A62053:414
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission wherein is discovered, the nature, causes, and cure of those sins / by Geo. Swinnock.
London: printed for Geo. Swinnock, 1675
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 33: A Caution against sins of Omission, in regard of the matter of Duties.
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.
Reader, believe it, though thou mayst live by a Negative Religion, yet thou canst not die by it, much less stand before the Judgment-Seat of Christ with it. It's true, even such a Religion is of high price with men, but if alone it's abomination in the sight of God. Reader, let me reason the case with thee; In other things all are for fruitfulness in what is good: The Husbandman would have his ground fruitful in good Corn, as well as empty of weeds. He would have his Cattle labour, and do him service, and thinks it not enough that they are in the stable or fields and do him no hurt. The Master would have his Servant ⟨p. 279⟩industrious in his Shop or Field, or some way or other about his business, and is not pleased to see him sit still all day, and forbear to purloin his Goods, or fight with his fellow Servants. The Father who sends his Child to School, would have him learn the Languages, and profit daily therein, and without this will not be satisfied to hear that his Child sits still all day at School, learns no Oaths or Blasphemies, calls no Names, abuses none of his Companions. And, Reader, why should God be contented with thy harmlessness, when thou art barren and unprofitable? Hath not God as much right to thee as thou hast to thy Ground or Cattle? and art not thou as much bound to God as thy Servant or Child is bound to thee? and why then shouldst thou think to put God off with that in thy self, which thou wilt not be put off with in thy ground, or Cattle, or Servant, or Child? Besides, I must tell thee thou art not harmless, if thou dost no good, though thou livest not in the Commission of gross Evils. The Tree in the Garden that brings not forth good fruit is hurtful, though it bring not ⟨p. 280⟩forth evil fruit, partly because it cumbers the ground, and takes up room to no purpose; partly because it draws the moisture of the earth to it, and so hinders the thriving of those Trees that are near it, who, but for them, would be more fruitful. So if thou neglectest what is good, though thou dost no open scandalous evil, thou art mischievous and hurtful in the place where thou livest. Thou takest up the room of a Member that might be serviceable to God and his Country.
Reader, believe it, though thou mayst live by a Negative Religion, yet thou canst not die by it, much less stand before the Judgment-Seat of Christ with it. It's true, even such a Religion is of high price with men, but if alone it's abomination in the sight of God. Reader, let me reason the case with thee; In other things all are for fruitfulness in what is good: The Husbandman would have his ground fruitful in good Corn, as well as empty of weeds. He would have his Cattel labour, and do him service, and thinks it not enough that they are in the stable or fields and do him no hurt. The Master would have his Servant