The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Sixthly and Lastly; Thy duty is to exercise thy self to Godliness (if God give thee opportunity) on a Dying Bed. The work of a Saint is to glorify God, not only in his life, but also in his death. The Silk-worm stretcheth out her self before she spin, and ends her life in her long wrought clew; The Christian must stretch out himself on his dying Bed, and end his life in the work of his Lord. Every Man by his death, payeth his debt to nature. He is earth in regard of his Original creation, and must be earth in regard of his ultimate resolution; Dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return, Gen. 3. 19. The Sinner when he dyeth, payeth his debt to Sin, Satan, and the Law; To sin, as he is the servant of unrighteousness, and so must receive its wages, which is death; To Satan, as he hath sold himself to work wickedness at his will, and so must have his tempter to be his eternal tormentor; To the Law, as he hath violated its precepts and commands, and therefore must undergo its punishment and curse. The Saint when he dieth, payeth his debt to God, for he oweth him honour as well by his death, as by his life; Hence we read, not only of their living in the Lord, and to the Lord, but also of their dying in the Lord, and to the Lord; (Rom. 14. 8. ⟨p. 612⟩Rev. 14. 13.) Which though some expound in that place of the Revelations, to the cause for which they died; they did not dye out of humour or obstinacy, or any carnal selfish interest, but purely as Martyrs at Gods call, and for Gods cause; They loved not their lives to the death for the testimony of Jesus; Yet the words may as clearly speak; 1. The state in whi•• they died. They died in the favour of God, reconciled to him through the death of the Mediator. The Castle of their souls was not taken by storm or in a state of emnity and opposition, but by a quiet voluntary surrender, or in a state of peace and amity. 2. The manner of their deaths; They died in the fear of God; they exercised grace as well in sickness as in health, and when dying as when living; their spiritual motions were quick, when their natural motions were slow.

SIxthly and Lastly; Thy duty is to exercise thy self to Godliness (if God give thee opportunity) on a Dying Bed. The work of a Saint is to glorifie God, not onely in his life, but also in his death. The Silk-worm stretcheth out her self before she spin, and ends her life in her long wrought clew; The Christian must stretch out himself on his dying Bed, and end his life in the work of his Lord. Every Man by his death, payeth his debt to nature. He is earth in regard of his Original creation, and must be earth in regard of his ultimate resolution; Dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return,