The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Thirdly, Is it thy future condition that makes thee unwilling to dye? Dost thou not know that death is thy portal, through which thou shalt pass into the true Paradise? Its the straight gate through which thou shalt enter into life; Though its the wicked mans shipwreck which swalloweth him up in an Ocean of wrath and torment, yet its the Saints putting into harbour, where he is received with the greatest acclamation, and richest welcome imaginable.

Thirdly, Is it thy future condition that makes thee unwilling to dye? Dost thou not know that death is thy portal, through which thou shalt pass into the true Paradise? Its the straight gate through which thou shalt enter into life; Though its the wicked mans shipwrack which swalloweth him up in an Ocean of wrath and torment, yet its the Saints putting into harbour, where he is received with the greatest acclamation, and richest welcom imaginable.

Travellers who have met with many dangers and troubles, in their journeys, rejoice when they come near their own Country. I am a Pilgrim here, and used, or rather abused, as a stranger, shall I not be glad when I come near my blessed home, my eternal happy habitation? Children in some parts, when they first behold the Stork, the messenger of the Spring, testify their joy with pleasant and loud shoutings; O why shouldst not thou lift up thy head with joy, when ⟨p. 685⟩sickness the fore-runner of death, is come to bring thee tidings that the Winter of thy misery, and cold, and hardships is past, and the Summer of thine eternal light, and joy, and pleasure, is at hand? Thy death may well be a Free-will-offering, considering that though the ashes of the sacrifice (thy body) fall to the earth, yet that divine flame (thy immortal spirit) shall ascend to Heaven. In death nothing dyeth of thee, but what thou mayst well spare, thy sin and sorrows. When the house is pulled to pieces, all those Ivy roots in the wall, shall be destroyed. The Egg-shell must be broken, that the little chick may slip out; Thy body must be dissolved, that thy •oul may be delivered; Yet thy body doth not dye, but sleep in the bed of the grave, till the morning of the resurrection. That outward apparel shall not be utterly consumed by the moth of time, but locked up safe, as in a chest, to be new trimmed, and gloriously adorned above the Sun in his greatest lustre, and put on again, when thou shalt awake in the morning, never, never, to put off more. O that I could so live, that I might not only be always ready, but also when God calls me, desirous to dye. If I borrow any thing of my Neighbour, I pay it back with thanks. My life is Gods, he lends it me for a time. Why should I not when he calls for it, restore it with thanks, that he hath been pleased to lend it me so long? Lord, thy Children love thee dearly, and believe that when they come home to thee thou wilt entertain them kindly, yet their flesh like Lots Wife, is still ankering after the Sodom of this World, and loath they are to leave it, though