The works of George Swinnock, M.A

The Thebans made a Law, that no man should build an house for himself to dwell in, before he had made his grave. Several of the Philosophers had their graves made before their doors, that when ever they went abroad they might remember their deaths; If thou wouldst but in thy out-goings and in-comings, behold the place of thy burial, I doubt not but thou wilt be watchful over all thy ways. When thou art in the midst of thy delights (as Joseph of Arimathea) have thy tomb in thy garden, and it may prevent thy surfeiting by those dainties; When thou sittest at Table, let the first dish set before thee be (according to Prester Johns custom) a deaths-head, and then with what fear wilt thou feed, how thankfully wilt thou receive ⟨p. 752⟩the creatures, even as through the beloved Son? how soberly wilt thou use them, even as in Gods sight? If God raise thee to the height of prosperity, and some friend do but (as Moses and Elijah to Christ, when his Face did shine as the Sun, and his Raiment was as white as Snow, Luk. 9. 30, 31.) talk to thee of thy decease, which thou must shortly accomplish, it will abate thy love to the worlds withering vanities, and quicken thine endeavours after the eternal weight of glory. If God cast thee into great adversity, and thou dost but consider thy time here is but short, and therefore thy troubles cannot be long, this will make thee contented in the saddest condition. When thou beholdest thy relations, and fore-thinkest that thine eternal separation from them is at hand, and that within a few days thou shalt never have another opportunity to help them heaven-ward, how will it stir thee up to do them all the good thou canst now, both by thy Precepts, Pattern, and Prayers? If when thou attendest on public Ordinances, thou wilt but cast thine eye on the Graves in the Church-yard, as thou passest along, and meditate thus, Within a little time I must be laid in the dust, when I shall hear no more, pray no more, enjoy a Sabbath no more, when I shall never, never, more have a tender of a Saviour, never more have a season to beg mercy in for my poor soul. After such awakening thoughts, with what attention wouldst thou hear? with what affections wouldst thou pray? with what intention and devotion? with what seriousness and uprightness wouldst thou perform every duty?

The Thebans made a Law, that no man should build an house for himself to dwell in, before he had made his grave. Several of the Philosophers had their graves made before their doors, that when ever they went abroad they might remember their deaths; If thou wouldst but in thy out-goings and in-comings, behold the place of thy burial, I doubt not but thou wilt be watchful over all thy ways. When thou art in the midst of thy delights (as Ioseph of Aritmathea) have thy tomb in thy garden, and it may prevent thy surfeiting by those dainties; When thou sittest at Table, let the first dish set before thee be (according to Prester Iohns custom) a deaths-head, and then with what fear wilt thou feed, how thankfully wilt thou receive