The works of George Swinnock, M.A

The arrows of sin are always too short to reach him, and he is so high that he is far above our highest service, our blessings and praises; infinite perfection admits of no addition; Can a man be profitable to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous, or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect? He begs as hard as if it were for his own life, but it is wholly for ours; He loseth not the least, if we be lost; he saves nothing by our salvation; Its all one to the Sun whether men open their eyes and are refreshed with its light, or shut their eyes and behold nothing of its glorious splendour. ⟨p. 475⟩9. He forbeareth us, who is infinitely our Superior; It were much for a King to bear with a affronts from a vile Beggar; but its infinitely more for the King of Kings to bear with indignities and treasons, and malice, and hatred, from his vile creatures. O the patience of a God! man cannot suffer a disrespect from his fellow; but God doth from them that are infinitely his inferiors. The Apostles were good men, yet upon a little disrespect from some of the same make and mould with themselves, they presently call for fire from heaven; what patience and goodness is then in God, who beareth with such innumerable and notorious affronts, from his Slaves and Vassals, from them that in comparison of him are much less then nothing! 10. He warneth before he striketh; He threatens that he might not punish, and thundereth with his voice, that he might not overthrow us with his hand; He shoots off his warning pieces, that he might spare his murdering pieces. Men that are set upon revenge, are silent. When Absalom resolved on the destruction of Ammon, he spake not a word to him, either good or bad; but God tells men fully what is intended against them by his justice, that it might be prevented by their fitness for mercy. That bitterest cup of threatenings, hath the sweet of love at the bottom. 11. He punisheth temporally, that he might spare eternally; When he is forced to strike, he •seth the rod, that he might not use the axe;¹ We are chastened of the Lord, that we might not be condemned with the world; He forceth tears in this world, to prevent ⟨p. 476⟩eternal weeping; how many a mans way doth he hedge up with thorns, that he might not find the path to eternal death. 12.