The works of George Swinnock, M.A

That busy Bee and great trouble-world Alexander, had a tart yet wise reproof from Diogenes, when being taken with the Philosophers witty answers, he bade him ask what he would and he would give it him; The Philosopher desired him to grant him the smallest portion of immortality. Alexander said, that is not in my power to give; Then saith the Philosopher, Why doth Alexander take such pains, and make such s•ir to conquer the world, when he cannot assure himself of one moment to enjoy it! Ah! why should thou neglect thy God and Christ, and soul and eternal good, and tyre and weary thy self night and day, for these unsatisfying comforts which may leave thee to morrow, and of which thou canst not secure the enjoyment of one moment! If God complain of wicked men, and threatens them with fierce wrath and fiery indignation, for selling the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes, and would make them know that he valued his people at an higher price, and would not suffer them to be sold at such a rate: What will become of thee if thou shouldst sell thy soul, thy salvation, thy God, thy Christ, for silver, for vain, unsatisfying corruptible silver, when their value is above millions of worlds! ⟨p. 837⟩O take heed that thou dost not cast away thy self for such transitory trifles. Let not the Worlds venison cause thee to lose thy Fathers blessing; Twas a poor change of Glaucus to exchange gold for copper; but O what a sad exchange wilt thou make to exchange heaven for earth, the endless fruition of the blessed God for a moments enjoyment of creatures!

That busie Bee and great trouble-world Alexander, had a tart yet wise reproof from Diogenes, when being taken with the Philosophers witty answers, he bade him ask what he would and he would give it him; The Philosopher desired him to grant him the smallest portiou of immortality. Alexander said, that is not in my power to give; Then saith the Philosopher, Why doth Alexander take such pains, and make such s•ir to conquer the world, when he cannot assure himself of one moment to enjoy it! Ah! why should thou neglect thy God and Christ, and soul and eternal good, and tyre and weary thy self night and day, for these unsatisfying comforts which may leave thee to morrow, and of which thou canst not secure the enjoyment of one moment! If God complain of wicked men, and threatens them with fierce wrath and fiery indignation, for selling the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes, and would make them know that he valued his people at an higher price, and would not suffer them to be sold at such a rate: What will become of thee if thou shouldst sell thy soul, thy salvation, thy God, thy Christ, for silver, for vain, unsatisfying corruptible silver, when their value is above millions of worlds!