The works of George Swinnock, M.A

³I Wish that I may be close and home in my Applications to sick persons, and speak what is proper to their estates with ardency and affection, to their very hearts; Its ill dallying with edged tools; O how sad is it to toy and trifle, to be formal or customary in counsel ⟨p. 601⟩or reproof, or comfort to immortal souls, that are launching into the Ocean of eternity. Death is a serious thing, and that which they never did before, nor shall ever do again. Sin is a serious thing, as the damned find in Hell by woeful experience. Though there they are in blackness of darkness, yet they have light enough to see sin to be the evil of evils, and altogether sinful. Christ was serious when he took upon him my nature, and therein did offer up himself a sacrifice for sin. God is serious in commanding faith and repentance, and in promising Heaven to the faithful and holy, and Hell to unbelievers and atheists; And shall not I be serious and in earnest, when I am dealing about matters of eternal life and death, and about the concernments of God and Christ, and souls, and eternity! O with what earnestness should I persuade the wicked, to turn from their wickedness and live! If ever their souls would draw near to the Lord of life, it concerns them to do it, when their bodies are drawing nigh to the Chambers of death; It is but a very few hours, and their condition will be past all amendment, all alteration. In this poor pittance of time, all must be done, upon which the Scales must turn, for their salvation or damnation. They are going to make that change which will admit them into endless joy or torment, and render their estates unchangeable. Their time is hastening, that they must struggle with dreadful pains, and strong distempers, and death, the King of terrors, and must review that life which is ending, and look back upon all that they have done, and judge their persons and actions impartially, whether they will or no, that they must take ⟨p. 602⟩their leave of all their friends, and food, and sleep, and lands, and houses, and honours, and pleasures, and riches, and step into eternity, and appear before God without their Relations, or Possessions, or any worldly comforts, to help or encourage them; that they must be tried by an holy Law, and an holy Judge, for their everlasting lives or deaths;