The works of George Swinnock, M.A

10. The Leaves drop from the Trees in the beginning of Autumn; Such is the friendship of this world, whilst the sap of wealth and honour lasteth with me, and whilst I enjoy a summer of prosperity, my friends swarm in abundance, but in the winter of adversity they will leave me naked; O how miserable is that person, who hath no friends but of this world! How happy is he that hath the sap of grace, which will remain with him in the coldest winter! Thus, O my soul, whilst thou art walking with regenerate creatures, thou mayst better thy spiritual ⟨p. 463⟩senses, and walk with thy Creator. O how may thy thoughts be raised to the trees that are planted in the house of the Lord, and flourish in the Courts of thy God, that are planted by the Rivers of waters, and bring forth their fruit in due season! Lord, I confess thy goodness in giving me so many ushers, yet alas my dull and blockish heart, to this day hath not learnt those lessons which thou hast set me by them; Unless thou, who art the chief Master of the Assemblies, undertake the work, all will be in vain; Thy creatures are as burning glasses, they cannot make the Sun to shine, but when it doth vouchsafe its heavenly beams, they help to increase both light and heat. Its thine own promise that all Scions Children shall be taught of God; Let it please thee to undertake the tuition and instruction of thine untoward Scholar; O do thou spiritualize my heart, and then I shall spiritualize all the works of thine hand, do thou enlighten me so powerfully by thy blessed Spirit, that I may turn every spark into a candle and every candle into a star, and every star into a Sun; and by the light of all be enabled to see more of thy beautiful face, and blessed perfections.

10. The Leaves drop from the Trees in the beginning of Autumn; Such is the friendship of this world, whilst the sap of wealth and honour lasteth with me, and whilst I enjoy a summer of prosperity, my friends swarm in abundance, but in the winter of adversity they will leave me naked; O how miserable is that person, who hath no friends but of this world! How happy is he that hath the sap of grace, which will remain with him in the coldest winter! Thus, O my soul, whilst thou art walking with regenerate creatures, thou mayst better thy spiritual ⟨p. 463⟩senses, and walk with thy Creator. O how may thy thoughts be raised to the trees that are planted in the house of the Lord, and flourish in the Courts of thy God, that are planted by the Rivers of waters, and bring forth their fruit in due season! Lord, I confess thy goodness in giving me so many ushers, yet alas my dull and blockish heart, to this day hath not learnt those lessons which thou hast set me by them; Vnless thou, who art the chief Master of the Assemblies, undertake the work, all will be in vain; Thy creatures are as burning glasses, they cannot make the Sun to shine, but when it doth vouchsafe its heavenly beams, they help to increase both light and heat. Its thine own promise that all Sions Children shall be taught of God; Let it please thee to undertake the tuition and instruction of thine untoward Scholar; O do thou spiritualize my heart, and then I shall spiritualize all the works of thine hand, do thou enlighten me so powerfully by thy blessed Spirit, that I may turn every spark into a candle and every candle into a star, and every star into a Sun; and by the light of all be enabled to see more of thy beautiful face, and blessed perfections.