The works of George Swinnock, M.A

¹I Wish that the soundness and integrity of my heart, may appear in the cleanness and purity of my hands; The sound will speak what Metal the Bell is of; the Flowers that show themselves above ground, will declare the nature of the root, which lieth hid; How often doth the face discover the faults of the vital parts? If my tongue and speech be double, my spirit cannot be single; If my actions be unrighteous, my inward man must needs be irreligious; How grossly do I delude my self, if I presume that I am holy, because I mind the first Table, if I be dishonest, and live in the breach of the second? when there is so much Religion in the duties of the second Table, that there can be no Religion without them; My deceitful heart is apt to suggest that its but a small matter, If I should supplant my Brother, and that there is no such need of care in my ordinary outward carriage: But my Sovereign, to whom I have sworn Allegiance, hath told me in the word of truth (Mat. 23. 23.) that justice and mercy ⟨p. 59⟩are the weighty matters of the Law, and hath commanded me, (Micah. 6. 8.) to do justly, and to love mercy throughout my whole life. O that I might never allow my self in the breach of those precepts, which in the worlds blind judgment are the least of his commands; and by my pattern teach men so, lest I be found at last, the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Lord, thou hast enjoined me, to keep thy Law as the Apple of mine eye (Prov. 7.) I know, a small thing will pain, a little dust will offend mine eye; but thy Law is infinitely more tender; thy Word forbids and condemneth the smallest wandering, the very conception of sin, in a vain thought; much more its birth in an unrighteous action, is abominable and odious to it; Thou hast commanded me to keep thy Precepts diligently; O that my ways were directed to keep all thy Commandments! Though I abound, and am never so strict in thine Ordinances, if I be careless and loose in my Contracts with men, thou canst espy the evil constitution of my soul, notwithstanding such painting; Thou canst see the rottenness of my heart, in the rottenness of my wares, under the false gloss I put upon them; And if thy moral precept find not obedience with me, my spiritual performances will never find acceptance with thee. The Pie, a speckled Bird, whose Feathers were white and black, was unclean.