The works of George Swinnock, M.A

How doth the World conclude, Surely the Parents are very bad, whom their own Children discommend so much! Certainly ⟨p. 62⟩there is little love or power, or faithfulness in their Father, when his own Sons dare not trust him for a little food, but go up and down to steal and filch from others! O how ordinary is it for the profane to throw the dirt of professors sins on the face of their profession! None give such wounds to the credit of the blessed God, as some who pretend to be his own children. The higher the place is whence a stone falls, the deeper it pierceth No blows more mortal then those of a Thunder-bolt. My profession is high; if my practices be vile and base, I strike religion to the very heart; O let me never be so vile a Traitor, as by my sordid courses (like Judas) to betray the holy Jesus to the buffetings and mockings of his adversaries; Why should I harden the bad by my sinful shifts in their wickedness? Shall I be the Devils broker to put off those rotten wares for him, of cozening and cheating, which otherwise might lie upon his hands? Why should I sadden the good? Shall I cause them to hang down their heads with sorrow as the Patriarchs did theirs, when the cup was found in Benjamins sack? Lord, thou art tender of the Reputation of thy chosen, and hast many a time wrought wonderfully for their renown and credit; When the wicked world hath blown upon their names, endeavouring to blast them and make them unsavoury, thou hast magnified thy power to vindicate their honour; And shall I make thy glorious name contemptible, when thou makest my vile name honourable? Can I be so void of love to thy Majesty, as to tread upon that name of thine, that is more worth then Heaven and Earth? Besides, Many a season I have pleaded thy name in prayer, and that with ⟨p. 63⟩success. My voice hath been in the behalf of my own soul;¹ For thy names sake pardon mine iniquity, for it is great; Thou art my Rock and my Fortress, therefore for thy names sake, lead me and guide me: When thou haste answered me,² Behold I, even I am he that blotteth out thine iniquities, for my names sake; I will defer my anger for mine names sake, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. O how many a blessing hath thy name been, both the Orator to procure, and the Messenger to bring!