The works of George Swinnock, M.A. containing these several treatises ...

SECT. V.

FIfthly, Endeavour their reformation. Thy duty is as a good Physitian, to loath the noisom dis∣ease, but to pity and strive to recover the Pati∣ent. What difference is there betwixt thee and a carnal person, if thou sufferest him to die, and offerest not thy help for his cure! Thy Father doth good to all, he causeth his Sun to shine on the just,

and on the unjust. O Remember that thou art his Son, and that his pattern is worthy of imitation. That piece of Iron, which is rub'd with the Load∣stone, will draw another peice of Iron; We read of Magnetical Rocks in some Islands, that draw all Ships to them, which have Iron Pins, and hold them so fast that they are not able to stir. Shew that thou hast been toucht with the Spirit, that the Spirit of God dwelleth in thee, by thy endea∣vours to draw others to God. Christ never sat at Table with any sinners, but he made better chear then he found; If he sat with the prophane, he did convert them; if with the pious, he did confirm them, Luk. 7.

Be not discouraged at the weakness of thy gifts, or the small degree of thy graces, but consider that the event of the enterprize depends upon him who sets thee a work, and that its all one to him, whether he have great means, or small means, or no means. A poor contemptible Flie, may hin∣der an Elephant from sleeping; a poor upright Christian, may awaken great sinners out of their spiritual sleep and lethargy. A little Boat may land a man at a large continent. A weak believer may help a soul to Heaven.

Endeavour to reform them these three ways.

1. By wholsom Counsel. Every place thou comest into, should be like Libnah, in which the Israelites pitcht, a place of Frankincense, perfumed by thy presence. The breath of a man serves him both to cool his broth when hot, and warm his fingers when cold; The breath of a Christian should serve to put some warmth into them that are cold Hea∣ven-ward,

and to cool and slack them that are hot Hell ward. An wholsom tongue is a Tree of life, Prov. 15. 12. Thy tongue should be like the Tree of life in Eden, of which he that did eat was to live for ever, Gen. 3. 22. or like that Tree of life in the midst of the street, which bare twelve manner of Fruit, and the Leaves of the Tree were for the heal∣ing of the Nations, Rev. 22. 2. I have read of a person who led a dissolute life, and was so wrought upon by the Counsel of a good man, that he turned over a new Leaf; and when his Companions asked the ground of that change, which they soon ob∣served in him, and why he would not walk along with them in his old wicked ways; he answered them, I am busie, meditating and reading in a little book, which hath but three leaves in it, so that I have no leasure so much as to think of any other business; In the first leaf, which is red, I medi∣tate on the passion of my Lord Iesus Christ, and of that precious blood which he shed for the remission of my sins; In the second leaf, which is white, I me∣ditate on the unspeakable joys of Heaven, purchased for me by the death of my Redeemer; In the third leaf, which is black, I meditate on the intolerable torments of Hell provided and kept in store for the wicked and ungodly. Prudent and pious advice, may bring wandring sinners home to Christs fold. There is a special art in baiting the hook aright, so as thou mayst take sinners ere they are aware, I being crafty, caught you with guile, 2 Cor. 12. 16. Its possible ••hou art amongst men that are moral and civil, yet unsanctified; by commending civility, yet discovering its insufficiency, thou mayst beat

them out of their rotten holds, and cause them to run to Christ for help, Mat. 5. 20. It may be thou meetest with those that are openly prophane; by bringing in wisely an example of Gods judgements on such persons, thou mayst fright them from such lewd practices. Sometimes thou mayst turn earthly discourse by degrees into heavenly, and spread a Table, and set a running banquet before them, which they never thought of. Do they ask (for ••ant of other discourse) what news? After some prudent preface, answer them, that thou canst tell them good news from a far Country, which is worthy of all acceptation, namely, That Iesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Do they ask how such and such do? acquaint them concerning their bodily welfare; and if it may be done conveniently, that the health of the soul is most to be enquired after, as that which is of greatest weight and worth. Do they ask into the price of Commodities? thou mayst thereby raise their hearts to the Wine and Milk which is to be bought of Christ, without money and without price. This is true Alchimy, and will turn all into Gold. What heavenly fruit did our Re∣deemer gather from such earthly trees? When the Pharises spake of eating with defiled, that is, un∣washen hands, he told them of inward defilements, and what danger there was in unwashen hearts, Mat. 15. 20. When the Woman of Samaria came to draw Water, how soon doth he lift up his dis∣course to living Water, of which whosoever drink∣eth shall never thirst! John 4. 21. When the mul∣titude followed him for the Loaves, he improves that occasion to quicken them to labour for the

meat which endureth unto everlasting life, John 6. 25, 26, 27. Thus thou mayst Reader, distil cordial water out of dregs and lees.

2. Endeavour to reform them by thy gracious car∣riage in their Company. A Christian is Gods Iewel (Mal. 3. 17.) and should always cast a radiancy and lustre before the eyes of others; but especially a∣mongst them that are wicked: He is double guilty who ••••lks disorderly amidst his Masters enemies. Saints ••••ould like Diamonds, sparkle gloriously in a Ditch, and as Stars, shine the brighter in cold nights; Be blameless and harmless, without rebuke, shining as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse Genera∣tion, Phil. 2. 15. Beleivers should, like lights hung out in the City, shine so brightly, as to prevent others wandring and stumbling; The word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, such lights as the Sun, Moon, and Stars are, which do not keep their light to themselves, but com∣municate it to others. This gracious conversation is often profitable to the conviction of others. They who as the Atlantes, are ready to curse the Sun, because it scorcheth them with its beams, to hate the light because it discovereth their deeds of dark∣ness, may nevertheless in their consciences be so convinced of its beauty and glory, that they may turn Persians, to admire and adore it. Shew thy self a pattern of good works, that he that is of the con∣trary

part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you, Tit. 2. 7, 8. 1 Pet. 3. 15, 16. Grace doth powerfully, though silently, oppose and overthrow Prophaness; It forceth reverence from its bitterest enemies. The righteousness of Noah condemned the old World; The holiness of the Baptist, did obtain respect from wicked Herod; How did the Magnani∣mous Sanctity of the three Worthies, triumph in the conscience of Nebuchadnezar? and the innocen∣cy of Daniel in the soul of Darius? Many a sinner hath been struck dumb, by the exemplary and hero∣ick faith and patience of the Saints. Such a gracious carriage is sometimes helpful to the conversation of others. They who stood out against the Word of God, have been won by the Works of Men. Sanctified actions are unanswerable Syllogismes, and effectual demonstrations. Though the ears have been shut against pious precepts, the heart it self hath been opened to a gracious pattern. Ab∣stain from fleshly lusts, and have your conversations honest, that whereas they speak evil of you as evil doers, they ma•• by your good works which they behold, glorifie God in the day of visitation, 1 Pet. 2. 11, 12. Good works are a means, not onely of silencing, but even of sanctifying evil workers; and hereby those who spake evil of the children, come to glo∣rifie the father. An holy life is a real confutation of unholy lusts; and whereas counsel may perswade, this compelleth the sinner, either to embrace sanctity, or to live condemned of himself. Lewis the twelfth of France, hearing ill of the Waldenses, sent some to observe and pry into their lives, who returning, told the King, That they were free from all scandal,

sanctified the Sabbath, baptized and chatechised their children; Whereupon the King their enemy swore that they were better men then himself, or any of his Subjects. The Church of God is compared to a Vineyard, Luk. 20. 9. Pliny tells us that the smell of a Vineyard is such, that it drives away all Ser∣pents and venemous creatures. The lives of Gods people should be spotless and exemplary, that their enemies, as in Tertullians days, may honour them for their holiness. Of Bueer it was said, He so lived, that his friends could not sufficiently praise him, nor his enemies justly blame him; So should every child of God.

Notes

• Christus omni∣bus o••nia factus est, pa••per pauperi∣bus, divesd vi∣tibus, —Cum Maria ••l••t. cum Apost••is ••pulatur, &c. Amb. Sup. Luc. lib. 4.
• Ant. D••uralt. Sp••culum ex∣emplorum.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 lumen, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 servo, quod receptum l••men servat; significat tale quid quod lu∣men ex se emit∣tit, ut S••l, Luna Stella.
• Sicuti caeli lu∣minaria ac si∣dera in firma∣mento caeli à Deo collocata, cunctis indesinenter quae sub caelo sunt, fulgent, & omnibus quae super terram sunt, per tempora, ac tempora, per generationes ac generationes, mirabiliter reluce••t; alia quidem per noctem di luna & stellae, alia nihilominus per d••em, ut solis speciosissimi radii: Sic & sanctorum virtutis insignia at{que} beatissimi eorum agones, omnibus in perpetuum singulariter fulgent omnibus in aeternum bonorum formam tribuunt, omnibus sub sole pictatis exemplum ostendunt. Orig. Homil. 1. in Job.
• Viva lectio est vita sancto∣rum. Greg. Moral. 24.