George Swinnock (69)
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The best trees have a winter, wherein they seem to be dead and barren, yet they have their life and sap at that time remaining in the root. Christians under desertions and temptations may be judged by themselves and others to be dead and undone, but even at such seasons their life is hid with Christ in God; though they may fall foully, they cannot fall finally.The Christian Man\'s Calling
What wise man will despise or deny a mine to be gold, because it hath some dross or bad earth with it? or will throw away a beast, and say it is not good meat, because it hath guts and garbage in it? The vermin of sin may sometimes crawl in a cleanly, holy person, though they be not allowed there. One act will not prove a habit, nor a few bad actions a bad person.
One fervent prayer in secret will speak more for our sincerity than many in public.
The whole world is a great vast library, and every creature in it a several book, wherein he that runs may read the power, and goodness, and infinite perfections of its Maker.The Christian Man\'s Calling
For doctrine. Where Scripture hath not a tongue to speak, I must not have an ear to hear.
Reader, now God giveth thee health and strength, and Sabbaths and seasons of grace, do not loiter, but improve them to the uttermost, in laying up a good foundation against the time of need. Alas! thou knowest not how soon the weather may alter. God may speedily call thee to great changes in thy life.
Oh, suffer me not to be wise in mine own eyes, and thereby to turn away mine ears from the words of them that are indued with spiritual wisdom; but cause me to hear counsel, and receive instruction, that I may be wise for my latter end.
Friends lost may be reconciled, an estate lost may be regained, but time lost can never be recalled.
Consider the evil of neglecting Christian communion. I know the children of God must sometimes be solitary; there are some duties which cannot otherwise be performed, and some call-ings which cannot otherwise be followed; but as there are seasons for solitariness, so also for society. To forbear the society of saints without a necessary cause is a sin, and bringeth great disadvantage both upon ourselves and others.
O my soul, is it possible for thee to hear the excellency of Scripture thus opened to thee, and not to burn in love to it? Hast thou been all this while in such a host bath, and still cold and shivering?The Christian Man\'s Calling
How averse are our souls to anything that is spiritual! How many excuses, pretences, delays will they make! To sin man needs no tutor; he can ride post to hell without a spur
That they who are brethren, begotten of the same father, born of the same mother, fed at the same table, educated under the same tutor, attended with the same servants, arrayed with the same garments, and heirs of the same inheritance, should be strange to one another, is a great, a gross shame. Many hundred devils can agree together in one man, and yet in some parts not ten Christians can agree together in one house. One of the fathers was so much affected with the divisions of Christians, that he professed himself ready to let out his heart blood to cement them together. Both the honour of religion and our own interest do both command us to unite.
The Christian, like a net, must have both the lead of a godly fear and the cork of a lively faith.
I wish that my God would so strengthen my back, that I may bear with patience the burdens of my brethren. I know unkindnesses will happen between the nearest relations, and between the dearest friends. Whilst there is flesh in us, there will be failings and fallings out among us; till we come to that place where there is perfect purity, that can be no hope of perfect peace.
The smallest and meanest creatures were serviceable to the great God against the Egyptians; and shall my proud heart refuse the help of mean Christians against the enemies of my salvation?
It is better to receive the greatest thieves into our houses, than vain thoughts into our hearts.
There is a woe to him that is alone: such a man shall be sure to have Satan for his companion. He is ever ready to assault when none is near to assist. Eve was tempted with too much success when she was alone, without her husband; Dinah, gadding from her father's house, was defiled; Joseph was then assaulted, when the whole family was gone, save the instrument of the assault. How soon are stragglers snapped up, when those that march with the body of the army are safe!
It is observable that the house of Job's eldest son, which was the grave wherein all his children were buried, stood alone, otherwise the wind from the wilderness could not have smote the four corners thereof. Oh, it is dangerous to be solitary, when God requires thy company amongst his chosen!
When Paul saw the brethren he blessed God, and took courage, Acts xxviii. 15. When many mariners pull at a rope together, they strive with the more alacrity; therefore Christ sent his disciples by two and two, Mark vi. 7.
