The works of George Swinnock, M.A

If thine estate be but little, yet that little with the fear of the Lord is better then the possessions of many wicked men, Psal. 37. A penny which is the earnest of some great bargain, is another manner of thing then an ordinary penny, and more worth then many pounds, being given and received under another notion Thy little is an earnest of infinitely more then thou canst imagine, and therefore more precious then others thousands. A dinner of herbs with the love of thy God, in infinitely more eligible then the stalled Oxen of the wicked, and his wrath therewith. Who would desire Eglon's present with the dagger; Sisera's milk with ⟨p. 819⟩the nail, and hammer; and Hamans banquet with the gallows, that trod upon the heels of it? Truly such is the riches of every wicked man.

If thine estate be but little, yet that little with the fear of the Lord is better then the possessions of many wicked men, Psal. 37. A penny which is the earnest of some great bargain, is another manner of thing then an ordinary penny, and more worth then many pounds, being given and received under another notion Thy little is an earnest of infi•itely more then thou canst imagine, and therefore more precious then others thousands. A dinner of hearbs with the love of thy God, in infinitely more elegible then the stalled Oxen of the wicked, and his wrath therewith. Who would desire Eglons present with the dagger; Siserahs milk with ⟨p. 819⟩the nail, and hammer; and Hamans banquet with the gallows, that trod upon the heels of it? Truely such is the riches of every wicked man.

The smallness of thy temporal, may increase thy spiritual estate. If God recompense thy want of earthly, with a supply of heavenly riches, thou art no loser. Nicepsorus tells us of one Cyrus a Courtier, in the time of Theodosius the younger, who through the envious occupation of some favourites being spoiled of his goods, of a Pagan became a Christian, and of a Christian a Minister of Christ. Endoxia the daughter of a Philosopher in Athens, being cast out of her Fathers house by unkind brethren, and coming to Constantinople to beseech Theodosius to right a poor Orphan, found such favour in his eyes, that he made her his Queen. Affliction is the way to honour with men, to more holiness from God; when Prosperity causeth our fall both into sin and misery. He holds the garments of his godliness fast in a boisterous wind, who would lay it off in a Sunny day.