The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Its evident that many men, whose hearts are full of opposition to the ways of God, and whose lives are a flat contradiction to his Word and Will, do yet in their extremity seek him early, and cry to him earnestly, and fly to Godliness as the only shelter in a storm, and safest anchor in a tempest. The most profane and atheistical wretches, who have in their works defied God himself, and in their words blasphemously derided godly men and godliness; when they have been brought low by sickness, and entered within the borders of the King of terrors, and have some apprehensions upon their spirits that they must go the way of all the earth; then (as Naturalists observe of the dying Cuckoo) they change their note, send for godly Ministers, godly Christians, desire them to pray with them, to pray for them, hearken diligently to their serious instructions, wish with all their hearts, and would give their highest honours, and richest treasures, and imperial diadems, and kingdoms if they have any, and all they are worth, that they had made Godliness their business; and promise if God will spare them, and lengthen their lives but a few days upon earth, that they will have no work, no calling, no employment, no design, but how to please God, and obey his counsel, and submit to his Spirit, and follow after holiness, and prepare their souls for heaven. O then Godliness is godliness ⟨image 17⟩indeed, and grace is grace indeed. Then they call and cry as the foolish Virgins to the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. O give us grace, give us godliness in the power of it, for all our formal, out side, lazy serving of God is come to nothing. The Serpent that is crooked all her life time, when dying stretcheth her self straight.

Its evident that many men, whose hearts are full of opposition to the ways of God, and whose lives are a flat contradiction to his Word and Will, do yet in their extremity seek him early, and cry to him earnestly, and flie to Godliness as the only shelter in a storm, and safest anchor in a tempest. The most prophane and atheistical wretches, who have in their works defied God himself, and in their words blasphemously derided godly men and godliness; when they have been brought low by sickness, and entred within the borders of the King of terrours, and have some apprehensions upon their spirits that they must go the way of all the earth; then (as Naturalists observe of the dying Cuckoe) they change their note, send for godly Ministers, godly Christians, desire them to pray with them, to pray for them, hearken diligently to their serious instructions, wish with all their hearts, and would give their highest honours, and richest treasures, and imperial diadems, and kingdoms if they have any, and all they are worth, that they had made Godliness their business; and promise if God will spare them, and lengthen their lives but a few days upon earth, that they will have no work, no calling, no employment, no design, but how to please God, and obey his counsel, and submit to his Spirit, and follow after holiness, and prepare their souls for heaven. O then Godliness is godliness