The works of George Swinnock, M.A

If the unconverted person be one that lived civilly and orderly in his outward conversation, paying every man his own, keeping his Church, forbearing enormous crimes, &c. It will be then needful to commend his civility, Jesus looked on such a man and loved him; but also to discover its defects and insufficiency, that there is one thing lacking; how his nature is universally polluted, and it must be throughly purified, or he is a lost man; that its one thing to have a wound hid, and another thing to have it healed; that many Infidels have been unblameable in their outward carriages, who yet perished, being without Christ; that the Scribes and Pharisees went farther then most civil men, for they had not only a negative holiness in denying gross sins, but a Positive holiness (in show at least) they prayed, fasted, &c. yet he, to whom ⟨p. 577⟩it is impossible to lye, tells us, Mat. 5. 20. Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. It will be good also in dealing with such a person, to insist much upon the latitude and purity of the Law of God, how it forbiddeth (and condemneth for) the least sinful thought, and how nothing less then perfect obedience can answer its demands, or satisfy the Law-giver, because such men are apt to judge themselves righteous, comparing themselves with those that are notoriously vicious. They think all is well, their minds being darkened and unable to discern and discover the secret lusts which are hugged in their hearts; Besides, their consciences being defiled as well as other faculties, are not so true to them as to convince them powerfully of that pride, hypocrisy, unbelief, impenitency, atheism, and ungodliness, which they are guilty of. And Satan hath a strict watch over them, to keep them asleep in sin, not caring, so men go to hell, whether they go thither in the dirty road of scandalous and crying crimes, or in the cleanly path, and through the fair Meadows of Civility. Whether the person be scandalous or civil, it will be needful to let in light at some crevice, and not to leave the sinner wholly in the darkness of despair; The good Samaritan poured Oil as well as Wine, into the wounds of him that fell among Thieves. A little hope may melt that heart which despair would harden.

If the unconverted person be one that liyed civilly and orderly in his outward conversation, paying every man his own, keeping his Church, forbearing enormous crimes, &c. It will be then needful to commend his civility, Iesus looked on such a man and loved him; but also to discover its defects and insufficiency, that there is one thing lacking; how his nature is universally polluted, and it must be throughly purified, or he is a lost man; that its one thing to have a wound hid, and another thing to have it healed; that many Inidels have been unblameable in their outward carriages, who yet perished, being without Christ; that the Scribes and Pharises went farther then most civil men, for they had not onely a negative holiness in denying gross sins, but a Positive holiness (in shew at least) they prayed, fasted, &c. yet he, to whom