The works of George Swinnock, M.A

1. Their honesty was visible, to live honestly; not only to mean well, and think honestly, or to talk, but to live honestly.

1. Their honesty was visible, to live honestly; not onely to mean well, and think honestly, or to talk, but to live honestly.

2. Their honesty was universal; In all things (not in one or two particulars) willing to live honestly. Visibility, and universality, are Popish marks of a true Church, and Protestant marks of a true Christian. An Hypocritical Jehu may do some things; a Murderous Herod may do many things;¹ but an upright Paul is in all things willing to live honestly. A Ship that is not of the right make, cannot sail trim; and a Clock whose Spring is faulty, will not always go true; so a person of unsound principles, cannot be constant and even in his practices. The Religion of those that are inwardly rotten, is like a fire in some cold climates, which doth almost fry a man before, when at the same time he is freezing behind; they are zealous in some things, as holy duties, which are cheap; and cold in other things, especially when they cross their profit or credit; as the Mount Helga is covered with Snow on one side, ⟨p. 9⟩when it burneth and casteth out cinders on the other side; but the holiness of them that are sound at heart, is like the natural heat, which though it resort most to the vitals of sacred performances, yet as need is, it warmeth, and hath an influence upon all the outward parts of civil transactions. It may be said of true sanctity, as of the Sun, there is nothing hid from the heat thereof, Psa. 19. 5. When all the parts of the body have their due nourishment distributed to them, its a sign of an healthy temper.

2. Their honesty was universal; In all things (not in one or two particulars) willing to live honestly. Visibility, and universality, are Popish marks of a true Church, and Protestant marks of a true Christian. An Hypocritical Iehu may do some things; a Murderous Herod may do many things;