As one circle caused by a stone thrown into the water begets a second, and that a third; and as one rainbow begets another, and they two together beget a third; so one Christian helps to beget another to Christ, and they two joining, turn more from the errors of their ways. Holiness, like an elixir, by contraction, if any dis-position in the metal, will render it of the same property. The Indians were brought to embrace the Christian faith, by the holy conference and company of Edesius and Frumentius, two private Christians.
The south wind of prosperity now bloweth, but expect the north wind of adversity. If thou hast two heavens, thou hast more than Christ himself had.
Those who enjoy many mercies, as the father saith of rich men, have more tools to work with than others; they have more opportunities for closet duties and public ordinances; they have more influence upon inferiors, who have many times some dependence on them; they have many advantages to do good, and receive good, which others have not; when others are working hard to earn bread for their families, or they must starve, these men may go to their chambers and beg hard for the bread of life; they have more time and more talents to trade with, and must do much more work, or they will hear at last,' Cast the unprofitable servant into utter darkness.' The man did not waste his talent, but because he did not improve it [therefore he was condemned.] Most come short of trading suitable to their talents.
Plutarch observeth that the ass hath the fattest heart, and is the dullest of all beasts. They who have the fattest possessions are generally the dullest in the matters of religion. Like the sun, they move most slowly when highest in the zodiac. Oh, it is far better to be a low tree and fruitful, than a tall one and barren.
Solemn meditation is a serious applying the mind to some sacred subject, till the affections be warmed and quickened, and the resolution heightened and strengthened thereby, against what is evil, and for what is good.
I have somewhere read of a king, that having many servants, some wise, some indiscreet, some profitable, some unprofitable, was asked why he would keep those foolish, unprofitable fellows. To which he answered, I need the other, and these need me, and so I will have them all about me. I am sure weak Christians need the strong; it is ill for a tottering house to have no prop; and strong Christians may need the weak. That knife which is best metal, may some-times need a dull whetstone.
Urbanus Regius, an eminent Dutch divine, meeting with Luther about Coburg, he spent a whole day in conference with him, of which himself writeth, ¹ that he never had a more quickening, comforting day all his lifetime.
Cold Christians have been heated by being near others that have been glowing coals
I have read of a minister, that in the night had a sudden motion to go visit a certain neighbour, and though he argued with himself the unseasonableness of the time, and his ignorance of any cause for such an action, yet the impulse upon him was so strong that he could not withstand it; so going to that friend's house late in the night, he found none at home save the master of the house. Truly, saith the minister to him, I am come to your house thus late, but I know not to what end, nor for what purpose. Yea, saith the man of the house, but God knoweth; for I have made away, through my profaneness, so many children's portions, and here is the rope in my pocket with which I was going to hang myself. But what, replied the minister, if I can tell you of one that made away with more portions, and yet was saved? Who was that? said the neighbour. Adam, saith the minister; who, as a public person, was entrusted with the stock of all his posterity, and prodigally wasted them, yet was saved. Thus, by his serious and seasonable counsel, he stayed the man from his purpose, and was, probably, instrumental for much spiritual good to him.
No Christians are so full but they stand in need of their fellows. He that had as large a stock of grace as any since Christ, yet could not live without commerce with others, Rom. xv. 24. The goodliest house may want a shore.
But must a small difference in opinion cause such a distance in affection? Must we make the devils and enemies of Christ music by our discords? When the foes of God and our own souls are in sight of us, shall we be fighting to make them sport, and to give them an opportunity to destroy us? The wicked of the world. warm themselves by that fire of division which the heats of some weak Christians kindle.
The differences amongst Christians can never be sufficiently lamented. That they who are all near to God should behold one another afar off, and they who are all acquainted with Christ should be unacquainted among themselves.
How pathetically doth the loving Redeemer exhort his disciples to love and oneness! He giveth them his precept: ' A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another; ' not but that it was an old duty, but be-cause envy and malice had prevailed so much among the Jews, that to love was a new thing. Again, ' This is my commandment, that ye love one another, ' as if there were nothing else that he required but this, or as if this, of all the commandments, was that which Jesus loved best. He sets before them his own pattern: ' As I have loved you, so ought ye to love one another. ' The love of Christ should prevail with Christians to lay down their lives for him, and shall it not prevail to lay down their strifes among themselves?
Though the pelican be a melancholy bird, and naturally inclineth to deserts, yet when they remove their places, they go in companies, and the first stay for the last, as they fly over the mountains, Isa. xxxiv. 11; Eph. ii. 14. Though saints love sometimes to be solitary, as having secret busi-ness with their God, yet they do not forsake the assembling them-selves together.
The evil spirit is for solitariness; he walketh in solitary places, seeking rest, Matt. xii. But God is for society; he dwelleth among his children, and bestoweth his choicest com-forts upon the congregations of his poor. The Father provideth the greatest cheer, and maketh the best feast, when many of his children come together to wait upon him, though each coming singly is welcome to his table.
Let the heat of their lust increase my longing after that place where there is no Judas among thine apostles, no Demas among thy disciples; where all the society will be of one mouth and mind, of one heart and way; where all the company will join in concert, and the whole celestial choir tune their strings, and raise their voices to the highest pitch in sounding thine excellencies, and singing thy praises without sin or ceasing.
Sin goes in a disguise, and thence is welcome; like Judas, it kisses and kills; like Joab, it salutes and slays.
when a Christian shall be called from wealth to want, from prosperity to persecution, if he can say, I know that Christ and his cross usually go together; I know that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution, and that I must, through many tribulations, enter into the kingdom of heaven; I know that religion might cost me my estate, my limbs, my liberty, and my life; that if I would reign with Christ, I must suffer with him. All this I know beforehand, and I resolved upon it, and provided for it. The cross will never break the back of this man.
The atheist, by his prosperous condition, is wholly unfitted for affliction. He is so used to great fires and soft beds, that when he cometh to sharp air and stormy weather, he sickens and dieth. As Hannibal's soldiers were so much effeminated by the pleasures they enjoyed at Capua, that their bodies being used to fine raiment, could not bear the weight of heavy armour; and their heads being used to silken nightcaps, could not endure iron head-pieces.
Those that are rich in goods and wealth, must be rich in good works. To do a little good will not be sufficient for them who have received much good. As men increase in their estates, so they advance in their attire and behaviour. The rents which men pay are answerable to the land which they enjoy. Hezekiah returned somewhat to God, but he returned not to the Lord according to his benefits; therefore there was wrath upon him from the Lord , 2 Chron. xxxii. 25. The greater thy receivings are in this world, the greater will thy reckonings be in the other world
Hereafter thy servants may be above thee in glory. It is taken notice of, that a contemptible grasshopper, the silliest almost of all creatures, is advanced into the chief city of England, ( London, ) and a principal part of that city, the Royal Exchange, when far more noble creatures are less regarded. He that took upon him the form of a servant, and was vilified and scorned as a worm on earth, is certainly the highest in heaven. A poor servant, like Lazarus, may be comforted and highly exalted, when a rich master, as Dives, may be disgraced and tormented. He that hath not a foot of land, may have a title to the inheritance of the saints in light.
My hands are but the midwife, to bring my thoughts, the conception of my heart into the world.
Never presume upon sin in hope of secrecy, for though thou mayest cover the candle of creatures with a bushel, yet thou canst not the glorious Sun of righteousness; nothing is hid from his sight.Christian Mans Calling
For comfort. There is no such cordial for a fainting spirit as a promise in the word. The gospel in the Greek is glad tidings, and not without cause: 'This is my comfort in my affliction, for they word hath quickened me.'
Our blessed Saviour teacheth us to see the face of heavenly things in earthly glasses, and to make a ladder of the creatures, whereby we may ascend to heaven in our thoughts. He hath set us a pattern that we should follow his steps. What honey of profit and pleasure doth he teach us to draw from all the flowers and weeds that grow in the garden of creation! He instructeth his disciples by liles growing, and seed sown in the field; by trees and vines in the orchard and vineyard; by pearls, treasures, tares, leaven, mustard-seed, water, bread, nets, fish, salt, oil, lamps, and as at Cana in Galilee, turns all this water into wine, as well for their imitation as information.
