The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Now Reader, if the witness of one enemy be a double testimony, what is the witness of all the enemies of God and Godliness, on the behalf of the Lord, and his ways against themselves? Shall it not prevail with thee to set speedily, and diligently about the work of Christianity? Ah how dumb wilt thou be struck another day, if thou wilt not believe either God, or good men, or thy conscience, or thy companions, or all the world?

12. and Lastly, Is not that worthy to be made thy business, upon which thine eternal life or death, salvation or damnation doth depend? Consider it friend, here is salvation and damnation before thee; eternal salvation, and eternal damnation; and they depend upon thy making religion thy business, or neglect of it. O what weight is there in these few words! Make religion thy business, and thou art eternally blessed; be formal and careless about it, and thou art cursed for ever; upon the one and the other turneth thine eternal estate. The Almighty God hath under his own hand, set down this making religion thy business to be the only terms upon which heaven shall be had; and it is impossible to alter or abate his price, Joh. 6. 27. Mat. 6. 33. Philp. 2. 12. Canst thou be so foolish as to think ⟨image 19⟩[…] ⟨image 19⟩[…] ⟨image 20⟩that Christ, and happiness, and eternal life can be obtained upon easier conditions, when he must make God a liar, and the Gospel a lie? (which the Devil himself is not so wicked as to think possible) who arriveth at the port of bliss without exercising himself to Godliness? The promises ever since the world was, had the same conditions, and ever will whilst the world shall endure? The Gospel is therefore called the everlasting Gospel, because it will continue without the least change or alteration the same for ever. Thou mayst be confident that God doth not as some indiscreet Citizens, ask much more for his eternal glory and life men then he intendeth to take.