The works of George Swinnock, M.A

8. Is not that worthy to be made thy business, which will and can refresh and revive thee in an hour of death, and enable thee to sing and triumph at the approach of the King of terrors? The Master of Moral Philosophy tells us, that its worth the while for a man to be all the time he lives, learning how to dye well. The unerring spirit of God acquaints us, that it ought to be our great work to be wise for our latter end. Doubtless it must be a rich costly cordial indeed, and deserves not a little time and pains, and charge to prepare, which can keep a man from fainting in such a day of extremity; wherein our honours, and treasures, friends, wives, children, nay, our flesh and hearts will fail and forsake us. That cannot be of mean worth, which can make a man encounter his last enemy with courage and conquest; at the sight of which, Kings, and Captains, and Nobles, and the greatest Warriors have trembled, as leaves with the wind, and their hearts melted as grease before the fire.

8. Is not that worthy to be made thy business, which will and can refresh and revive thee in an hour of death, and enable thee to sing and triumph at the approach of the King of terrors? The Master of Moral Philosophy tells us, that its worth the while for a man to be all the time he lives, learning how to dye well. The unerring spirit of God acquaints us, that it ought to be our great work to be wise for our latter end. Doubtless it must be a rich costly cordial indeed, and deserves not a little time and pains, and charge to prepare, which can keep a man from fainting in such a day of extremity; wherein our honours, and treasures, friends, wives, children, nay, our flesh and hearts will fail and forsake us. That cannot be of mean worth, which can make a man encounter his last enemy with courage and conquest; at the sight of which, Kings, and Captains, and Nobles, and the greatest Warriers have trembled, as leaves with the wind, and their hearts melted as grease before the fire.

Now Reader, Godliness is that wine which will cause thee to sing at the approach of this Goliath, and enable thee as Leviathan, to laugh at the shaking of his spear; when whole hosts of others, without Godliness, fly like Cowards before it, and would give all they are worth to avoid fighting with it. Hark what a challenge the godly sends to this adversary, daring it to meet him in the field; O death where is thy sting! O grave where is thy victory! the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law; But thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,