The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Pythagoras taught his Scholars to talk thus with themselves, [Greek or Hebrew]; What evil have I committed, what good have I omitted? Reader, let not them who knew not God, rise up in judgement against thee. Put every night some brief Queries to thy conscience, upon these few heads; How did I behave my self in Religious Duties, in Natural Actions, in my Particular Calling, in Recreations (if any were used) in Company, and in Solitude; Compare the carriage of thy heart and life, herein to the word and law of God, bring all to the touchstone. Hereby, 1. Sin will be prevented; The Child will be the more dutiful and diligent all day, who expecteth to be examined (by them that have power to punish or reward) for every part of it at night. The Christian will keep his heart as clean as the neat maid her house, who is ever in fear of a severe mistress. ⟨image 287⟩2. Hereby, if sin be committed, it will speedily be repented of; The wound will be healed before it be festered; A disease is much more easily cured at the beginning, then when it is habituated in the body; Had David called his conscience to a serious account, at the close of that day wherein he defiled Bathsheba, he had prevented both much sin, and much sorrow. 3. Our hearts will hereby be the better prepared for evening duties. The reflection upon the sins committed in the day past, will make the streams of our sorrow to run the more freely; Wounds when fresh, bleed most. Our Petitions also will be the more fervent for divine strength, when we are newly affected with the sad consequence of our own weakness; The more we feel our pain, the more urgent are our cries for a Physician; A review of the mercies newly received, will likewise enlarge our hearts the more in thankfulness. Divine favours, like flowers, affect us most when fresh and green. Old courtesies, as old clothes, are too often cast by, and thought little worth. 4. Hereby our souls will be always ready for our great accounts, whenever God shall summon us to give it up. The keeping a diary of Receipts and disbursements, facilitates the Stewards annual reckoning with his Lord. They who make all even between God and their souls every day, need not fear calling to account any day. None will give up their accounts with such comfort at the great day, as they that cast up their accounts with conscience every day; Often reckoning will make long friends.

Pythagoras taught his Scholars to talk thus with themselves, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; What evil have I committed, what good have I omitted? Reader, let not them who knew not God, rise up in judgement against thee. Put every night some brief Qeries to thy conscience, upon these few heads; How did I behave my self in Religious Duties, in Natural Actions, in my Particular Calling, in Recreations (if any were used) in Company, and in Solitude; Compare the carriage of thy heart and life, herein to the word and law of God, bring all to the touchstone. Hereby, 1. Sin will be prevented; The Child will be the more dutiful and diligent all day, who expecteth to be examined (by them that have power to punish or reward) for every part of it at night. The Christian will keep his heart as clean as the neat maid her house, who is ever in fear of a severe mistress.