The works of George Swinnock, M.A

1. Their cross was weighty; It was an evil time, ¹a time of much danger and difficulty; Sin abounded, Sinners were enraged, God was provoked, and the Godly oppressed.

1. 1Non turbatur navis quae Petrum habebat, sed turbatur •lla que Judam habebat; etsi multa illorum discipulorum merita naufragabant, tamen adhuc perfidia proditoris agitabatur; in utraque P•trus; s•d qui suis meritis fi•mus est, turbatur alienis. Caveamus igitur perfidum, Caveamus proditorem, ne per un•m plurimi fluctuemus. Amb. super. Luc. lib. 4.Non turbatur navis quae Petrum habebat, sed turbatur •lla que Iudam habebat; etsi multa illorum discipulorum merita naufragabant, tamen adhuc perfidia proditoris agitabatur; in utraque P•trus; s•d qui suis meritis fi•mus est, turbatur alienis. Caveamus igitur perfidum, Caveamus proditorem, ne per un•m plurimi fluctuemus. Amb. super. Luc. lib. 4.

2. Their carriage was wise; They shall keep silence. The words may have a two fold exposition; 1. If they be taken in relation to God (as some think) they speak the patient submission of the faithful, in that evil day, to the divine providence and pleasure. 2. If they be taken in relation to men (as others expound them) they speak the prudent conversation of the gracious in that day of persecution; they shall not causelessly throw themselves into greater miseries, but shall keep all due silence to avoid needless sufferings. Indeed thy care must be to own Christ ever, and to profess him publicly when thou art called to it; but as thy policy should not eat up thy zeal, so thy zeal must not eat up thy wisdom; I would not discourage thee from confessing the Lord Jesus; yet I must tell thee that thou art not bound to proclaim in all companies, of what judgement thou art, nor what Church Government thou wouldst choose, not what society thou meetest in, &c. Nay, thou art bound to the contrary. He that hath a good mixture of zeal and prudence, is like a fire on the hearth, of much use and service; but zeal without discretion, is like fire on the top of the Chimney, which often doth much mischief. Zeal to a Christian is like an high Wind lling the sails of a Ship, which unless it be ballasted with discretion, doth but the sooner overturn