The works of George Swinnock, M.A

I Wish that I may end every day, ⁶with him who is the beginning and first born from the dead; That I may every night go to bed, as if I were going to my grave, knowing that sleep is the shadow of death; and when the shadow is so near, the substance cannot be far off; Though lovers cannot meet all day, yet they will make hard shift but they will find an opportunity to meet at night; Should my devotion set with the natural Sun, I may fear a dreadful night of darkness to follow. That bed may well be as uneasy as one stuffed with thorns, that is not made by prayer. If the soul lye down under an heavy load of sin, the body can have no true rest. Jacob could sleep sweetly upon an hard stone, having made his peace with God; when Ahasuerus could not, though on a bed of down; I cannot sleep unless God wake for me, and I cannot rationally expect his watchfulness over me, unless I request it. My corruptions in the day, call for contrition in the night; How many omissions, commissions, personal, relative sins, heart, life wickedness am I daily guilty of! and •hould I lye down under their weight, for ought I know they may sink me before morning into endless woe. Whilst blood is in my veins, sin will be in my soul. The weed of sin may be cut, broken, pulled up, yet it will spring again. I shall as soon cease to live, as cease to sin. Though I should be free all the day long from presumptuous enormities, and only defiled with ordinary humane infirmities, yet these, if not bewailed, are damning. ⟨p. 550⟩The smallest letters are most hurtful to the eyes, and far worse then a large Character. Those sins which are comparatively little, if not lamented, are far more dangerous then Davids Murder and Adultery, which were repented of. When the soul like Tamar, hath notwithstanding its utmost endeavours to preserve its chastity been ravished, and by force defiled, it must with her lift up the voice and weep. If the Sun may not go down upon my wrath against man, much-less may I presume to lye down under the wrath of God. Besides, how can sin be mortified, if it be not confessed and bewailed? Arraignment and Conviction, must go before Execution.

I Wish that I may end every day, ⁶with him who is the beginning and first born from the dead; That I may every night go to bed, as if I were going to my grave, knowing that sleep is the shadow of death; and when the shadow is so near, the substance cannot be far off; Though lovers cannot meet all day, yet they will make hard shift but they will find an opportunity to meet at night; Should my devotion set with the natural Sun, I may fear a dreadful night of darkness to follow. That bed may well be as uneasie as one stuft with thorns, that is not made by prayer. If the soul lye down under an heavy load of sin, the body can have no true rest. Jacob could sleep sweetly upon an hard stone, having made his peace with God; when Ahashuerus could not, though on a bed of down; I cannot sleep unless God wake for me, and I cannot rationally expect his watchfulness over me, unless I request it. My corruptions in the day, call for contrition in the night; How many omissions, commissions, personal, relative sins, heart, life wickedness am I daily guilty of! and hould I lye down under their weight, for ought I know they may sink me before morning into endless wo. Whilst blood is in my veins, sin will be in my soul. The weed of sin may be cut, broken, pulled up, yet it will spring again. I shall as soon cease to live, as cease to sin. Though I should be free all the day long from presumptuous enormities, and onely defiled with ordinary humane infirmities, yet these, if not bewailed, are damning.