The works of George Swinnock, M.A

CHAP. XI. Means whereby Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness; Frequent Meditation of the day of judgement; A daily Examination of our hearts; Avoiding the Occasions and Suppressing the beginnings of Sin.

Seventhly, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to Godliness, Meditate much upon the day of Judgement. They will prepare themselves best to the battle, who always hear the sound of the last trump in their ears. Zisea that valiant Captain of the Bohemians, commanded his Countrymen to flea off his skin (when he was dead) and to make a Drum of it. Which use (saith he) when ye go to battle, and the sound of it will drive away the Hungarians or any of your enemies. Could the ⟨p. 766⟩Christian, but with Jerome, hear the sound of the last trumpet in his ears at all times, it would encourage him in his spiritual warfare, and enable him to fight manfully, and to cause the enemies of his salvation to flee before him. He who can frequently by faith view the Judge sitting on his Throne of Glory, hear the last trumpet sounding: behold the dead raised, the books opened, the godly examined by the Covenant of grace, all their duties, graces, services, sufferings, publicly declared, approved, and rewarded, the wicked tried by the Law of works, all their natural defilements, actual transgressions, in thought, word and deed, which ever they were guilty of, with their crimson bloody circumstances, openly revealed, their persons righteously sentenced to the vengeance of the eternal fire, and that sentence speedily without the least favour or delay executed on them, will surely loath sin, as that which brings him certain shame and torment, and follow after holiness, which will be his undoubted credit and comfort at that day. The Apostle writing to the Jews concerning the terror of that day, how the Heavens must pass away with a great noise, and the Elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works therein burnt up, makes this use of it, Seeing then that all those things shall be dissolved; What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness? And again,¹