The works of George Swinnock, M.A

As when the blood is corrupted by a poisoned Arrow, it flieth to the heart, thinking to find some remedy there, but as soon as it toucheth the heart, it findeth death where it looked for life. Thus men that are pressed with miseries, run to the world as their refuge, hoping to find comfort and refreshment there; but alas, that doth increase ⟨p. 833⟩their afflictions, and gives them rather matter of more mourning then any abatement of their sorrows. They who dive into the bottom of this Sea of the world to the hazard of their lives, instead of the pearl of contentment and happiness, which they take such pains for, bring up nothing but their hands full of the sand and gravel of vexation and anguish. All the ways of worldly delights are strewed with nettles and briars, so that its greatest darlings are but like Bears robbing a Bee hive, that with much labour get a little honey, but are soundly stung for their pains. Therefore reason, much more religion may sound a retreat, and call us off from our eager pursuit of these lying vanities. Car on il ny• ar•en a gaigner que des coups, volontiers il ny vapas: No man makes haste to the market where there is nothing to be bought but blows. 5. Uncertain. There is no constancy in outward comforts. As Brooks in Winter are carried with violence, and run with a mighty stream, flowing over with abundance of water on every side, when there is no want nor need of waters; but in the heat of Summer is dried up, when water is scanty and hard to be had. Such is the friendship of the world; twill promise us many things when we have need of nothing; but when the wind turns and afflictions overtake us, it is like a tree withered for want of sap, and as a ditch without any water to refresh us. When the sun of our prosperity is hid and covered with a cloud, these shadows vanish and disappear. As leaves fall off in Autumn, so doth the friendship of creatures ⟨p. 834⟩fail men, when the sap of that maintenance which commanded their company, is withdrawn from them. Man in honour doth not abide, Psa. 49. As the rising Sun, coming into our Horizon like a Giant, ready to run his race, appearing to us with a full and glorious countenance, within an hours space is obscured with mists, or darkened with clouds; and however, if it meet with neither of these, when it arriveth at its noon-day height, it declines, descendeth, setteth, and is buried under us: