The works of George Swinnock, M.A

It is reported of Turannius, ¹that after he was ninety years old, he got leave of Caesar to retire himself from Court, and the old man would needs be laid in his bed, as one that had breathed out his last, and all his Family must bewail his death. Friend, do thou in earnest, what he did in jest; Suppose thou wert this day to bid adieu to thy Friends, Relations, Honours, and Possessions, and to travail into the unknown other world, to take thy leave of hours, and days, and months, and years, and time, and to sail into the boundless Ocean of Eternity; Suppose thou sawest death creep in at thy Chamber window, come up to ⟨p. 754⟩thy Bed-side, draw the Curtain, take thee by the hand, and tell thee that he is come from the Infinite Almighty, jealous, most holy God, to fetch thee immediately into his presence, there to answer for all thy thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive either matchless and endless pain, or unchangeable and unconceivable pleasures, according as thy practices have been; What wouldst thou think at such a time of godliness? Good Lord, what a price wouldst thou set upon it, what wouldst thou not do or give for it! Then godliness will be godliness indeed, as little and as lightly as thou settest by it now. And why is it not worth as much now? Dost thou not see death like a Mole digging thy grave under thee? Dost thou not feel that worm within thee, which will ere long consume thee?

It is reported of Turannius, ¹that after he was ninety years old, he got leave of Caesar to retire himself from Court, and the old man would needs be laid in his bed, as one that had breathed out his last, and all his Family must bewail his death. Friend, do thou in earnest, what he did in jest; Suppose thou wert this day to bid adiew to thy Friends, Relations, Honours, and Possessions, and to travail into the unknown other world, to take thy leave of hours, and days, and months, and years, and time, and to sail into the boundless Ocean of Eternity; Suppose thou sawest death creep in at thy Chamber window, come up to ⟨p. 754⟩thy Bed-side, draw the Curtain, take thee by the hand, and tell thee that he is come from the Infinite Almighty, jealous, most holy God, to fetch thee immediately into his presence, there to answer for all thy thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive either matchless and endless pain, or unchangeable and unconceiveable pleasures, according as thy practices have been; What wouldst thou think at such a time of godliness? Good Lord, what a price wouldst thou set upon it, what wouldst thou not do or give for it! Then godliness will be godliness indeed, as little and as lightly as thou settest by it now. And why is it not worth as much now? Dost thou not see death like a Mole digging thy grave under thee? Dost thou not feel that worm within thee, which will ere long consume thee?