A62047:224
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 7: What is requisite to preparation for Death. A change of state, and a change of nature,…
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.
Till thou art converted, and hast a sense of thy sins and miseries, thou art a Rebel in actual Arms against God; If Death finds thee in such a condition, God takes the Fort of thy Soul by storm, with thy Weapons in thy hands, and therefore thou canst expect nothing less then Death eternal without mercy. There is no peace to be thought of with God, whilst thou maintainest War against him. The sinner instead of disarming, armeth Death against himself; The life of sin is the life of Death, and enableth it to kill the soul. Till thy nature be renewed, thy heart is full of enmity against God, and thy life nothing else but a walking ⟨p. 70⟩contrary to him, and therefore thou canst have no delight or joy in him, which is the very Heaven of Heavens. There must be conformity to him, before there can be communion with him. God and man must be agreed, before they can walk or dwell together; Except ye be converted, ye can in no wise enter into the Kingdom of God; and again, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God, Mat. 18.3. John 3.3. Which negatives can in no wise, and cannot enter, speak not only the impossibility of it on Gods part, because he is fully resolved against it; but also the incapacity on mans part, because he is wholly unprepared for it. Swine are not fit for a rubbed Room, or a presence Chamber. As Timber must be laid out and shrunk, before its fit for building, otherwise twill warp; So God humbleth and draweth out self-•ap, and self-indisposition, before they become the Temple of the Holy Ghost. That building which reacheth up to Heaven, must have a low foundation.
Till thou art converted, and hast a sense of thy sins and miseries, thou art a Rebel in actual Arms against God; If Death finds thee in such a condition, God takes the Fort of thy Soul by storm, with thy Weapons in thy hands, and therefore thou canst expect nothing less then Death eternal without mercy. There is no peace to be thought of with God, whilst thou maintainest War against him. The sinner instead of disarming, armeth Death against himself; The life of sin is the life of Death, and enableth it to kill the soul. Till thy nature be renewed, thy heart is full of enmity against God, and thy life nothing else but a walking ⟨p. 70⟩