The works of George Swinnock, M.A

The sinner hath only found at last a fleshly life, to be vain and fruitless, and is like to pay dear for his learning, but I have known the paths of piety to be paths of pleasantness, and rejoiced more in them then in all riches; The sinner hath only the dim light of nature to show him the ⟨p. 676⟩loathsomeness of vice, and the loveliness of grace; but I have the holy Spirit of my God to enlighten my mind in the knowledge of both; The sinner hath only a carnal love to his Neighbours and Kindred; he knoweth not what it is to love them in Christ, and for Christ; I have some knowledge of the love and Law of Christ, of the worth of their souls, of the price paid for them by the Lord Jesus, and their unchangeable conditions in the other world. O that my language to them, might be somewhat answerable to the love of Christ to me! Lord, It is unrighteousness to die in debt to man, and not to endeavour to make them satisfaction according to my power; I am sure to dye in thy debt; for I am less then the least of all thy mercies, and unable to requite thee for the smallest of thy favours; It is my comfort, that all the recompense thou expectest, is a thankful acknowledgement, and hearty acceptance of thy grace and good will. O what injustice and ingratitude were I guilty of, should I deny thee so small a request! Be pleased to help thy servant in his last hours, both to accept unfeignedly of thy grace for his own good, and to acknowledge thy good will, and bounty, and faithfulness to thy glory, for the good of others.

The sinner hath onely found at last a fleshly life, to be vain and fruitless, and is like to pay dear for his learning, but I have known the paths of piety to be paths of pleasantness, and rejoyced more in them then in all riches; The sinner hath onely the dim light of nature to shew him the ⟨p. 676⟩loathsomness of vice, and the loveliness of grace; but I have the holy Spirit of my God to enlighten my mind in the knowledge of both; The sinner hath only a carnal love to his Neighbours and Kindred; he knoweth not what it is to love them in Christ, and for Christ; I have some knowledge of the love and Law of Christ, of the worth of their souls, of the price paid for them by the Lord Iesus, and their unchangeable conditions in the other world. O that my language to them, might be somewhat answerable to the love of Christ to me! Lord, It is unrighteousness to die in debt to man, and not to endeavour to make them satisfaction according to my power; I am sure to dye in thy debt; for I am less then the least of all thy mercies, and unable to requite thee for the smallest of thy favours; It is my comfort, that all the recompence thou expectest, is a thankful acknowledgement, and hearty acceptance of thy grace and good will. O what injustice and ingratitude were I guilty of, should I deny thee so small a request! Be pleased to help thy servant in his last hours, both to accept unfeignedly of thy grace for his own good, and to acknowledge thy good will, and bounty, and faithfulness to thy glory, for the good of others.