The works of George Swinnock, M.A

The favours of the day past, are not to be forgotten, but to be acknowledged with thankfulness. I receive every day more considerable mercies then there are moments in the day; and when I borrow such large sums, the principal of which I am unable ever to satisfy, shall I be so unworthy as to deny the payment of this small interest, which is all my Creditor requireth? Whatsoever gain I have got in my calling, whatsoever strength I have received by my food, whatsoever comfort I have had in my Relations or Friends, whatsoever peace, liberty, protection, I have enjoyed all the day long, I must say of all, […] Jacob of his Venison; The Lord hath brought it to me. Surely the hearer of my morning prayers, may well be the object of my evening praises; A• how unreasonable is it that I like a whirl-pool, should suck in every good thing that comes near me, and not so much as acknowledge it! Should any one be the thousandth part so much indebted to me, as I am to God, how ill should I take it, if he should not confess ⟨p. 551⟩it? If a Beggar at my door receive a small alms from God, by my hands, I look for his thanks; How often have I complained of the baseness and unworthiness of some that are engaged to me? O what tongue can express, what heart can conceive how much I am indebted to my God every moment, though I am less then the least of all his mercies; and doth not all his goodness merit sincere thankfulness! Lord, I confess there is not a day of my life, wherein I do not break thy Laws in thought, word and deed; Sin is too much the element in which I live, and the trade that I drive; I find continually a law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind, and captivating me to the Law of sin and death; Ah wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death! Since I am no day innocent, make me every night penitent. As my sins abound, let my sorrow abound, and thy grace much more abound. Though I can never requite thy favours, help me to admire and bless the fountain of them. Suffer me never to go to bed, till I have first asked thee my heavenly Father blessing. Let the eyes of my soul be always open to thee in prayer and praise, before the eyes of my body be shut.

The favours of the day past, are not to be forgotten, but to be acknowledged with thankefulness. I receive every day more considerable mercies then there are moments in the day; and when I borrow such large sums, the principal of which I am unable ever to satisfie, shall I be so unworthy as to deny the payment of this small interest, which is all my Creditour requireth? Whatsoever gain I have got in my calling, whatsoever strength I have received by my food, whatsoever comfort I have had in my Relations or Friends, whatsoever peace, liberty, protection, I have enjoyed all the day long, I must say of all, Jacob of his Venison; The Lord hath brought it to me. Surely the hearer of my morning prayers, may well be the object of my evening prayses; A how unreasonable is it that I like a whirl-pool, should suck in every good thing that comes near me, and not so much as acknowledge it! Should any one be the thousandth part so much indebted to me, as I am to God, how ill should I take it, if he should not confess