The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Lord, let me never be so much a beast, as to lye snoring in a nasty kennel of filth, and when any come to wake me, fly in their faces; but let me prefer a sharp admonition, before the smoothest deceits. When any praise me for the good in me, cause me to suspect my self; when any reprove me for the evil in me, let me accept it with thanks; Make me able to say with that sweet singer of Israel, Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, and it shall be an excellent oil, it shall not break my head.

Lord, let me never be so much a beast, as to lye snoring in a nasty kennel of filth, and when any come to wake me, flie in their faces; but let me prefer a sharp admonition, before the smoothest deceits. When any praise me for the good in me, cause me to suspect my self; when any reprove me for the evil in me, let me accept it with thanks; Make me able to say with that sweet singer of Israel, Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, and it shall be an excellent oyl, it shall not break my head.

I Wish that I may by no means repine, ⁴but always rejoice at the gifts and graces of others. If ⟨p. 346⟩the other members of the body thrive, the heart doth not grieve, but is glad at it. Its ordinary for younger brothers, to boast and glory in the large estate, and great possessions which their elder brothers have left them by their Fathers. Why should not my soul be joyful at the great share of spiritual riches, which the only wise God hath given some of my brethren? If a man love sweet smells, the greater degree of them he observeth in any place, the mo•e he is refreshed with them. He that delights in Pictures, if he see one in a room, exactly and exquisitely drawn, above all the rest, that shall have more of his eye and his heart. Is not grace compared to sweet Ointments? and shall not I be comforted the more for the greatness of its savour? Is not the Image of my God amiable in mine eye? and ought I not to delight most in that Copy which is nearest the Original? Surely, if I envy any their spiritual excellencies, I show my self too like a Child of the Devil; There is hardly any worm that gnaweth that unclean spirit more painfully, then the grace which God gives his Children; Their sins are his utmost joy, their graces are his extreme grief. Would I be found in Satan's livery at the last? O that I might be so far from murmuring at that double portion of the Spirit, which my God bestoweth upon some of his people, that I might bless God heartily for it, and beg of God to add to it an hundred fold, how great soever it is. The pretty Birds sing the more merrily, the higher the Sun mounteth in the Heavens. I have cause to be the more cheerful, the nearer any ascend to Heaven, and the higher they mount in holiness. My love to my God, to my Brother,