The works of George Swinnock, M.A

²I Wish that I may be the more careful of my carriage in secret, lest what I intend as an opportunity for my Gods service, should prove a season and advantage for Satan; The body must be looked to narrowly, when it comes out of an hot Bath, lest the Pores being open, it should take cold. The soul must be carefully tended, when it comes from Christian communion, lest in solitude it lose what it hath gained in good company. When the Countryman hath been at Market and filled his Purse, he is in most danger of robbing as he goeth home alone. The Tempter will be sure to be present with me, whoever be absent; He walks to and fro in the earth, and whilst I am in his Circuit, I must expect his company; Though he be more bold then welcome, and though I deny his desires, defy his works, and resist him, and sometimes foil him, yet he will ⟨p. 445⟩still attend to solicit me to folly; wherever I go, he will find me out; and whatever I do, I must expect him at my elbow; he hath a double advantage of me in solitude, partly in that I have no visible second to assist me; he hopes when I am alone, tis a good time to set upon me, and that he is strong enough by force to ravish and defile me; Partly, in that shame which restrains from sin in public, hath no place, no prevalency in private. He will tell me that secrecy may be a curtain to hide my sins from the worlds eye, of which I am so much afraid. As Josephs Mistress, he will cry, Come lie with me, be bold to sin, to take thy pleasure, for here is no man present to know it, or to reveal it to thy disgrace. And for God, he hath forgotten, he hideth his face, he will never see it; How shall God know? can he judge through the dark Cloud? Thick Clouds are a covering to him, that he doth not see, and he walketh in the circuit of Heaven. But O my soul, thy double danger calleth upon thee to be the more vigilant and diligent in minding thy duty. When thou hast no humane friend to watch over thee, thou art the more concerned to watch over thy self. They that live far from Neighbours, are the more liable to Thieves, and therefore if wise, will make up that want by extraordinary watchfulness, and a greater provision of armour and weapons; If one Devil be too hard a match for many secure Christians, how unable will one single Christian be, to encounter with many, with a Legion of Devils!

²I Wish that I may be the more careful of my carriage in secret, lest what I intend as an opportunity for my Gods service, should prove a season and advantage for Satan; The body must be lookt to narrowly, when it comes out of an hot Bath, lest the Poors being open, it should take cold. The soul must be carefully tended, when it comes from Christian communion, lest in solitude it lose what it hath gained in good company. When the Countryman hath been at Market and filled his Purse, he is in most danger of robbing as he goeth home alone. The Tempter will be sure to be present with me, whoever be absent; He walks to and fro in the earth, and whilst I am in his Circuit, I must expect his company; Though he be more bold then welcome, and though I deny his desires, defie his works, and resist him, and sometimes foil him, yet he will