The works of George Swinnock, M.A

3. Is not that worthy to be made thy business, which is the end of thy being and preservation, and of all the mercies that thou enjoyest, and of all the cost and charge which the Great God is night and day at with thee? For what end dost thou think the Great and Glorious God formed thy body so curiously in the womb, and animated it with an heaven-born soul? but that thou mightst be made capable of admiring his excellencies, adoring his perfections, and obeying his precepts. Canst thou be so foolish as to think that he created thee to despise his dominion, and break his laws, and dishonour his name, and walk contrary to him in thy conversation? Wherefore dost thou imagine God doth preserve thee in thy being, afford thee health, and strength, and sleep, and food, and raiment, and friends, and respect, and protect thee in thy outgoings, and incomings, and defend thee from invisible enemies, who are continually waiting to destroy thee, and have power enough to drag thee into hell every moment, b•t are only restrained by his almighty arm; but that thou mightest by these streams be led upward to the fountain, employ these talents as a faithful ⟨image 10⟩Steward for the honour of thy Master, and by these gifts, tokens of his love be persuaded to own and acknowledge the giver? Canst thou b• so sottish as to think that he bestoweth these favours upon thee, that thou shouldst walk after the flesh and embrace the present world, or to strengthen thee in thy treasons, and rebellions against him? To what purpose dost thou imagine, he bestoweth on thee his Gospel, his Ministers, his Sabbaths, his Ordinances, many golden seasons of grace? but to help and enable thee to draw nigh to him, to seek out after him, to desire him, and delight in him, as thy only happiness and heaven? Surely thou canst not be so brutish, as to conceive that he giveth thee all this (as women give babies to children) to play and toy with; or (as the Dutch are reported to have sent powder and shot for money to the Spaniards) to fight against him with? Doth not the Husbandman who takes care by dunging, and ploughing, and sowing, and harrowing to manure his ground, expect that it will bring forth the greater crop, and so recompense his cost, that the profit which he shall receive by it at harvest will answer all his pains?

3. Is not that worthy to be made thy business, which is the end of thy being and preservation, and of all the mercies that thou enjoyest, and of all the cost and charge which the Great God is night and day at with thee? For what end dost thou think the Great and Glorious God formed thy body so couriously in the womb, and animated it with an heaven-born soul? but that thou mightst be made capable of admiring his excellencies, adoring his perfections, and obeying his precepts. Canst thou be so foolish as to think that he created thee to despise his dominion, and break his laws, and dishonour his name, and walk contrary to him in thy conversation? Wherefore dost thou imagine God doth preserve thee in thy being, afford thee health, and strength, and sleep, and food, and raiment, and friends, and respect, and protect thee in thy outgoings, and incomings, and defend thee from invisible enemies, who are continually waiting to destroy thee, and have power enough to drag thee into hell every moment, bt are onely restrained by his almighty arm; but that thou mightest by these streams be led upward to the fountain, imploy these talents as a faithfull