The works of George Swinnock, M.A

In thy prosperity and enjoyment of outward good things, godliness would like Sugar and Spice, correct their windiness, and make them wholesome and profitable to thee. It would like Elisha's Meal and Salt, make thy Meat sweet and savoury, and thy drink pleasant and refreshing to thee. It would make thy bed soft and easy, thy garments warm and sweet scented. Twill so far abate thy appetite to this luscious food, that thou shouldst not feed immoderately to the surfeiting thy soul.

In thy prosperity and enjoyment of outward good things, godliness would like Sugar and Spice, correct their windiness, and make them wholsom and profitable to thee. It would like Elisha's Meal and Salt, make thy Meat sweet and savoury, and thy drink pleasant and refreshing to thee. It would make thy bed soft and easie, thy garments warm and sweet sented. Twill so far abate thy appetite to this luscious food, that thou shouldst not feed immoderately to the surfeiting thy soul.

As the fiery bush which Moses saw in the Mount Horeb, though it was in a flaming fire, did not consume; ⟨p. 865⟩Or as the shining worm, that being cast into the fire, doth not waste, but is thereby purged from its filth, and made more beautiful then all the water in the world could make it; So Affliction should not ruin, but reform and purify thee; In the greatest danger, this will be thy defence. Though others like the old world,¹ are drowned, are destroyed in these waters, yet thou shouldst ride safely in a well pitched Ark, and to free thee from any fear of miscarrying, the Lord himself would shut thee in. When others are in the open air, on whom storms and tempests have their full force, thou shouldst be housed in Gods presence-chamber, and kept secret by his side. As Gideons fleece, thou shouldst be dry, when all about thee are wet. The whale of destruction may digest thousands of Mariners, but one godly Jonah is too hard for him. The torrent of fire that ran from. Aetna, and consumed the Country, yet parted it self to safeguard them that relieved their aged parents. When the Grecians had taken Troy, and given every man liberty to carry out his burden, they were so taken with the devotion of Aeneas, in carrying out first his household gods, and (upon a second licence) his old Father Anchises, and his Son Ascanius, instead of treasures, which others carried out, that they permitted him to carry what he would without any disturbance. Jeremiah in the Babylonish captivity, was tendered and regarded highly by the King of Babylon; When Sodom was destroyed, Lot was preserved. It was storied of Troy, that so long as the Image of Pallas stood safe in it, that City should never be won. It is true