The works of George Swinnock, M.A

First, The love of life need not make thee so backward to obey the call of death; If all thy time were made up of Holy-days, death would bring thee greater advantage. The Garlic and Onions of Egypt are nothing comparable to the Clusters of Canaan. But alas its far otherwise, thy whole life is a civil death. Thou art born to sorrow as the sparks fly upward. Thy days are few, but full of trouble. The earth to thee is a valley of tears; the cross is thy daily companion, which accompanieth thee where-ever thou goest. The sufferings of thy flesh are neither few nor small. How many diseases in thy body, losses in thy estate? ⟨p. 682⟩how much disgrace, ignominy, slander, oppression, art thou liable to? The sufferings of thy spirit are more and greater; Thine own sins, the provocations of others, the dishonour of thy God, the wants, and weaknesses, and oppression, and persecution of the Church of Christ, do all give thee daily occasion to mingle thy bread with ashes, and thy drink with weeping. What is this world that thou art so fond of it? Thy God calls it a Sea of glass, mingled with fire, Rev. 15. 2. A Sea for its turbulency; its never at rest, but ebbs and flows continually, though sometimes more, sometimes less; Its work is to bubble up mire and dirt, especially on them who are chosen out of the world. A Sea of glass for its fragility; All its pomp and pride on a sudden vanisheth. Glass is both easily and irrecoverably broken in pieces; A Sea of glass, mingled with fire, for the fiery and dreadful miseries that befall men in it. All its apparent comforts are mingled with real crosses. In Heaven there is solace without the least grain of sorrow; In Hell there is mourning without the smallest dram of mirth; but on Earth there is no estate without mixture. The Saints have joy in God, but if need be they are in heaviness through manifold tribulations, 1 Pet. 1. 6. The merry sinners in the midst of their pleasures, have their hearts heavy; Some of the wiser Heathen, were so sensible of humane miseries, that one of them when Ancient, told his Scholar, that if it were offered him to be young again, he would not accept if. Saints of all men must expect a large draught of sufferings. The world is their enemy, and raiseth all its forces against them. If I be a Disciple I must look to follow my Master in bearing his Cross: