The works of George Swinnock, M.A

CHAP. XV. The excellency of this Calling, and the Conclusion of the Treatise.

Fourthly, Consider the excellency of this Calling. As it is said of God in respect of beings; Who is like thee O God! Among all the Gods none is to be compared to thee. So I may say of godliness in respect of Callings, What is like thee O Godliness! amongst all callings none is comparable to thee.

FOurthly, Consider the excellency of this Calling. As it is said of God in respect of beings; Who is like thee O God! Among all the Gods none is to be compared to thee. So I may say of godliness in respect of Callings, What is like thee O Godliness! amongst all callings none is comparable to thee.

1. It is the most honourable Calling. The Master that thou are bound to, is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the Fountain of honour, and Lord of glory; One of whom the greatest Princes and Potentates of the world hold their Crowns and Sceptres, to whom they must kneel and do their homage; One to whom the whole creation is less then nothing. The work that thou art employed in, is not servile and mean, but high and noble; the worship of the great God, walking and conversing with his blessed Majesty, subduing brutish lusts, living above this beggarly earth, a conversation in heaven, a conflict with, and conquest over this dreggy flesh and drossy world, and powers of hell, to which the greatest battles and victories of the most valiant warriors that ever drew the sword are worse then children's play. To conquer our passions is more then to conquer kingdoms. Themistocles is renowned by Cicero for telling some ⟨p. 845⟩who disparaged him for his ignorance in playing on the Lute; That he knew not how to play on the Lute, yet he knew how to take a City. To subdue one lust is more then to subdue a thousand Cities. Thy fellow servants are the elect of God, glorious Angels and Saints, who are higher then the Kings of the earth; Princes in all lands, a crown of glory, a royal diadem, a chosen generation, the excellent of the earth, vessels of Gold, the Children of the most high, of whom the world is not worthy. The Privileges of this calling and company are eminent. Adoption, remission, growth in grace, divine love, perseverance n holiness, an eternal kingdom, are all contained in the Charter granted to thi Corporation. The covenant of grace, that hive of sweetness, that mine of gold, that cabinet of jewels, to which all the world is but an heap of dust, is their part and portion, and contains more in i for their comfort, then heaven and earth is able to contain.