The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Though many seem to affect me, I may not commit •y self to them, because I know no man. They who as Moses rod, seem at present to be a staff to support and stay me, may by and by prove Serpents to sting me. O that I might imitate my Saviour in his Politics, as well as in his Piety, and not through my folly, put my outward comforts into the hands of them that hate me, and lay my self at their mercy. I would as my God calleth me, own my Saviour in every company, and never deny him, who witnessed before Pontius Pilate ⟨p. 218⟩a good confession for me; but I desire that the feet of my zeal may always be directed by the eyes of knowledge and discretion, lest the faster and the farther they carry me, the more I wander to my woe. My God tells me, He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips, shall be destroyed, Prov. 13. 3. Bees, though engaged in hot skirmishes with other insects, use not their stings ordinarily, but when they are transported with rage, and blinded with passion, then they use them to their own certain ruin and destruction. No less injurious is the fire of zeal to my self and others, where it is not bounded by wisdom. I fear many servants of God have felt the wrath of some men (in a greater degree then they otherwise would,) through the immoderate heats of some few Saints. If under colour of hatred against sin, I fall foul upon persons, or instead of reproving sin the work of the Devil, revile Magistracy, and the Ordinance of God, I may expect to suffer, and with little comfort, because as an evil doer. Zeal is like Grenade's, and other fire-works, which if not well looked to, and ordered, they do more hurt to them that cast them, then to t•e enemy. O that I might behave my self wisely in a perfect way, and behave my self prudently in the path of piety, that I may never be so foolish, as with the silly fly, to burn my self in the candle of wicked mens power, nor yet so unfaithful as to forsake my Captain, when he calleth me to fight the good fight of faith; Let my ambition be, to be high in my Gods favour, and to have a large share in that eternal weight of glory above;

Though many seem to affect me, I may not commit •y self to them, because I know no man. They who as Moses rod, seem at present to be a staff to support and stay me, may by and by prove Serpents to sting me. O that I might imitate my Saviour in his Politicks, as well as in his Piety, and not through my folly, put my outward comforts into the hands of them that hate me, and lay my self at their mercy. I would as my God calleth me, own my Saviour in every company, and never deny him, who witnessed before Pontius Pilate