Luther relates a story of two cardinals riding to the council at Constance, how by the way they heard a shepherd weeping and crying out sadly, upon which they turned aside to know what was the matter, and found the shepherd looking upon an ugly toad. They asked him the ground of his lamentation. He answered, I cannot but weep to consider the goodness of God, that he did not make much such a loathsome creature, and my own unthankfulness, that I should be no more sensible of it. At which one of the cardinals was so affected, that he fell from his horse in a swoon, and coming again afterwards to himself, told his brother : Well said St Augustine, Indocti rapiunt coelum, & c. The unlearned take heaven by violence, whilst we, with all our parts and learning, wallow in the mire of the earth and flesh.
If thou wouldst exercise thyself to godliness in solitude, labour to spirtualise earthly things. I must say this is one of the most excellent and enriching arts in Christianity... He hath better than Midas's wish; he turns all he toucheth into better than gold.
A true lover delights most to visit his friend alone, when he can enjoy privacy with him.
Naturalists tell us of the Gnomon, commonly called the mariner's needle, that it always will turn to the north star; though it be closed and shut up in a coffer of wood or gold, yet it loseth not its nature. So the true Christian is always looking to the star of Jacob; whether he be shut up in a prison, or shut himself up in his closet, he is ever longing after Jesus Christ.
He grieves truly, that weeps without a witness; so it may be said of godliness, He is sincere in his godliness, who is godly in secret.
if thou dost not exercise thyself to godliness in solitude, thou wilt be in great danger of running into sin, and contracting guilt on thy soul.
What food can compare with the hidden mana? Some persons have excellent banquets in their closets. That bread which the saints each in secret, how pleasant it is!
Woodruff, an herb of an extraordinary pleasant smell, delighteth in dark and shadowy places; so the Christian, who in company refreseth others with the fragrancy of his graces, loveth sometimes to be obscure and in secret.
A believer hath business of great weight, when he withdraweth from the press of the world - it is that he might draw nearer to the Lord.
The saint is many times most busy when he hath nothing to do, and may say more truly than Scipio the African, Nunquam minus solus, quam cum solus, I am never less alone than when alone.
I wish that I may be so much my own friend, as to esteem a bitter admonition better than the sweetest flattery, and never quarrel at any for waking me out of my spiritual lethary.
I wish that I may be so far from speaking ill of them that are good, that I may rather be silent than, without a just cause and call, speak ill of them that are evil. Though the wicked, like dogs, fall upon the sheep of Christ with open mouth, and strive to bury their good names in the open sepulchre of their wide throats, yet the sheep of Christ do rather suffer their rage with patience, than render reviling for reviling.
If I speak evil of any of the saints, I speak evil of myself, and of the Master whom they serve.
It were better for me to be sick and solitary in my bed, than to be censuring or reflecting upon the Lord's servants.
I wish that my tongue may never be so set on fire of hell, as to speak evil of those that are the heirs of heaven.
Who would not abhor that vanity of Nero, in shoeing his horses with precious gold, and causing that costly metal to be trampled under foot in the dirt, which was worthy to be the materials of a crown for the highest head on earth! Am not I a greater fool than the former, and more vain than the latter, if I spend that time- which is infinitely more costly than gold or Bezer, as having relation to eternity - wholly in worldly talk, which might be employed in declaring and admiring the boundless perfections of the blessed God
Admonition is a lion which few dare come near, for fear it will tear them in pieces.
I wish that I may never spend my precious time amongst Christians, as the Athenians, who never understood the worth of that commodity, used to waste it, only in telling and hearing of news; but as Christ amongst his disciples, in discoursing of things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
They that have smarted with inward wounds themselves, have the more reason to compassionate others in their sorrows.
God is a fountain of grace, always running over, but he derives it to us according to our capacities; if I go to the well of salvation, and receive but little of the water of life, I may know the cause- my vessel was no bigger.
The fig-tree, olive, and vine, would not leave their sweetness, fatness, and cheerfulness, to be kings over other trees, Judges ix. 11-13. They that know what it is to enjoy God in secret, would not leave it or lose it to be kings or commanders over the whole world.
The more the fire of grace burns clear in the soul, the more of these sparks will ascend towards heaven.
If a bed be so refreshing to my wearied body, how refreshing is a Redeemer to a wearied soul!
The pride and height of man is laid low, by the profound and hard places in the word of God.
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