The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…

Name: The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…
Author: George Swinnock

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 ...

George Swinnock 1627–1673London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1662

[40], 186, [6] p. · 60k words · Wing S6275 · ESTC R15350

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Chapter 4: First Use, discovering the folly of them that mind the flesh chiefly.Chapter 4: First Ʋse, discovering the folly of them that mind the flesh chiefly.

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.

[ Earlier:152–167 of 426

:152p. 26–27

The truth is, were not men drowned in sensuality (as he whom Seneca speaketh of; that knew not whither he stood or sat, till his slave told him,) and their consciences seared and made senseless by them (as young Gallants being arrested for debt, make the Sergeants drunk, and thereby escape at present) it would be impossible for men to live thus after the flesh. But as some cunning thieves, if there be a Mastiff belonging to the house which they intend to Rob, give it some morsels which will keep it from barking, that so they may steal the Inhabitants Wealth, and they not have the least warning either to hinder or recover it. So the Devil hath an art to make mens consciences dumb, whilst he robs them of their inestimable souls; poor, foolish creatures they are lazing on their beds of carnal security, and delighting themselves in their dreams of lying vanities, and in the interim he rifleth their houses and taketh away all that is of any value. Yet as fast as conscience is now asleep, twill shortly awake, as the Jailer at midnight, and then what fears and frights will possess them? Ah how clearly will they see their folly, in sowing to the flesh, ⟨p. 27⟩and trusting to that which was never true to any! then they will roar out, If we had served our spirits, as faithfully as we have served our flesh, they would not have failed us thus.

The truth is, were not men drowned in sensuality (as he whom Seneca speaketh of; that knew not whither he stood or sat, till his slave told him,) and their consciences seared and made sensless by them (as young Gallants being arrested for debt, make the Serjeants drunk, and thereby escape at present) it would be impossible for men to live thus after the flesh. But as some cunning theives, if there be a Mastiff belonging to the house which they intend to Rob, give it some morsels which will keep it from barking, that so they may steal the Inhabitants Wealth, and they not have the least warning either to hinder or recover it. So the Devil hath an art to make mens consciences dumb, whilst he robs them of their inestimable souls; poor, foolish creatures they are lazing on their beds of carnal security, and delighting themselves in their dreams of lying vanities, and in the interim he rifleth their houses and taketh away all that is of any value. Yet as fast as conscience is now asleep, twill shortly awake, as the Jaylor at midnight, and then what fears and frights will possess them? Ah how clearly will they see their folly, in sowing to the flesh, ⟨p. 27⟩

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…

CHAP. V. Second USE. An Exhortation to sinners to prepare for death, with three quickening motives. Death will come certainly; it may come suddenly: When it comes twill be too late to prepare.

CHAP. V. Second USE. An Exhortation to sinners to prepare for death, with three quickenning motives. Death will come certainly; it may come suddenly: When it comes twill be too late to prepare.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

CHAP. V. Second USE. An Exhortation to sinners to prepare for death, with three quickening motives. Death will come certainly; it may come suddenly: When it comes twill be too late to prepare.

CHAP. V. Second USE. An Exhortation to sinners to prepare for death, with three quickenning motives. Death will come certainly; it may come suddenly: When it comes twill be too late to prepare.