The works of George Swinnock, M.A

As the Daughter of Polycrates dreamed that her Father was lifted up, that Jupiter washed him, and the Sun anointed him, but it proved to him but a sad prosperity; for after a long life, and large prosperity, he was surprised by his enemies, and hanged up till the dew of Heaven wet his cheeks, and the Sun melted his grease. Reader, Let me bespeak thee, as Jotham did the men of Shechem; Hearken unto me, that God may hearken unto you; Hearken unto me in this day of thy health and life, that God may hearken unto thee in the day of thy sickness and death. Make thy peace with God now, give a Bill of divorce to sin, strike an hearty Covenant with Christ, keep thy conscience clean every day, allow not thy self ⟨p. 658⟩in any known sin, if thou wouldst leave this world in favour with God, in the love of good men, and to thy eternal gain. Nihil est in morte, quod metuamus si nihil timendum vita commisit, saith the Ancient; Death hath nothing frightful, but what a profane life makes so. They who fly from the holiness of God in life, may well fear the justice of God at death. A sinner indeed, is every day carrying more Faggots to that pile in which he must burn for ever, and always twisting those cords with which Devils will eternally scourge him, and therefore the guilt of his wicked life, and fear of his dreadful wages, may well represent death to him in a frightful visor. But he who makes it his constant business to please his Maker, to mortify his earthly members, to crucify the flesh, to serve the Wills of God in his generation, and to dress his soul against the coming of the Bridegroom, shall find his latter end comfortable, and the day of his death better then the day of his birth. O Friend, if thou wouldst dye comfortably, live conscientiously! An happy death is the conclusion of an holy life; God hath joined them together, and none can part them asunder. Its reported of the Dardani, that they never Wash but three times, when they are Born, when they Marry, and when they Dye; The true Christian must be daily washing his soul by faith in the blood of his Saviour, and bathing himself in the tears of repentance, and hereby his soul will be fit to be commended into the Hands of God by well dying. ⟨p. 659⟩2. Clear up thine evidences for Heaven. Be not contented to leave thy salvation at uncertainty; They who walk in the dark, are full of frights and fears;

As the Daughter of Polycrates dreamed that her Father was lifted up, that Iupiter washed him, and the Sun annointed him, but it proved to him but a sad prosperity; for after a long life, and large prosperity, he was surprised by his enemies, and hanged up till the dew of Heaven wet his cheeks, and the Sun melted his grease. Reader, Let me bespeak thee, as Iotham did the men of Sechem; Hearken unto me, that God may hearken unto you; Hearken unto me in this day of thy health and life, that God may hearken unto thee in the day of thy sickness and death. Make thy peace with God now, give a Bill of divorce to sin, strike an hearty Covenant with Christ, keep thy conscience clean every day, allow not thy self