A62053:442
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 36: Arguments against Omissions. We profess our selves Gods Servants, and all our Religion…
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.
If thou commandest the Stars, they will fight in their courses against thine Enemies, and serve thee faithfully after their manner, as their Lord of Hosts.
Nay, those Creatures which seem most stubborn and rebellious, being Gods Servants, are pliable to his pleasure. Fire, and Hail, and stormy Winds, fulfil his Word, Psal. 148.8. ⟨p. 308⟩Reader, what dost thou think of these examples, thou seest the Highest, the Heir of all things, when he became his Servant, did his Will and Work, for thee fulfilled all righteousness, and went about doing good, Act. 10. And thou seest the lowest Beings, Gods Servants, do not only forbear doing evil, but after their manner, analogically they do good, and positively, serve God; and wilt thou content thy self with a bare forbearance of what is evil, and be shamed by inanimate Creatures, who according to their natures in their places do good. Why dost thou call thy self a Christian, if thou wilt not follow the pattern of Christ? and how canst thou profess thy self Gods Servant, if thou wilt not do him Service? Know ye not, saith the Apostle, that to whom ye yield your selves Servants to obey, his Servants ye are to whom ye obey, Rom. 6.16. Either obey God as a Servant ought, or disown him to be thy Master. Can he be said to be thy Servant, who neglects thy work, though he do thee no mischief? Another mans Servant in this respect may as properly be said to be thine; for as he ⟨p. 309⟩minds not thy business, so he doth thee no prejudice. I must speak plainly to thee; if thou allowest thy self in these Omissions, thy practices give the lye to thy profession, and thou art the Devils Servant, though thou wearest Gods Livery. I shall end this Head, with commending to thee the counsel of Christ; You call me Lord and Master, and thou sayest well, for so I am. If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet, and gone about doing good, how much more should you my Servant.