The works of George Swinnock, M.A

look inwards, and the parts of the body may be thy Master, they conjoin for the good of each other; the eye seeth, the ear heareth, the mouth eateth, the stomach digesteth, the hands work, the ⟨p. 335⟩feet walk, for the welfare of the whole; look outwards, and the earth may be thy monitor, that is fruitful, not for its own, but others benefit; And art thou not ashamed to be barren? Lord, it is thy will,¹ that as I have received the gift, even so I should minister to others as a good Steward of the manifold grace of God; Keep thy servant from engrossing those spiritual riches to himself, which thou hast given him for the relief of thy poor.² O let me never eat my morsels alone, but according to my estate, clothe thy naked ones, and feed the hungry with good things. When I was blind, thou didst send an Ananias to me, saying, Brother, the Lord Jesus, that great Physician, hath sent me unto thee, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the holy Ghost; And immediately the scales fell from mine eyes, and I saw the things that concerned my peace; and shall not I pity others ignorance, and with meekness instruct them in the way of life! How dull was I of understanding? how slow to conceive and believe spiritual things? yet thou didst bear with me patiently, and didst give me Precept upon Precept, and line upon line. Why should not I bear with my fellows, since thou didst bear with one infinitely thine inferior! Thou hast enlivened me when I was dead; enlightened me, when I sat in darkness, and saw no light; supported me in my weaknesses, and supplied me in all my wants and necessities. O strengthen me, that since I am acquainted with the sweetness of thy love, and the greatness of thy power, I may communicate my experiences, and improve my gifts for the counselling, quickening and comforting of others.

look inwards, and the parts of the body may be thy Master, they conjoyn for the good of each other; the eye seeth, the ear heareth, the mouth eateth, the stomach digesteth, the hands work, the ⟨p. 335⟩feet walk, for the welfare of the whole; look outwards, and the earth may be thy monitour, that is fruitful, not for its own, but others benefit; And art thou not ashamed to be barren? Lord, it is thy will,