The works of George Swinnock, M.A

The Wise Moralist speaking of such laborious loiterers as work hard for nothing, compares them to such as spend many months to learn to write with their feet, and when they have learned it, ⟨p. 826⟩are never the Better for it. Caesar compares them to such as fish for gudgeons with a golden hook, hazard more then the fish when taken are worth. Life is precious, health, and strength, and time are precious; because all these have a relation to an eternal estate; now how foolish is he that wasteth them upon toys and trifles, and neglecteth provision for the other world? Surely every man walketh in a vain show, surely they are disquieted in vain, Psal. 39. 6.

The Wise Moralist speaking of such laborious loyterers as work hard for nothing, compares them to such as spend many months to learn to write with their feet, and when they have learned it, ⟨p. 826⟩are never the Better for it. Caesar compares them to such as fish for gudgeons with a golden hook, hazard more then the fish when taken are worth. Life is precious, health, and strength, and time are precious; because all these have a relation to an eternal estate; now how foolish is he that wasteth them upon toys and trifles, and neglecteth provision for the other world? Surely every man walketh in a vain shew, surely they are disquieted in vain, Psal. 39. 6.

Observe Reader, how dearly men pay for their gilded nothings, for their earthen potsherds covered with silver dross; they walk up and down, run hither and thither, disquiet themselves with cares and fears, and heart piercing frights and vexations for a vain show; The people labour in the fire, and weary themselves for very vanity, Habak. 2. 13. Their work is hot and hard, they labour in the fire, even to lassitude and weariness. But is it about the noble concernments of their immortal souls? Is it that their sins may be pardoned, the vitiosity of their natures healed, and that their souls may be fitted for the heavenly mansions? No, it is for very vanity. For that which will not afford them the least good, or make them in any respect better, or blessed. Alas, how much below, nay contrary to reason doth man act, to cast away pearls upon swine, gold upon dross, diamonds upon dirt, to throw away his time and seasons of grace, which are more worth then rubies, then all riches, upon that which is vanity and vexation of spirit!