The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Yet alas, though it be so prejudicial, how natural is it to us? Pride is a weed, a worm that gets into the best Garden. It was a witty taunt which a proud Cardinal had from a friend of his, that upon his election went to Rome on purpose to see him, where finding his behaviour stretched to nothing but pride and state, he departed and put on a mourning suit, and the next day comes in black to visit him; The Cardinal asking the cause why he was in mourning, he answered, It was for the death of Humility; which fetched its last breath in him when he was elected Cardinal. Most of us have cause to put on mourning upon the same account.

Yet alas, though it be so prejudicial, how natural is it to us? Pride is a weed, a worm that gets into the best Garden. It was a witty taunt which a proud Cardinal had from a friend of his, that upon his election went to Rome on purpose to see him, where finding his behaviour stretcht to nothing but pride and state, he departed and put on a mourning suit, and the next day comes in black to visit him; The Cardinal asking the cause why he was in mourning, he answered, It was for the death of Humility; which fetcht its last breath in him when he was elected Cardinal. Most of us have cause to put on mourning upon the same account.

Eleventhly, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to godliness, Suppress sin in the beginning. This foul Bird is easiest killed in the egg. When a fire is first broke out in a Chimney it may with much less labour be quenched, then when it hath seized the Timber of the House; What small beginnings had those fires which have conquered stately Palaces, and turned famous Cities into ruinous heaps? An Hair is but a little thing, yet some have been choked with it; If the Tetter be not killed, it will come to be a Ring-worm. Passion at the first kindling may be quenched, but if let alone, sends such a smoke into the understanding, which thickens into a cloud, and hinders us from the sight of our selves and our duties. The Tree may soon be pulled up, before it hath taken root, but then it may be too hard for the strongest man. A prick with a Pin, or a Thorn, being let alone, hath sometimes caused the cutting off of a limb, nay, the loss of life. Minutes to sin, are like Cyphers to a figure, which quickly increase it to vast sums. Sin increaseth by degrees,