The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Sacred duties are as needful every day for our souls, as food and raiment for our bodies. The body must continually be repaired with nourishment, because it is continually consumed by our natural heat; Yesterdays bread will not keep the labourer to day in strength and vigour to go through with his work; he must have new diet, or he cannot hold out. Friend, I must bespeak thee, as the Angel to Elijah, Up and eat, for the journey is too great for thee; Up and be doing in Prayer, and Scripture, and holy Ordinances, that thou mayst feed and receive spiritual nourishment; for otherwise the business of exercising thy self to godliness, the duties required of thee to be performed, the graces to be exercised, the temptations to be resisted, the deadly enemies to be conquered, will be too hard for thee, the journey will be too great for thee; The Amalekite by long fasting, grew faint and unable to go his journey. If the bringing stream be not as large as the running stream, the bottom will quickly be without water. ⟨p. 761⟩The greatest stock will lesson apace, if a man spend daily on it, though but in a small quantity, if he hath no way of getting. Those that are under-kept, and called to hard labour, can never perform what is required of them. The spirits daily are decaying, and if not daily renewed by proper nourishment, we perish. The Vessels that are always leaking, must stand constantly under the conduit to get what they lose. When Jonathan through fasting became faint, He tasted a little honey and his eyes were enlightened; How much more, said he, if happily the people had eaten liberally of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines, 1 Sam. 14. 29, 30. The more a Christian mindeth Divine Ordinances, in obedience to Gods precept, and affiance on Gods promise, the more strength he shall receive to conquer his spiritual adversaries, and to discharge the several duties incumbent on him. The truth is, our religious life, our heavenly flame is like a straw fire to malt, which must constantly be tended and fed with fuel, or it will go out. There is no• more need of the Shepherds constant and daily tending his weak sheep in the summer season• then of the Saints daily regarding his precious soul.