The works of George Swinnock, M.A

he tells thee, he gave himself for thee to redeem thee from all iniquity; and to purify thee to himself a peculiar child zealous of good works. If the daily, and nightly, and hourly mercies that thou enjoyest; if the sickness, or pain, or loss, or disgrace, or afflictions which sometimes thou sufferest, may be heard, there would not be so much ado to persuade a wretched creature to be blessed, and an ungodly person to be holy and happy. If the inanimate and irrational creatures, the earth beneath thee, the heavens above thee, the beasts ⟨p. 872⟩and birds about thee might be heard; thou wouldst whilst its called to day, now after so long a time attend to the call and command of him, in whose hand is thy life and breath; and follow after holiness, without which thou shalt never see the Lord. Shall a Centurions servant go, when he bids him go, and come when he bids him come? and wilt not thou go and come at the voice of God? Did Balaam's Ass speak at Gods command, and reprove the madness of the Prophet? Did Ravens at Gods command feed Élijah? Did Cater-pillars, and Locusts, and Frogs, and Lice execute Gods judgements upon Pharaoh? Do fire, and hail, and snow, and vapours, and stormy winds fulfil his word? Doth the earth open, the rocks rend, the stars fight in their courses, waters stand up in heaps as a wall, the Moon stand still, the Sun go backward, wildernesses tremble, things cross the course of nature to obey, his pleasure, and wilt not thou obey him? O man, bethink thy self! wilt thou be worse then these irrational and inanimate creatures? are not thy engagements to God infinitely above theirs? what wilt thou have to say for thy self, when every stone in the street, as well as star in the heavens; when every bi•d, and beast, and fowl will condemn thee? O where wilt thou appear!

he tells thee, he gave himself for thee to redeem thee from all iniquity; and to purifie thee to himself a peculiar child zealous of good works. If the daily, and nightly, and hourly mercies that thou injoyest; if the sickness, or pain, or loss, or disgrace, or afflictions which sometimes thou sufferest, may be heard, there would not be so much ado to perswade a wretched creature to be blessed, and an ungodly person to be holy and happy. If the inanimate and irrational creatures, the earth beneath thee, the heavens above thee, the beasts ⟨p. 872⟩