The works of George Swinnock, M.A

When we are meditating on the sinfulness of sin. In its nature, its contrariety to God, his being, his law, his honour; its opposition to our own souls, their present purity and peace, their future glory and bliss. In its causes, Satan the wicked one its Father, the corrupt heart of man its Mother. In its properties; how defiling it is, filthiness it self; how infectious it is, overspreading the whole man, polluting all his natural, civil, spiritual actions, ⟨p. 393⟩making his praying, hearing, singing an abomination; how deceiving it is, pretending meat, and intending murder. In its effects; the curse of God on all the creatures evident by the vanity in them, the vexation they bring with them, in the anger of God on sinners, apparent in those temporal punishments, spiritual judgements, and eternal torments which he inflicteth on them; I say, when we meditate on this we should endeavour to get our hearts broken for sin, ashamed of sin, and fired with indignation against sin. O what a wretch am I (should the soul think) to harbour such a Traitor against my Sovereign! What a fool am I to hug such a serpent in my bosom! What sorrow for it can be sufficient! What hatred of it is enough! What watchfulness against it, what self abhorrency, because I have loved it, and lived in it, can equal its desert! O that I could weep bitterly for the commission of it, and watch narrowly for the prevention of it, and pray-fervently •or pardon of it, and power against it! How much am I bound to God for his patience towards so great a sinner! How infinitely am I engaged to Christ for taking upon him my sins! Twas infinite condescension in him to take upon him my nature; but O what humiliation was it to take upon him my sins! What life can answer such love? what thankfulness should I render for such, grace such goodness! The close applying of our meditations to our hearts, is like the applying and rubbing in oil on a benumbed joint, which recovers it to its due sense. He that omits it, doth as a chapman that praiseth ware and cheapens it, but doth not buy it, and so is never the better for it. David proceeds from meditation of ⟨p. 394⟩Gods works, to application of his thoughts, Psal. 8.2,3,4. When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, &c. What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost thus visit him? 5.