The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Reader, it is thy privilege that thou mayst perform this duty in any place: No sight, no sound but may afford matter for meditation. If thou walkest in thy garden thou mayst turn it into an Eden by delightful meditations; Dost thou behold the flowers standing in their ranks, what a goodly show they make? thou mayst think what a lovely •ight it is to see Christians continuing in those several places and stations in which God hath set them. Some flowers open and shut with the sun; so doth the Christian observe the shining and withdrawing of the Sun of righteousness. Some flowers dye, having a worm gnawing their root; so will all hypocrites wither and come to nothing, notwithstanding ⟨p. 384⟩their gaudy show. Flowers are tender things, and must be charily looked to, or they fade away, so Saints, if the Spirit of God were not choice of them, and ever watchful over them, would perish. How lovely are flowers to the eye? how pleasant to the taste? how soft to the touch? what ornaments to an house? How amiable are the children of God to those that have eyes to see his image on them? how fragrant is the smell of their Spikenard, and Calamus, and Cassia? what a grace are they to any Family or Society? Dost thou walk into thy Garden to observe how thy flowers thrive?¹ so Jesus Christ goeth into his garden to see how his plants flourish: Thou wilt not allow any weeds or barren flowers in thy Garden; and Jesus Christ will not permit such wicked unprofitable ones in his Church. Flowers are lovely and beautiful one day, and withered and fallen off the stalk the next;² so man is a comely living creature one day, and a deformed corps the next. Thus a Saint may make every flower like the Gilly-flower, cordial to him.

Reader, it is thy priviledge that thou mayst perform this duty in any place: No sight, no sound but may afford matter for meditation. If thou walkest in thy garden thou mayst turn it into an Eden by delightful meditations; Dost thou behold the flowers standing in their ranks, what a goodly shew they make? thou mayst think what a lovely •ight it is to see Christians contînuing in those several places and stations in which God hath set them. Some flowers open and shut with the sun; so doth the Christian observe the shining and withdrawing of the Sun of righteousness. Some flowers dye, having a worm gnawing their root; so will all hypocrites wither and come to nothing, notwithstanding