The works of George Swinnock, M.A

¹I Wish that I may look to the righteousness of my actions, as well as to the righteousness of my person, and never think that my house can be firm, if it be built upon the rotten foundation of injustice. My God hath said, Woe be to him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his Chambers by wrong. As high as my house is raised, and as sure as it is seated, the breath of this curse will blow it down. Though my estate seem never so fair, yet how easily and how speedily may this scorching curse cause it to fade, ²and to wither in my hand as a flower! Have not mine eyes beheld the ruins of some stately dwellings, which have been built upon rapine! Unrighteousness, ⟨p. 65⟩like Rabbits in some Countries, hath undermined the foundations, and overturned the buildings; and shall mine escape? Whether I will believe it or no • My God hath spoken, that unjust gain will prove my own loss, and he will see it accomplished. Whatsoever fine terms I may call my cheating by, as an Art in my Trade, or the Mystery of my Calling, yet my God counts it Theft, and me for it but a Thief. Though I may put a fair colour upon my false dealing, yet he forbids it under the plain censure of stealing; Thou shalt not steal. And O how great a Thief am I, if I be guilty of this in my ordinary dealings! I wrong my Neighbours that trade with me, and that most Hypocritically, under the pretence of doing them right. To kill a man in the field by force is wicked; but to poison him at my Table by fraud is worse, because in this latter I pretend friendship. To rob on the High-way by open power is grievous; but to rob in my Shop by this hellish policy is more odious, for I wrong one that is my friend, and in such a way, that he hath no means to help himself. The Righteous God saith,³ My hands are full of blood, not only when I murder a mans person, and take away his life, but also when I injure a mans portion and take away his lively-hood. Such unjust persons must expect sore punishments; The Law of man punisheth Cheats in some measure; but the Law of the jealous God, is more severe to such Jugglers as endeavour to unglue the whole worlds frame, knit together only by commerce and contracts.