The works of George Swinnock, M.A

So great is the glory and amiableness of the New Creation, that not only the Saints who are endued with wisdom from above, and can judge aright, esteem it above their honours, and riches, and relations, and lives, and rejoice in it as their peculiar privilege and highest dignity; but even Angels, behold it with admiration, and look on their own purity, and conformity to the divine nature and pleasure, as their greatest perfection. Nay, God himself, whose being is the ⟨image 5⟩pattern, and whose will is the rule of holiness, is ravished and enamoured with it, as that which is the travail of the soul of his dear son, the immediate work of his own spirit, and the end, and glory, and master-piece of all the works of his hands; Yet this heavenly off-spring, this divine image, this supernatural beam of light, this resemblance and picture of Gods own perfections, this royal attire of the celestial Courtiers, which rendereth the poorest and meanest Christian, more noble and excellent then his highest, and richest, ungodly Neighbour, and makes him more glorious then a clear sky, bespangled with the shining stars, or an imperial Diadem, sparkling with the richest Diamonds, is the scorn and derision of the blind unworthy world; That as Salvian complained in his days,¹ Si honoratior quispiam religioni see applicuerit, illico honoratus esse desistit; si fuerit sublimis, fit despicabilis, •i splendidissimus, fit vilissimus; si totus honoris, fit totus injuria, &c. If a noble person betake himself to religion, he is presently degraded, and all his former fame, and honour, and renown, turned into disgrace, contempt, and contumely; and men are forced to be vicious, lest they should be counted vile.

So great is the glory and amiableness of the New Creation, that not onely the Saints who are indued with wisdom from above, and can judge aright, esteem it above their honours, and riches, and relations, and lives, and rejoyce in it as their peculiar priviledge and highest dignitie; but even Angels, behold it with admiration, and look on their own purity, and conformity to the divine nature and pleasure, as their greatest perfection. Nay, God himself, whose being is the ⟨image 5⟩pattern, and whose will is the rule of holiness, is ravished and enamoured with it, as that which is the travail of the soul of his dear son, the immediate work of his own spirit, and the end, and glory, and master-piece of all the works of his hands; Yet this heavenly off-spring, this divine image, this supernatural beam of light, this resemblance and picture of Gods own perfections, this royal attire of the celestial Courtiers, which rendereth the poorest and meanest Christian, more noble and excellent then his highest, and richest, ungodly Neighbour, and makes him more glorious then a clear skie, bespangled with the shining stars, or an imperial Diadem, sparkling with the richest Diamonds, is the scorn and derision of the blind unworthy world; That as Salvian complained in his days,