The works of George Swinnock, M.A

All sorrow proceeds from sin; As the shadow followeth the body, so doth grief follow guilt. Lust like rotten flesh or wood, will breed worms to ⟨p. 853⟩gnaw in the sinners bowels; Therefore its no wonder that Nabal, Saul, and Belshazzar, when their lusts flew in their faces, dyed, or were ready to dye with horror. If a godly man sin wilfully, and wound his soul, its no wonder if he feel the smart and pain of it. When David steps awry, and slips with his feet, and falls dangerously, he may well keep his bed, and water his couch, and cry out of his aches and broken bones; yet the very sorrow of a Saint for sin against his God, hath more real joy and delight in it, then all the skin-deep pleasures of giggling Gallants. Crates could dance and laugh in his thread-bare coat, and his wallet at his back, which was all his wealth. The Saint can rejoice in his saddest afflictions, though he seldom live in Palaces, yet he always lives in a Paradise, having (if he be careful to keep a good conscience) a constant youth of joy, and perpetual spring, as that place they write of under the Equator; The tears of those that pray, saith Austin, are sweeter then the joys of the Theatre.

All sorrow proceeds from sin; As the shadow followeth the body, so doth grief follow guilt. Lust like rotten flesh or wood, will breed worms to ⟨p. 853⟩gnaw in the sinners bowels; Therefore its no wonder that Nabal, Saul, and Belshazzar, when their lusts flew in their faces, dyed, or were ready to dye with horror. If a godly man sin wilfully, and wound his soul, its no wonder if he feel the smart and pain of it. When David steps awry, and slips with his feet, and falls dangerously, he may well keep his bed, and water his couch, and cry out of his aches and broken bones; yet the very sorrow of a Saint for sin against his God, hath more real joy and delight in it, then all the skin-deep pleasures of gigling Gallants. Crates could dance and laugh in his thread-bare coat, and his wallet at his back, which was all his wealth. The Saint can rejoyce in his saddest afflictions, though he seldom live in Palaces, yet he always lives in a Paradice, having (if he be careful to keep a good conscience) a constant youth of joy, and perpetual spring, as that place they write of under the AEquatour; The tears of those that pray, saith Austin, are sweeter then the joys of the Theatre.