The works of George Swinnock, M.A

And, O be thou always pleased so to accept my confessions, petitions, thanksgivings, my person and performances in thy dear son, that I may lay me down in peace and sleep, because thou Lord makest me to dwell in safety.

Finally, I Wish that every day of my life may be spent as if it were the day of my death,¹ and all my time employed in adorning my soul, in trimming my lamp, and in a serious preparation for eternity. Whilst I am living I am dying, every moment my sand is running, ⟨p. 552⟩and my Sun is declining; I am as Stubble before the Wind, and as Chaff that the Storm carrieth away; I fly away as a dream, and shall not be found; my life is chased away as a vision of the night; The eyes which have seen me, shall see me no more, neither shall my place any more behold me. I must live now or never; If I die, I shall not live again; O that all the days of my appointed time, I could wait till my change cometh! Were I to take my leave of the world this night, and were my life to end with the day; how then would I spend every hour, every moment of it? Should I lavish away my time about this or that vanity? Would I play it away in vain company? Would I neglect my spiritual watch? or waste my talents upon trifles? should I dally about secret or private duties, or be careless of my carriage in my calling? would I starve my immortal soul, or cast off all care of eternity? No, but I should all the day long act by the square and rule of the word. How serious should I be in praying, in reading, in working for my soul, for my salvation? how diligent to do all the good I could, to receive all the good I might? how watchful to catch at, and embrace all opportunities of honouring and serving my Maker and Redeemer? because my time is short, and I must pray, and read, and work for eternity, now or no more, no more for ever. And why should I not be as holy, though I do not know that I shall die this night, when I know not but I may die this night? How foolish is he who neglects doing his work, till his work is past doing! Besides, Other creatures are constant, and unwearied in serving their maker, they are every day all the day long in their stations obedient to his commands. If I look to Heaven, to Earth, to inanimate,