A62047:203
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.
Chapter 6: Three Motives more. A Dying Hour, will he a Trying Hour: The misery of the unprepared:…
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.
1Sixthly, Dost thou know the felicity which upon thy death thou shouldst enter into, if thou wert prepared for it. As the Good House-wife looketh for Winter but feareth it not, being prepared for it with double clothing; so thou mightest expect Death but not fear it, being prepared for it with Armour of proof. Sirens (some write) screech horribly when they dye, but Swans sing then most sweetly. Though sinners roar bitterly when they behold that Sea of scalding Lead in which they must Swim naked for ever, yet thou shouldst like the Apostle desire to depart, wish for that hour wherein thou should lose Anchor and sail to Christ, 2as the word signifieth; Thy dying day, would be thy Wedding day (as the Martyrs called theirs) wherein the fairest of ten thousand, and thy soul (now contracted) should be solemnly espoused together. ⟨p. 57⟩As frightful a Lyon as Death is to others (that their souls are fain to be torn from their bodies) thou mightest like a weary Child call to be laid to bed, knowing that twill send thee to thine everlasting happy rest.3 If it be an happy Death to dye willingly (as the Moralist affirmeth) thou shouldst give up the Ghost, and be a Volunteer in that War. Nature teacheth that Death is the end of misery; but grace would teach thee, that Death would be the beginning of thy felicity; it could not hurt thee. Death among Saints drives but a poor Trade, it may destroy the body, and when that is done, it hath done all its feats, like a fierce Mastiff, whose Teeth are broken out, it may bark and tear thy tottered coat, but cannot bite to the bone. This Be fastened her sting in Christs blessed body, and is ever since a drone to his Members. Though the wicked are gathered at Death (as the Rabbins sense that place, Gather not my soul with sinners, let me not dye their deaths, Psa. 26.9.) as sticks that lye on the ground for the fire, or as Grapes for the winepress of Gods fury, yet thou shouldst be gathered (according to the Hebrew, Isa. 57.2. as Women do cordial flowers, to candy and preserve them.