The works of George Swinnock, M.A

What care I how little notice or knowledge the Nobles of the earth will take of me, when I can speak so freely to their better, their Sovereign, and not fear a repulse. O teach me the right art of begging, and then I need not be afraid of poverty. If I be but skilful to follow that trade, my returns will be both ••re and large. Thy mercies are renewed upon me every morning, so are my necessities. O let my praises and prayers be as frequent and early. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise •hall be continually in my mouth; O God my God, early will I seek thee, my soul thirsteth for thee in a dry and barren Wilderness, where no water is; My voice shalt thou hear in the morning; O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up.

What care I how little notice or knowledge the Nobles of the earth will take of me, when I can speak so freely to their better, their Soveraign, and not fear a repulse. O teach me the right art of begging, and then I need not be afraid of poverty. If I be but skilful to follow that trade, my returns will be both ••re and large. Thy mercies are renewed upon me every morning, so are my necessities. O let my prayses and prayers be as frequent and early. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise •hall be continually in my mouth; O God my God, early will I seek thee, my soul thirsteth for thee in a dry and barren Wilderness, where no water is; My voice shalt thou hear in the morning; O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up.

²I Wi•h that having done with the more immediate service of my God in Praying, and Reading, both in my Closet and Family, I may proceed to serve him in my Shop and Particular Calling. When God saith, Man is born to labour, I must not sing with the fool, Soul take thine ease. An idle person is like. Caterpillars and Mice, that devour Gods creatures, and do no good to others. Its pity he ever lived, the book of whose life is filled up with nothing but Cyphers; Nature never intended men to be drones, to feed on others labours; nor bats, to spend their lives in the company of sleep, the brother of death. My God, my soul, my family, my country, do all call upon me to be diligent in that calling whereto he hath called me. My God is a pure act himself, and hath capacitated all his creatures for action;