The works of George Swinnock, M.A

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 ⟨p. 866⟩of godliness; so long as the fear and love of thy God are within thee, so long as thou makest religion thy business, nothing shall hurt thee, every thing shall help thee; godliness will bring in all gain, and at all times; No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. A Child of God by adoption, is in some sense like the Son of God by eternal generation, heir of all things, 1 Cor. 3.30, 31. Whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or Life, or Death, or things present, or things to come, all is yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's. Nay, the Christians riches are not only unsearchable,