The works of George Swinnock, M.A

3. It is the most profitable Calling. Reader, this argument is Achilleum, or instar omnium, the strongest argument, and instead of all; with most men gain is the great God of this world, that commandeth all their heads, and hearts, and hands; to whom they bow down the knees both of their bodies and souls. The thief & murderer are quickened by this to their hellish trade; Come let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause. We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil, Prov. 1. 9, 10. The Sechemites upon this ground, will endure the pain of Circumcision, and throw up their former religion; Shall not their beasts, and their cattle, and their substance be ours? The Soul- for this, will scale the Walls, and leap upon the Pikes, and run upon the Mouth of the Cannon. The Husband-man for this, will rise early, go to bed late, eat the bread of carefulness, toil and moil all day, and make a drudge, a slave, a pack-horse of himself all the year. The Merchant for this, will plough the Ocean, dance upon the surging billows, suffer many dangers and deaths through his whole voyage. The Shop-keeper for this, will crowd into any hole of the City, break his sleep, waste his health, run about hither and thither, early and late. Gehezi, ⟨p. 859⟩Achan, Judas, Balaam for this, will venture their bodies, their souls, any things, all things. Profit is such a bait, that all will bite at. The Devil, that Arch Politician, who hath had so many thousand years experience; besides, his extraordinary natural knowledge, could not judge any Topics more likely then this to take with our blessed Saviour. All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. The gods themselves were said by the Athenians to be corrupted with Philips gold, that their Oracles still were in favour of him. Money is the absolute Monarch, which can put men upon the most dangerous designs: Therefore Cassius (surnamed the Severe) one of the wisest of the Roman Judges, in all doubtful Causes that came before him, would demand, Cui bono, Who gained, or had the profit? well knowing that that is the bias which turneth men aside to wrong others; and the heady, wanton horse, which breaks through the fence to trespass upon neighbours.

3. It is the most profitable Calling. Reader, this argument is Achilleum, or instar omnium, the strongest argument, and instead of all; with most men gain is the great God of this world, that commandeth all their heads, and hearts, and hands; to whom they bow down the knees both of their bodies and souls. The theif & murderer are quickened by this to their hellish trade; Come let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause. We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil,