The works of George Swinnock, M.A

I Wish that I may frequently ponder what a serious solemn thing it is to dye. ¹How ever light, or vain, or jesting, my life hath been, my death will be in earnest; I cannot dally or trifle with it; It will not dally or trifle with me; It can be done but once, and upon it my everlasting making or marring depends. It •s so certain, that all must, ⟨p. 666⟩willing or unwilling, ready or unready, undergo it; Neither the policy of Ahithophel, nor the strength of Sampson, nor the wisdom of Solomon, nor the beauty of Absalom, nor the piety of Abraham, nor the wealth of the rich Glutton, can prevail to avoid it; No time, no place, no company, no houses, no lands, no relations, no youth, no strength, no power, no preferments, can privilege me against the arrest of death. God hath decreed it, Sin hath deserved it, and I must expect it. It is so searching that it will discover all the Children of men, both to themselves and Angels. Though ships are usually distinguished by their Flags, yet that is no sure sign; for Mariners when in sight and fear of their enemies, will ordinarily hang out the colours of other Nations, and say they belong to them, but when they come to their Haven to unload their vessels, it appears to what Country they belong: Though men are usually distinguished by their outward behaviours, yet many for their own ends put on Christs livery, who are of Satan's family, but when they come to be searched and unladen at the end of their lives, twill be known to whom they belong. When I come to dye, then the great controversy between Christ and Satan concerning my soul, will be determined, whose it shall be for ever. O my soul, that thou couldst but conceive what it will be to be sent by death into an unchangeable estate either of bliss or misery. If thou diest in thy sins, thou art killed with death. Shouldst thou now live without conscience, thou wilt dye without comfort, and remain comfortless for ever. Ponder a little with thy self the fearful death of a sinner, that thou mayst fly his wicked acts, as thou wouldst his ⟨p. 667⟩woeful end. In the midst of his jollity and mirth, when he is in an eager pursuit of carnal pleasures, and posting in the way of worldly delights, and running to all excess of riot, he is on a sudden by deaths harbinger, sickness, commanded to stand, and proceed no further; This cuts him to the very heart.