The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Make me a follower of thee, as a dear child, to put on bowels of compassion, and to be merciful in heart, tongue, and hand, as thou my Father in Heaven art merciful.

I Wish that as a wise Merchant I may make the use of this price, ²which is put into my hand, for the furtherance of my own and my neighbours peace. Sickness is a special opportunity, wherein I may advantage others souls; The most poisonous Viper is at such a season benumbed with cold, and so may be handled without much danger. The strength of the body of sin, is much abated (at least in regard of act and exercise) by the weakness of the natural body. They who counted holiness a fancy, and holy ones Fanatics, in their health and power, will beg hard for purity, and desire the Saints prayers in their sickness. The waters of those passions which in a Summer of prosperity did overflow their bounds, and threatened to over-whelm and over-throw all that was near, are frozen up in a Winter of adversity, and kept within their banks; There are many nicks in time, as we see in a Clock, which if they hit, the work goeth on well. The hardened hearts of sinners are often melted, when their persons are confined to their warm Chambers; As Tinder when dry easily takes fire, by the least spark that falls on it; so when the souls of ungodly men are made soft by sickness, and their thoughts ⟨p. 592⟩of the evil of sin in the pain it brings on their bodies, makes their affections combustible, it will be much the easier to kindle the fire of repentance in them; Affliction boareth or openeth the ear, and then its seasonable to drop some wholesome counsel into it. Though a load on the ground be hard to be stirred, yet a load on the wheels is easy to be drawn. The illness, and aches, and distempers of sinners bodies, do as it were set the work of conversion, and minding the good of their souls, upon the wheel, and therefore such opportunities ought to be diligently improved; Sickness is a good time when charity is in season. Tis a grace to have an opportunity for the service of my God, but a greater to improve it. The Eastern people do Plough and sow their grounds, when the former Rain hath softened it; and why should not I endeavour to Plough up the fallow ground of my Neighbours heart, and to sow in it the seeds of savoury instructions, when it is made tender by sickness? Lord, thou layest hold of every opportunity, to bless me with mercy answerable to my necessities; make me both wise to discern time and judgement, and faithful to make use of all such seasons to do thee service.