The works of George Swinnock, M.A

I rob my own soul most of all by my unrighteousness; How ill is that gain which causeth the loss of my God! How cheap do I sell those wares with which I buy endless and intolerable woe! How dear do I buy that silver, for which I sell my inestimable soul and salvation! Ah what an ill Market doth he make; that puts off his soul at any price! If it be unprofitable to gain the whole world and lose my own soul, what a fool, what a mad man am I to set my soul to sale for a very small part of the world! Into what a miserable Dilemma doth my deceitful dealing bring me! Either I must repent and vomit it up, which will tear and wrack my very heart, or else I must burn for ever in hell! O that I might never •e so bereaved of my wits, as to touch or meddle with such distracting wealth. ¹Lord, thou hast informed me, that, A little which the righteous man hath, is better then the possessions of many wicked; that better is a little with righteousness, then great revenues without right. I know that the comfort of my life doth not depend upon a confluence of outward good things, but upon thy love and good-will towards me; Let me rather choose the greatest want, then riches from Satan's hands and ⟨p. 67⟩in Hells way; Be thou pleased to sparkle my little with the precious diamond of thy love, and then twill be better indeed then the riches of many wicked; yea, more worth then all the World.

I rob my own soul most of all by my unrighteousness; How ill is that gain which causeth the loss of my God! How cheap do I sell those wares with which I buy endless and intollerable wo! How dear do I buy that silver, for which I sell my inestimable soul and salvation! Ah what an ill Market doth he make; that puts off his soul at any price! If it be unprofitable to gain the whole world and lose my own soul, what a fool, what a mad man am I to set my soul to sale for a very small part of the world! Into what a miserable Dilemma doth my deceitful dealing bring me! Either I must repent and vomit it up, which will tear and wrack my very heart, or else I must burn for ever in hell! O that I might never •e so bereaved of my wits, as to touch or meddle with such distracting wealth. ¹