The works of George Swinnock, M.A

If Reason may be heard, thou wilt not defer one moment the entering thy name in this society, and binding thy self Apprentice to thy Saviour; thou mayst see plainly that it is thine interest as well as thy duty; and all thy happiness for this and the other world dependeth on it. If Scripture may be heard, thou wilt quickly set about thy general calling, and make Religion thy business; it calleth loudly to thee, to turn thy back upon earth, and face about for heaven; to forsake the flesh, before the flesh forsake thee. It telleth thee plainly under the hand of thy Maker; that if thou livest after the flesh, and sowest to the flesh, thou shalt dye eternally. If the Conscience within thee may be heard, thou wilt presently give a bill of divorce to thy carnal brutish delights, and strike an hearty Covenant wit Jesus Christ; It often warneth thee of thy duty and danger, and terrifieth thee with the foretho•ghts of that fire and fury which thou art hastening to •eel. If thy friends and relations, who have any sense of a jealous God, and eternal estate may be heard; then thou wilt immediately hearken to the counsel I commend to thee from God, and exercise thy self unto godliness. They advise, and persuade, and entreat thee to turn over a new leaf, and lead ⟨p. 871⟩a new life, and to mind in thy day the things of thy peace. If the God upon whom thou livest, by whom thou movest, from whom thou hast thy being, may be heard, thou wilt now wink on the world, crucify the flesh, loath thy self for thy filth and folly, and devote thy heart and soul to his fear. He commandeth thee by his dominion over thee, and thy obligations to him; he threateneth, promiseth, affrighteth, allureth, and all to make thee mind thy allegiance to him, and the work he hath given thee to do in this world. If thy Saviour, who humbled himself for thy sake, and took upon him the form of a servant, and in thy nature was buffeted, scourged and crucified, may be heard, then thou wilt immediately take the counsel that is given thee, and turn to the Lord with all thy heart, and loath thy self for all thine abominations. He pleads with thee most pathetically, presenteth to thee the stripes and wounds which sin caused in his blessed body; the blood which he shed, the ignominy he endured, the agony, the death he suffered, and all to satisfy for sin, to make himself Lord both of the dead and living;

If Reason may be heard, thou wilt not defer one moment the entering thy name in this society, and binding thy self Apprentice to thy Saviour; thou mayst see plainly that it is thine interest as well as thy duty; and all thy happiness for this and the other world dependeth on it. If Scripture may be heard, thou wilt quickly set about thy general calling, and make Religion thy business; it calleth loudly to thee, to turn thy back upon earth, and face about for heaven; to forsake the flesh, before the flesh forsake thee. It telleth thee plainly under the hand of thy Maker; that if thou livest after the flesh, and sowest to the flesh, thou shalt dye eternally. If the Conscience within thee may be heard, thou wilt presently give a bill of divorce to thy carnal bruish delights, and strike an hearty Covenant wit Jesus Christ; It often warneth thee of thy duty and danger, and terrifieth thee with the forethoghts of that fire and fury which thou art hastening to eel. If thy friends and relations, who have any sense of a jealous God, and eternal estate may be heard; then thou wilt immediately hearken to the counsel I commend to thee from God, and exercise thy self unto godliness. They advise, and perswade, and intreat thee to turn over a new leaf, and lead