A62047:13
The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…
The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity with the only way to throw it well : as also the gracious persons incomparable portion / by George Swinnock ...The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity with the only way to throw it vvell : as also the gracious persons incomparable portion / by George Swinnock ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Dedication: To the Courteous Ms. Jane Swinnock, WIDOW OF Mr. Caleb Swinnock, LATE OF Maidstone Dece…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To the Courteous Ms. Jane Swinnock, WIDOW OF Mr. Caleb Swinnock, LATE OF Maidstone Deceased
Honoured Cozen,
Honoured Couzen,
The whole World is fitly termed by the Holy Ghost, a Sea of glass. 1A Sea for its tempestuousness, all the passengers who sail on it are sure to be driven too and fro with the surging waves, and high winds of sorrows. Man entereth on this stage of the World crying, goeth off groaning, ⟨image 3⟩[…] ⟨image 3⟩[…] ⟨image 4⟩and the part which he acteth is chiefly Tragical, his whole life being little else from the Womb to the Tomb, but a chain of crosses, and a circle of sufferings; he is tossed like a Tennis Ball from hazard to hazard, till at last he fall to the Earth. A sea of Glass, for its brittleness; Glass is soon broken be it never so much Gilded: The fashion of this World passeth away; all its carnal comforts perish with it. The possessions of it are corruptible; Gold and Silver are liable to that rust which will consume them. The Relations in it are mutable; whilst we are refreshing our selves with those pleasant flowers, and embracing them in our breasts, and sticking them in our bosoms, they wither. The Jews at this day have a custom (saith one) when a Couple are married, to break the glass wherein the Bridegroom and the Bride have drank; thereby to admonish them that though at present they are joined together, yet ere long they must be parted asunder. The Saints of God themselves are not privileged from such arrests; nay those vessels which are most richly laden go often deepest in these waters. The howling Wilderness is the direct way to the heavenly Canaan.