The works of George Swinnock, M.A

O my soul, what dost thou think of these things! was ever patience represented in such lively, lovely colours? Thou mayst now fully satisfy thy self in the reason of thine abode so many years on this side the unquenchable lake. Dost thou ask, Why was I not cut off from the womb, and hurried through the light of this world, to blackness of darkness for ever? I answer, because thy God is patient. Dost thou ask, Though I was not as a poisonous viper, crushed to death (as soon as brought forth) with the foot of divine wrath, for the venom which was in me; yet when I put it forth to the injury of others, and did spit it in the face of God himself, why was I spared? I answer, because God is patient. Thou sinnest often, every day, every hour, in every thought, in every word, in every deed, and he spares as often, because He is patient. Thou readest of a season when the patience of the Saints doth especially ⟨p. 483⟩triumph, Here is the faith and patience of the Saints;¹ This world is the stage, and this life is the time wherein the patience of thy God doth act its part, to the amazement of all judicious spectators; Here is the faithfulness and patience of thy God. O that I could affect and admire it, embrace and entertain it according to its worth! O that my heart were filled with its warmth, my tongue with its praise, and my life with its end! O thou that art so much in favour with God, and so great a friend to men, that thou wert engraven upon the palms of my hands, and thy walls were ever before me! O that thy noble deeds, and what wonders thou hast wrought for the children of men, were written for the generations to come, that the people yet unborn might praise the Lord! When, O when shall this patience of my God make a suitable impression upon my spirit! I live upon it, I live by it, I had been a fire-brand of Hell at this moment, had it not been for it, yet how great a stranger am I to it! It goeth with me when I walk abroad, it abides with me when I stay at home, it followeth me up and down day and night; I am beholden to it for my life and all my mercies, for my present enjoyments, and future expectations; yet• alas how little am I affected with it!

O my soul, what dost thou think of these things! was ever patience represented in such lively, lovely colours? Thou mayst now fully satisfie thy self in the reason of thine abode so many years on this side the unquenchable lake. Dost thou ask, Why was I not cut off from the womb, and hurried through the light of this world, to blackness of darkness for ever? I answer, because thy God is patient. Dost thou ask, Though I was not as a poisonous viper, crusht to death (as soon as brought forth) with the foot of divine wrath, for the venome which was in me; yet when I put it forth to the injury of others, and did spit it in the face of God himself, why was I spared? I answer, because God is patient. Thou sinnest often, every day, every hour, in every thought, in every word, in every deed, and he spares as often, because He is patient. Thou readet of a season when the patience of the Saints doth especially