The works of George Swinnock, M.A

As he that is an Atheist in his principles, and denieth the being of such a thing as Religion, must deny his very senses, since his eyes, and ears, and taste, and feeling, do all loudly Preach a deity to him; So he that is an Atheist in his practices, and denieth the making Religion his business, must deny his reason, and debase himself into a Beast; for common understanding, notwithstanding its great loss by the fall, will inform him that he is made for higher things then the service of a brutish flesh, and the pursuit of earthly fading enjoyments, and that the worship of his God (the Fountain of his being, and well-spring of his happiness) as most suitable to his spiritual nature, as most conducing to his own advancement, interest and perfection, is most worthy of all his heart, and soul, and strength, and of all his time, and care, and labour.

As he that is an Atheist in his principles, and denyeth the being of such a thing as Religion, must deny his very senses, since his eyes, and ears, and taste, and feeling, do all loudly Preach a deity to him; So he that is an Atheist in his practices, and denyeth the making Religion his business, must deny his reason, and debase himself into a Beast; for common understanding, notwithstanding its great loss by the fall, will inform him that he is made for higher things then the service of a brutish flesh, and the pursuit of earthly fading enjoyments, and that the worship of his God (the Fountain of his being, and well-spring of his happiness) as most sutable to his spiritual nature, as most conducing to his own advancement, interest and perfection, is most worthy of all his heart, and soul, and strength, and of all his time, and care, and labour.

But alas the sad fruit of mans apostasy, in the depravation of his nature, abundantly manifesteth it self to every eye that is not stark blind. As an old disease, doth not only afflict the part ⟨image 4⟩of its proper residence, and by its habitual abode there, make a continual diminution of the strength; but also makes a path and Channel for the humours to run thither, which by continual defluction, dig an open passage, and prevail above all the natural power of resistance: So hath Original sin debauched the mind, and made it think crooked things straight, and straight things crooked, loathsome things lovely, and lovely things loathsome; perverted the will, and made it as a diseased stomach, to call for, and eat unwholesome meat, against his own reason; enthralled his affections, to sensuality and brutishness; chained the whole man, and delivered it up to the law of sin, and laid those strengths of reason and conscience in fetters, by which it might be hindered in its vicious inclinations, and course of profaneness. Hence it comes to pass, that neither the beauty of grace, nor equity of living to God, nor the absolute necessity of mans exercising himself to godliness, will prevail with him.