A62047:381
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.
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.
As a Merchant in London may trade for, and fetch ⟨p. 171⟩in, the Horses of Barbary, the Canary Sacks, the French Wines, the Spanish Sweet-meats, the Oils of Candy, the Spices of Egypt, the artificial Wares of Alexandria, the Silks of Persia, the Embroideries of Turkey, the Golden-wedges of India, the Emeralds of Scythia, the Topazes of Ethiopia, and the Diamonds of Bisnager; so mightst thou (were but this God thy portion) fetch in the finest bread to feed thee, the choicest wine to comfort thee, oil to cheer thee, joy to refresh thee, raiment to clothe thee, the jewels of grace to beautify thee, and the crown of glory to make thee blessed, nay all the wealth of this and the other world. If all the riches in the Covenant of Grace, if all the good things which Christ purchased with his precious blood; nay if as much good as is in an infinite God can make thee happy, thou shouldst have it. If David were thought worth ten thousand Israelites, how much is the God of Israel worth?
As a Merchant in London may trade for, and fetch ⟨p. 171⟩in, the Horses of Barbary, the Canary Sacks, the French Wines, the Spanish Sweet-meats, the Oyles of Candie, the Spices of Egypt, the artificial Wares of Alexandria, the Silks of Persia, the Embroyderies of Turkey, the Golden-wedges of India, the Emeraulds of Scythia, the Topazes of Aethiopia, and the Diamonds of Bisnager; so mightst thou (were but this God thy portion) fetch in the finest bread to feed thee, the choicest wine to comfort thee, oyl to chear thee, joy to refresh thee, raiment to cloath thee, the jewels of grace to beautifie thee, and the crown of glory to make thee blessed, nay all the wealth of this and the other world. If all the riches in the Covenant of Grace, if all the good things which Christ purchased with his precious blood; nay if as much good as is in an infinite God can make thee happy, thou shouldst have it. If David were thought worth ten thousand Israelites, how much is the God of Israel worth?
This one God would fill up thy soul in its utmost capacity; it is such an end, that when thou attainest thou couldst go no further, shouldst desire no more, but quietly rest for ever. The necessity of the creatures number speaks the meanness of their value, but the universality of good in this one God, proclaims his infinite worth. As there are all parts of speech in that one verse, Vae tibi ridenti, quia mox post gaudia flebis: So there are all perfections in this one God. What a portion is this Friend?