The works of George Swinnock, M.A

It is worthy our observation, that those who are greatest strangers to death, are most familiar with the works of darkness. No place abounds more in Wolves (no person in wickedness) then where this Mastiff is wanting; Jerusalem hath grievously sinned, her filthiness is in her skirts, she remembereth not her last end, therefore she came down wonderfully, 1 Lamen. 8. 9. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; hath sinned sin, Heb. Hath committed a great or grievous sin, so the Chaldee. Behold here the colour of her sin, is was not of an ordinary dye, but of a black, a bloody, an heinous nature; Her filthiness is in her skirts; Lo here, her carriage after her sinning; she made of it an open show, so far was she from shame. It is a term taken from prostituted Strumpets, or monstrous women, saith Diodat. The outward looks of the former, bewray her inward lusts, and the marks of the latter's defilement are visible on her garment; thus the show of Jerusalems countenance, did publicly evidence her crime. She did as clearly by her skirts proclaim her filth, as if it had been written on her face, and engraven on her forehead; Here was impiety in her practice, Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; and impudency to purpose, Her filthiness is in her skirts; But what dust was that which bred such vermin? what polluted seed was that which begat such a poisonous serpent. Reader,¹ if thou wouldst know the Mother which brought forth, and bred up this ugly Monster, She remembereth not her last end, therefore she came down mightily. It was her forgetfulness of death, which nourished and cherished her wicked deeds; ⟨p. 749⟩They who mind not their reckoning, care not how much they riot and revel.

It is worthy our observation, that those who are greatest strangers to death, are most familiar with the works of darkness. No place abounds more in Wolves (no person in wickedness) then where this Mastiff is wanting; Jerusalem hath greivously sinned, her filthiness is in her skirts, she remembreth not her last end, therefore she came down wonderfully, 1 Lamen. 8. 9. Jerusalem hath greivously sinned; hath sinned sin, Heb. Hath committed a great or greivous sin, so the Chaldee. Behold here the colour of her sin, is was not of an ordinary dye, but of a black, a bloody, an heinous nature; Her filthiness is in her skirts; Lo here, her carriage after her sinning; she made of it an open shew, so far was she from shame. It is a term taken from prostituted Strumpets, or monstrous women, saith Diodat. The outward looks of the former, bewray her inward lusts, and the marks of the latters defilement are visible on her garment; thus the shew of Ierusalems countenance, did publiquely evidence her crime. She did as clearly by her skirts proclaim her filth, as if it had been written on her face, and engraven on her forehead; Here was impiety in her practice, Ierusalem hath greivously sinned; and impudency to purpose, Her filthiness is in her skirts; But what dust was that which bred such vermine? what polluted seed was that which begat such a poisonous serpent. Reader,