The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Believe it, thy death may be nearer then thou dreamest, the glass of thy life may be almost out, though thou thinkest its but new turned; The Murdering-piece which kills thee, parting thy soul and body, may be discharged with white powder, give thee no warning at all. The next Arrow which is shot may hit thee; The next time the Bell goes, may be to tell others that thou art dead; The next time the Earth is opened, may be to receive thy body in; Thou seest some fall on thy right hand, some on thy left hand, some of thy very age, and of greater strength and health, and canst thou esteem thy self shot-free! Is not every carcass a crier, and every Tomb a teacher, calling upon thee to number thy days, and apply thine heart unto wisdom?

Beleive it, thy death may be nearer then thou dreamest, the glass of thy life may be almost out, though thou thinkest its but new turned; The Murdering-peice which kills thee, parting thy soul and body, may be discharged with white powder, give thee no warning at all. The next Arrow which is shot may hit thee; The next time the Bell goes, may be to tell others that thou art dead; The next time the Earth is opened, may be to receive thy body in; Thou seest some fall on thy right hand, some on thy left hand, some of thy very age, and of greater strength and health, and canst thou esteem thy self shot-free! Is not every carcass a cryer, and every Tomb a teacher, calling upon thee to number thy days, and apply thine heart unto wisdom?

Silly man is like the foolish Chicken; though the Kite comes and takes away many of their fellows, yet the rest continue pecking the ground, never heeding their owner, nor minding their shelter. Death comes and snatcheth away one man here, a second there; one before them, another behind them, and they are killed with death, undone for ever, Rev. 2. 23. yet they who survive, take no warning, but persist in their wicked and ungodly ways; They are destroyed from morning to evening, they perish for ever, without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away, they dye even without wisdom,