A62040:1157
The works of George Swinnock, M.A
The works of George Swinnock, M.A. containing these several treatises ...
London: printed by J.B. for Tho. Parkhurst, 1665
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 11: Means whereby Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness; Frequent Meditation of t…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Its said of Cato, that constantly at evening he would call to mind what ever he had seen, 1read, or done that day. It was Pythagoras rule to his Scholars, That they should no night suffer sleep to seize their senses, till they had three times recalled the accidents and passages of the day. O what a shame is it, that Moralists who had no true sense of the benefit of such a duty, should out-go the Christian in the performance of it! That many persons should know ⟨p. 786⟩the Chronicles of other Countries or Kingdoms, some ages past, and yet not know the passages of their own souls one day past!
Its said of Cato, that constantly at evening he would call to mind what ever he had seen, 1read, or done that day. It was Pythagoras rule to his Scholars, That they should no night suffer sleep to seise their senses, till they had three times recalled the accidents and passages of the day. O what a shame is it, that Moralists who had no true sense of the benefit of such a duty, should out-go the Christian in the performance of it! That many persons should know ⟨p. 786⟩the Chronicles of other Countries or Kingdoms, some ages past, and yet not know the passages of their own souls one day past!
- 1Cicer. de Senec.
Reader, If thou wouldst walk closely with God, and keep even with him, reckon daily with him; Call thy self to a strict scrutiny, What do I? how live I? where am I? is the work I do, warrantable by the word or no? is my life the life of Faith, of Holiness, or no? am I in Gods way, under his protection, or no? Have I truth of grace, the power of godliness, or do I please my self with the form of it? Do I thrive and increase in grace, or do I decay and decline? Suppose I were to dye this night, what ground have I to hope for Heaven? what assurance that I shall escape the power and rage of frightful Devils? What evidences have I, that I am a new creature, engrafted into Christ, and thereby entitled to life and bliss? Thus feel the pulse of thy soul, enquire into its state, visit it often, and see how it doth.