The works of George Swinnock, M.A

The Mighty Possessor of Heaven and Earth, ¹who governeth the World with infinite wisdom, and allotteth to all the Children of men, their several Callings and Habitations; having permitted the chaff to continue amongst the Corn, and appointed the tares to remain amongst the wheat till the great Harvest day; and calling me sometimes by his providence, to deal with profane and vicious persons: I Wish I may be so sensible how difficult it is to be safe amongst such defilers and destroyers of souls, that I may walk with the more caution, when ever I walk in such company, and make them my fear, not my familiar•, and rather my care then my Companions. I know that I must go out of the world, if I will go away from the wicked. Ill humours will be amongst good in the body; Sins will be amongst graces in the soul, and sinners will be amongst Saints on this Earth. I am but a stranger here, they are men of the world; I must therefore expect, as Lot in Sodom, to be both vexed with their unclean conversations, and tempted to their violent corruptions; my God calleth them Foxes for their craft, Lions for their cruelty, and a generation of Vipers for their rage and venom; In what danger therefore is my soul of being deceived and devoured by them? How certainly will these ravenous beasts tear me in pieces, unless I stand upon my guard, and the Keeper of Israel undertake my protection! Lord, ⟨p. 210⟩since it is not thy pleasure to free me from their Company, grant me such help from thy good spirit, that I may be free from their contagion; Though I may sit at the same table with them, as my occasions or relations require, let me never eat of their dish, nor feed on their dainties; I pray not that thou shouldst take me out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep me from the evil; keep me from the snares which they lay for me, and from the gins of the workers of iniquity;² Let the wicked rather fall into their own Nets, whilst that I withal escape.

THe Mighty Possessour of Heaven and Earth, ¹who governeth the World with infinite wisdom, and allotteth to all the Children of men, their several Callings and Habitations; having permitted the chaff to continue amongst the Corn, and appointed the tares to remain amongst the wheat till the great Harvest day; and calling me sometimes by his providence, to deal with prophane and vicious persons: I Wish I may be so sensible how difficult it is to be safe amongst such defilers and destroyers of souls, that I may walk with the more caution, when ever I walk in such company, and make them my fear, not my familiar, and rather my care then my Companions. I know that I must go out of the world, if I will go away from the wicked. Ill humours will be amongst good in the body; Sins will be amongst graces in the soul, and sinners will be amongst Saints on this Earth. I am but a stranger here, they are men of the world; I must therefore expect, as Lot in Sodom, to be both vexed with their unclean conversations, and tempted to their violent corruptions; my God calleth them Foxes for their craft, Lions for their cruelty, and a generation of Vipers for their rage and venome; In what danger therefore is my soul of being deceived and devoured by them? How certainly will these ravenous beasts tear me in peices, unless I stand upon my guard, and the Keeper of Israel undertake my protection! Lord,