The works of George Swinnock, M.A

The plain truth is, the world is the ruin and destruction of men. Its pleasures and honours make the sinner merry and jolly, as the herb Sardonia the eater, who eating dyeth; They that will be rich, fall into temptations and snares, and many hurtful lusts, which drown men in perdition, 1 Tim. 6. 9. The world serveth its darlings as that tyrannous Emperor did his servants, let them through a sliding floor into a Chamber •ull of Roses, that being smothered in them, they might meet the bitterness of death in sweetness; O do not spend thy strength for that which is not bread, but ⟨p. 838⟩hearken to Christ, and thou shalt eat that which is good, and thy soul shall delight it self in fatness, Isa. 55.3,4.

The plain truth is, the world is the ruine and destruction of men. Its pleasures and honours make the sinner merry and jolly, as the hearb Sardonia the eater, who eating dyeth; They that will be rich, fall into temptations and snares, and many hurtful lusts, which drown men in perdition, 1 Tim. 6. 9. The world serveth its darlings as that tyrannous Emperor did his servants, let them through a sliding floor into a Chamber •ull of Roses, that being smothered in them, they might meet the bitterness of death in sweetness; O do not spend thy strength for that which is not bread, but ⟨p. 838⟩hearken to Christ, and thou shalt eat that which is good, and thy soul shall delight it self in fatness, Isa. 55.3,4.

Secondly, Consider the brevity of thy life. He who hath but a little time, and a great task, must work hard, or his work will not be done. The Birds know their time, and improve it; in some Countries, the shorter the days are, the faster they fly. Heathen have been sensible of this. Theophrastus cried out on his dying bed, Ars longa, vita brevis, Time was short, and not sufficient for humane arts and sciences. Seneca saith of himself, Nullus mihi per otium exiit dies, partem noctis studiis devovi; I lose no day through idleness, but even devote part of the night to my studies. The very Devils follow their cursed trade with the greater diligence, knowing that their time is short,