive in good earnest, that that surly Serjeant Death, will not be denied, but away they must go into the other world, and fare well or ill for ever, according as their hearts and lives have been, godly or ungodly, good or bad, here good Lord, what thoughts have they then of godliness? How hearty are their wishes, that they had made it their business? What Worlds would they give that Religion had been their principal work? What prayers and tears do they pour out for a few days to mind it in? What sighs, and sobs, and groans, that they have neglected it so long? What purposes do they take up, what promises do they make, if God spare them, to follow hard after holiness, and make it their only business? A Philosopher asking Euchrites, which of the two he had rather be, Croesus, one of the richest and most vicious in the world, or, Socrates, one of the poorest and most virtuous; Eucrites answered, Croesus vivens, & Socrates moriens, Croesus while he lived, and Socrates when he dyed. The Cuckoo when wearing away, changeth her note. The worst men when they come to dye, alter and change exceedingly.