The works of George Swinnock, M.A

First, In Commending God and his ways to others. The Words of dying men, are living Oracles, and do not dye with them. It is the unhappiness of worldlings and wicked men, that when they come to dye, they cannot commend the work that they have followed, the wages which they have merited, or the Master whom they have served; but its the privilege of Christians, that they have cause to praise ⟨p. 629⟩the sweetness of that love which they have tasted, the equity of those Laws which they have obeyed, the grace, and mercy, and bounty, and faithfulness of that Lord whom they have prayed to, and delighted in, and worshipped, and the vastness, and richness, and certainty, and eternity of that reward which they are going to possess. The men of this earth, when they are dying, do often cry out and complain of the falseness and unfaithfulness of the world, and the flesh, how they have cozened, the cheated, and deceived them; and of their own folly and madness, in toiling, and moiling, and drudging night and day, to please and gratify that which now in their extremity turns them off. O how should the Children of God extol their Father, and his care of them, and kindness to them, magnify their Redeemer, and his passion for them, and affection to them, exalt the Word and Ways of the Lord, as those which they have found by experience to be the most comfortable and gainful ways. The last breath of a Saint, should be spent in his Gods service. Oportet Imperatorem stantem mori, was Vespasians Motto. Oportet Episcopum, concionantem mori, was holy Jewels Motto. Oportet Christia num glorificantem Deum mori, should be every Saints Motto.

First, In Commending God and his ways to others. The Words of dying men, are living Oracles, and do not dye with them. It is the unhappiness of worldlings and wicked men, that when they come to dye, they cannot commend the work that they have followed, the wages which they have merited, or the Master whom they have served; but its the priviledge of Christians, that they have cause to praise ⟨p. 629⟩the sweetness of that love which they have tasted, the equity of those Laws which they have obeyed, the grace, and mercy, and bounty, and faithfulness of that Lord whom they have prayed to, and delighted in, and worshipped, and the vastness, and richness, and certainty, and eternity of that reward which they are going to possess. The men of this earth, when they are dying, do often cry out and complain of the falseness and unfaithfulness of the world, and the flesh, how they have cozened, the cheated, and deceived them; and of their own folly and madness, in toyling, and moiling, and drudging night and day, to please and gratifie that which now in their extremity turns them off. O how should the Children of God extol their Father, and his care of them, and kindness to them, magnifie their Redeemer, and his passion for them, and affection to them, exalt the Word and Ways of the Lord, as those which they have found by experience to be the most comfortable and gainful ways. The last breath of a Saint, should be spent in his Gods service. Oportet Imperatorem stantem mori, was Vespasians Motto. Oportet Episcopum, concionantem mori, was holy Iewels Motto. Oportet Christia num glorificantem Deum mori, should be every Saints Motto.