The works of George Swinnock, M.A

When a wicked man dieth, all his riches dye with him. His treasure is laid up on earth, therefore when he leaves the earth, he leaves his treasure, Psa. 49. 17. When a godly man dyeth, his riches follow him, Rev. 14. 13. His treasure is in heaven, and so when he dyeth he goeth to his gains.

When a wicked man dieth, all his riches dye with him. His treasue is laid up on earth, therefore when he leaves the earth, he leaves his treasure, Psa. 49. 17. When a godly man dyeth, his riches follow him, Rev. 14. 13. His treasure is in heaven, and so when he dyeth he goeth to his gains.

O Reader, what an argument is here, to provoke thee to piety, godliness is profitable in all conditions, in all relations, in both worlds! In prosperity, twill be a sun to direct thee, in adversity a shield to protect thee; in life twill be thy comfort, and which is infinitely more in death, that hour of need 'twill be thy enlivening cordial; The smell of Trefoil, is stronger in a cloudy dark season, then in fair weather. The refreshing savour of the sweet spices of grace, is strongest in the Saints greatest necessities.

When Death, the King of terrors, comes to enter the list, and fight with thee for thy soul and eternal ⟨p. 867⟩salvation, for thy God, and Christ, and Heaven, and happiness, when all thy Riches, and Honours, and Friends, and Relations, would leave thee in the lurch, to shift for thy self, as Dogs leave their Master when he comes to the water; Godliness would be thy shield to secure thee against its shot, and make thee more then a conqueror over it. Thou mightest call thy dying bed, as Jacob the place through which he travailed, Mahanaim, a Camp, for there Angels would meet thee to convey thee safe through the Air, the enemies country (of which Satan is Lord and Prince) to thy Fathers houses, where thou shouldst be infinitely blessed in the vision and fruition of thy God and Saviour for ever. Godliness would be the Pilot to steer the vessel of thy soul aright through those boisterous waters, to an happy port. The Arabic Fable mentions one that carried an Hog, a Goat, and a Sheep to the City; the Hog roared hideously, when the other two were still and quiet, and being asked the reason, gave this account of her crying, The Sheep and Goat have no such cause to complain, for they are carried to the City for their Milk, but I am carried thither to be killed, being good for nothing else. The Ungodly person may well cry out sadly, when sickness comes, for then guilt flieth in his face, and conscience tells him, death will kill him, he is good for nothing but to be killed with death,