The works of George Swinnock, M.A

When sin is admitted into the soul, and as a Thief in the night stole in at unawares, when the eye of the souls watchfulness was fallen asleep; Examination will light the Candle of the word, and search the house narrowly, and find out this ill guest, and before it hath done so much mischief as it intended, apprehended it, indict, condemn, and execute it.

When sin is admitted into the soul, and as a Theif in the night stole in at unawares, when the eye of the souls watchfulness was fallen asleep; Examination will light the Candle of the word, and search the house narrowly, and find out this ill guest, and before it hath done so much mischief as it intended, apprehended it, indict, condemn, and execute it.

Examination every day, is like purging the body at the beginning of a distemper, which takes it before it hath habituated it self, and so is much the more easily repelled. An enemy may much sooner be forced out of his holds, when he hath newly taken possession, then when he hath continued so long as to cast up his banks, make his ditches, placed his Guns, and fortified them. After we have been foiled by our spiritual enemies, and by examination find out the cause, it will make us more watchful at that gate at which they entered, and careful of that particular wherein they got the advantage of us. As when David had received intelligence, that the Ammonites had given his Army some small defeat, he sends Joab word of the reason, they went too near the City, and wisheth him to make the battle more strong against the place, 2 Sam. 11. So examination ⟨p. 785⟩finds out the reason of a Christians defeat by Satan, either it was through self-confidence, or want of spiritual watchfulness, or love to some known sin, and helpeth the Saint to bewail the cause of his defeat, and directeth him how to provide better against the next onset:

Examination every day, is like purging the body at the beginning of a distemper, which takes it before it hath habituated it self, and so is much the more easily repelled. An enemy may much sooner be forced out of his holds, when he hath newly taken possession, then when he hath continued so long as to cast up his banks, make his ditches, placed his Guns, and fortified them. After we have been foiled by our spiritual enemies, and by examination find out the cause, it will make us more watchful at that gate at which they enter'd, and careful of that particular wherein they got the advantage of us. As when David had received intelligence, that the Amonites had given his Army some small defeat, he sends Ioab word of the reason, they went too near the City, and wisheth him to make the battel more strong against the place,