The works of George Swinnock, M.A

A Good Wish about the Christians exercising himself to Godliness, on a Dying Bed; wherein the former heads are applied.

The righteous God having appointed death to be the end of all the Children of men,¹ as the common road through which they pass into the other world, to receive according to what they have done in this life, whether it be good, or whether it be evil; I Wish that I may be wise to consider of my latter end, and so live that I may rather desire then be afraid to dye, that my last days may be my best days, and I may imitate my Redeemer in bringing my God much honour, and doing his Church much service, when I am entering into my Masters joy. The evening praiseth the day, the last scene commends the Act. The rivers, the nearer they draw to the Sea, the sooner they are met by the tide. Though to guide a vessel safely along in the Ocean, argueth much skill, and such a Pilot is worthy of praise; yet at the very entrance into the• Haven, then to avoid the Rocks, and to cast Anchor in a safe Road, argueth most skill, and deserveth most praise. Musicians reserve the sweetest strain for the close of their lesson. Orators, though in every part of their speech they use great care, yet in the close of their speech they use the utmost of their Rhetoric, and put forth all their art and skill to stir up all the affections of their hearers, that they may leave at last the deepest impressions upon their hearts of those things which they would persuade to. My whole life ought to be nothing else but a pleading with my God for mercy ⟨p. 664⟩and a walking according to his word; but when I come to the period of my days, how powerful should my prayers, how pious my practices be? how lively my graces? how holy my whole conversation? that my God may say of me, as once of Thyatira, I know thy works and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more then the first. Though violent Motions are slowest at last, as being farthest from that strength which forced them contrary to their own inclinations; yet natural motions, proceeding from an inward principle, the nearer the centre, the swifter the motion; Though Hypocrites and such as have only a form of godliness, grow worse and worse, and fill up the measure of their lusts with the measure of their lives; yet gracious persons and such as have the power of godliness, grow better and better, and complete their task with their time;