The works of George Swinnock, M.A

that it is to no purpose to ⟨p. 83⟩persuade men to godliness, and that I do but lose my labour in all my counsels and admonitions to others! This unbelief, Lord, is the traitor which is such an enemy to the Crown and Sceptre of thy dear Son; O let it please thy Majesty to execute it speedily. Why should this Worm lye gnawing at the root, and hinder my soul from glorifying thee, by bringing forth much fruit? Is not my soul a Vine of thine own planting? Thou broughtest her out of Egypt, a state of bondage and slavery to Sin and Satan and she is come up from the Wilderness, leaning upon her Beloved. Why doth this Boar of the Wood waste her, and this Wild Beast of the field devour her, even this evil heart of unbelief, whereby she departs away from the living God? Return I beseech thee O God of Hosts, look down from Heaven, and behold, and visit this Vine, fence it by thine Almighty power, prune it by thy providence, water it with the showers of thy grace, and so quicken it with the beams of thy favour, that it may bring forth much fruit to thy glory.

that it is to no purpose to ⟨p. 83⟩perswade men to godliness, and that I do but lose my labour in all my counsels and admonitions to others! This unbeleif, Lord, is the traytour which is such an enemy to the Crown and Scepter of thy dear Son; O let it please thy Majesty to execute it speedily. Why should this Worm lye gnawing at the root, and hinder my soul from glorifying thee, by bringing forth much fruit? Is not my soul a Vine of thine own planting? Thou broughtest her out of Egypt, a state of bondage and slavery to Sin and Satan• and she is come up from the Wilderness, leaning upon her Beloved. Why doth this Boar of the Wood waste her, and this Wild Beast of the field devour her, even this evil heart of unbeleif, whereby she departs away from the living God? Return I beseech thee O God of Hosts, look down from Heaven, and behold, and visi• this Vine, fence it by thine Almighty power, prune it by thy providence, water it with the showres of thy grace, and so quicken it with the beams of thy favour, that it may bring forth much fruit to thy glory.