A62047:97
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 1: The Preface, Division of the Psalm, and coherence of the Text.
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.
His disease was Envy, The Psalmist was much troubled with the Frets, I was envious at the foolish. vers. 3.
First, The Cause of it, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked, ver. 3. His heart was pained, because profane men prospered. That weeds which cumbered the ground, should be watered so plentifully, and grow so exceedingly, when good corn was so thin and lean: That the Lion and Raven, those unclean creatures, should be spared, when the innocent Lamb and Dove were sacrificed: That the ⟨p. 4⟩wicked should flourish like the Bay-tree, enjoy a constant Spring and Summer, be fresh and green all the year, though without fruit; when Saints like good Apple-trees had their Autumn and Winter; this touched the good man to the quick; his sore eyes could not behold the glorious sunshine of their prosperity without much pain.
First, The Cause of it, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked, ver. 3. His heart was pained, because prophane men prospered. That weeds which cumbered the ground, should be watered so plentifully, and grow so exceedingly, when good corn was so thin and lean: That the Lion and Raven, those unclean creatures, should be spared, when the innocent Lamb and Dove were sacrificed: That the ⟨p. 4⟩wicked should flourish like the Bay-tree, enjoy a constant Spring and Summer, be fresh and green all the year, though without fruit; when Saints like good Apple-trees had their Autumn and Winter; this touched the good man to the quick; his sore eyes could not behold the glorious sunshine of their prosperity without much pain.
The Heathen have from the flourishing of such unholy persons flatly denied all providence. Diogenes the Cynic, seeing Harpalus a vicious fellow increasing in wealth, whilst he wallowed in wickedness, said, That the Gods took no care how things were carried here below. The Athenians upon the defeat and death of their honest General Nicias in Sicily, concluded, That the divine Powers were wholly regardless of humane affairs. And not only these blind Heathen who walked in the night of darkness, but even Saints themselves, who were able to see afar off, and who pondered the paths of their feet, have stumbled at this stone,