The works of George Swinnock, M.A

His love to his Mother is observable; Woman, behold thy Son; And from that hour that Disciple took her to his own house, John 19. 26. But his love to his membren• though enemies, was wonderful; Father forgi•• them, they know not what they do. His Faith in his Father; Father into thy hands I commend my spirit. His pity to one of the Thieves. His Patience in bearing the scoffing words and taunts, more bitter then Worm-wood, of them that passed by, reviling him, as well as in suffering the wracking ⟨p. 617⟩of his bones, and whole body, and the anger of an infinite God, in his soul, without any murmuring, may well call for our admiration. Reader, he hath set thee a pattern, that thou shouldst follow his steps. Some tell us the Phoenix of Saba, in Arabia Faelix (so called from Phoenicea, or the Purple colour of her wings) liveth six hundred and sixty years, at the end of which time, she buildeth her a nest of Cassia, Calamus, Cinnamon, ¹and other precious spices and gums, which the Sun by the extremity of his heat, and the wavering of her wings, fires, and she taking delight in the sweetness of the savour, hovers so long over it, that she burns her self in her own Nest. Thus did the blessed Jesus, and thus ought his followers to expire in a Nest of sweet Spices, the exercise of the graces of the holy Spirit. It was a poor farewell to the world, which even Octavius Augustus gave when at the point of death he called for his Looking-glass, ²commanded to have his Head and beard combed, and his shrivelled Cheeks smoothed up; then asking his friends if he had acted his part well; Cum ita responderint, vos omnes igitur inquit Plaudite. It is a dreadful conclusion which Pliny relates the Hyperboreans to make, who when they have lived to one hundred years or more, make a great feast, to which they invite all their friends, and after their jollity and mirth, throw themselves down a steep rock and so perish.

His love to his Mother is observeable; Woman, behold thy Son; And from that hour that Disciple took her to his own house,