The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Lucian fancieth all the Heathen gods and goddesses sitting in Parliament, and each making choice of that tree which best pleased them. Jupiter chose the Oak for its strength, Apollo the Bay tree for its greenness; Neptune chose the Poplar for its length; Juno chose the Eglantine for its sweetness; Venus chose the Myrtle-tree for its beauty; Minerva sitting by, demanded of her Father Jupiter, why since there were so many fruitful trees, they all had chosen barren ones. He answered, Ne videan•ur fructu honorem vendere, Lest they should seem to sell honour for fruit; Minerva replied, Well, Do what you please, I for my part make choice of the Olive for its fatness and fruitfulness. They all commended her choice and were ashamed of their own Folly. This fiction doth fitly represent the foolishness of men at this day in choosing the honours and preferments, and glory of the world, which are barren and unfruitful things of no w•rth in the other world, before that honour which is from God, and the eternal weight of glory, and also the convictions of their consciences another day, which will force them to be ashamed of their own folly, and to commend the choice of a Christian for preferring grace and godliness, which will stand him ⟨p. 861⟩in stead in an hour of death, and day of judgment, and bring him in unspeakable gain, before the aery honours and withering vanities of this life.

Lucian fancieth all the Heathen gods and goddesses sitting in Parliament, and each making choice of that tree which best pleased them. Iupiter chose the Oak for its strength, Apollo the Baytree for its greeness; Neptune chose the Poplar for its length; Iuno chose the Eglantine for its sweetness; Venus chose the Myrtle-tree for its beauty; Minerva sitting by, demanded of her Father Iupiter, why since there were so many fruitful trees, they all had chosen barren ones. He answered, Ne videan•ur fructu honorem vendere, Lest they should seem to sell honour for fruit; Minerva replied, Well, Do what you please, I for my part make choice of the Olive for its fatness and fruitfulness. They all commended her choice and were ashamed of their own Folly. This fiction doth fitly represent the foolishness of men at this day in chusing the honours and preferments, and glory of the world, which are barren and unfruitful things of no w•rth in the other world, before that honour which is from God, and the eternal weight of glory, and also the convictions of their consciences another day, which will force them to be ashamed of their own folly, and to commend the choice of a Christian for preferring grace and godliness, which will stand him