The works of George Swinnock, M.A

The Philosopher tells us of the Sea-mew, or Sea-Eagle (called in Greek [Greek or Hebrew],¹ because she seeketh for her prey in the waters) that she will often seize on her prey, though it be more then she can bear, and falleth down headlong with it into the deep, and so perisheth; This Fowl is a fit emblem of the unrighteous person, for he graspeth those heavy possessions which press him down ⟨p. 30⟩into the pit of perdition. They that will be rich (that resolve on it, whether God will or no, and by any means, whether right or wrong) fall into temptations, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition, 1 Tim. 6. 9. They that will be rich. Men that scrape an estate together unjustly, are frequently said in the Word of God, to get it in haste, to make haste to be rich, because such will not stay Gods time, nor wait in his way, till he send them in wealth, but must have it presently, and care not though it be unrighteously; But as we say; Matches made in haste, are repented at leisure; So truly, riches got in haste, are often lamented for ever. Its most true here, The more haste the less speed; Food hastily eaten, is seldom so well digested as what is eaten leisurably; He that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent; He that maketh haste to be rich, hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him, Prov. 28. 20, 22. Sometimes God suffereth a cruel hand, to pluck the stolen feathers of this unclean Bird, and then he is left bare whilst he liveth; sometimes he is hurried away in the prime and pride of his age to Hell, from his goods which he got in haste; As the Lizards eggs are hatched in six months, and yet the old one never liveth to see them, saith the Naturalist.

The Philosopher tells us of the Sea-mew, or Sea-Eagle (called in Greek 〈non-Latin alphabet〉,¹ because she seeketh for her prey in the waters) that she will often seize on her prey, though it be more then she can bear, and falleth down headlong with it into the deep, and so perisheth; This Fowl is a fit embleme of the unrighteous person, for he graspeth those heavy possessions which press him down