Heaven and Hell Epitomized

HEAVEN AND HELL EPITOMISED. BY GEORGE SWINNOCK THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. To the Worshipful, and my esteemed friend, RICHARD BERESFORD, Esq., Clerk of the Pleas to His Majesty s Court of Exchequer. IT was the unhappiness of judicious Calvin, either through his own mistake, or the misreport of others, to retract his first Dedica tion of his Comment on the First Epistle to the Corinthians in another edition, and to prefix a new name before it, viz., the noble Galeacius Caricciolus, Marquis of Vico, wishing that either he had not known at all, or had known more fully, the person whose name he was forced to blot out. 1 I bless God I have not the least cause for the like course. But this small treatise (part whereof was formerly preached in your ears at the funeral of your dear mother) presenteth itself this second time to your eyes, not for your protection, (divine truths desire none from men, and human errors deserve none from any,) but for your direction. It containeth that in it which is able to make you wise unto salva tion, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. You have a double right to the dedication of this book : partly of the occasion of it in of the author s in, regard ; partly regard obligation unto you, which is great, for your liberality; but far greater for your encouraging of, and exemplariness in, the truth and life of Christianity. I did not think myself a little bound to that providence which gave you relation to that parish whereof I was once minister, and I suppose not without cause, when the power of godliness hath few such considerable patrons. Men of your rank, though some- 1 Utimam quo primum tempore in lucem prodiit hie Commentarius, vel mihi ignotus, vel saltern probe notus fuisset ille, cujus nomen huic paginse hactenus inscriptum hinc delere cogor. Calv. Ep. Dedic. coram Comment. 1 Epist. Corinth. 204 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. times, to stop the mouth of conscience, or for their credit, they take up a form and profession, yet do usually neglect, if not cursedly deride, the strictness and power of religion. They are too often, like the moon, furthest from, and in direct opposition unto, the Sun of righteousness, when they are at the full of out and receive most of divine from him ward plenty, light bounty ; their carnal hearts, as the sea, turn the showers of mercy from heaven, and fresh streams from the earth, into the salt waters of 1 corruption. In our natural bodies, the more fat there is, the less blood in the veins, and, by consequence, the fewer spirits. Greatness and goodness are beautiful and happy, but rare con 2 junctions. You know who hath said, Not many such are called, i. 26 and teacheth that are like stars 1 Cor. ; experience us, they of the first magnitude, thinly scattered in the firmament of a country. How much therefore are you engaged to that distin guishing love, which enableth you to look after the things of a better life ! I shall take the liberty, which I know you will give, to speak a few words to you by way of advice. First, My counsel will be, that you would more and more ensure your effectual calling. We say, where men intend to live long, they build strong. I am confident all that you are worth, for your endless condition in the other world, dependeth, under Christ, upon your inward change. And if ever any wires had need to be firm and strong, then questionless they upon which such heavy weights hang as your eternal, unchangeable estate. You have a large room in the hearts of many that are holy. s of But, alas, sir, the best man confidence me would prove but a bad evidence for heaven ! He is not approved whom man commendeth, but whom the Lord commendeth. The great affection which you bear to the souls of the people- whom were is of imitation and so is amongst ye born, worthy ; your care and cost in scattering some practical and home treatises in several families, whereby souls may be converted, and wherein have comfort at the of Christ for is you may day ; soul-charity the soul of charity. But the best charity begins at home, though ends there main business lieth within it never ; your your own 1 There is scarce one of a thousand, Cui prcesens felicitas si arrisit non irrisit. Bern., lib. ii. De Consolat. 2 no number God seldom two Quies hath plural ; giveth hearens. Tamen aliquando Christus voluit Reglnam in codum vehere, saith Luther of Elizabeth, Queen of Denmark. Luth. in Epist. ad Jo. Agric. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 205 doors, to make sure that good work within you which shall be perfected hereafter. The ordinary security which most men trust to, will not serve when they come in the other life to lay their claims, and shew their deeds for the inheritance of the saints in light. Many flaws will then be found in their evidences, which now, through their wilful blindness, they neither see nor fear. He had need to have armour of proof, that would enter the list with his enemy death, 1 and not be foiled. The heart not ballasted with renewing grace, hold out in the calm of life, and shallows of time but when may ; it meets with the storm of death, and launcheth into the ocean of eternity, it suffereth a desperate and everlasting shipwreck. The want of this is the leak which sinketh many a precious vessel (soul I mean) in the gulf of perdition. There is as much difference between a nominal and a real Christian, as between a lifeless picture and a living person. True Christianity, which consisteth in the soul s humble, unfeigned acceptation of, and hearty resolved dedication unto Christ, as Saviour and sovereign, is a paradox to most. There are many 2 Christians, as Salvian complained in his time, without Christ; but they which know experimentally what the sanctification of the Holy Ghost meaneth, are few indeed. The moralist in his best dress of civility, the formalist in his gaudy attire of cere monies, and the hypocrite in all his royalty, is not arrayed like one of these. I do not write these things as in the least suspect ing your sincerity, but to quicken you to a godly jealousy over your own soul. If the apostles and disciples needed such rousing cautions : Take heed lest that day come upon you unawares/ Luke xxi. 34 Take heed lest man fail of the of ; any grace God, Heb. xii. 15 then much more and who are more ; you I, drowsy and prone to slumber, do require awakening considerations. Secondly, That you would walk exemplarily. Man is a crea ture which is led more by the eye than the ear, by patterns than by precepts. Great men therefore, which are copies after which many write, had need to be exact. You are the looking-glasses which others dress themselves the heads of the by ; people, Deut. i. 15 now the whole will with the head. ; body go along 3 You are like beacons upon a hill, visible to all. The sun 1 Fallens aurum melius est quam fulgens auricalchum. Bern. 2 Christian! sine Christo. Salv. 3 Qui in excelso agunt, eorum facta cuncti mortales novere. Sallust. ad C cesarcm. 206 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. may as soon go unseen as you unobserved. A small star may be and none take notice of it but if the luminaries darkened, ; great are eclipsed or obscured, a thousand eyes will be gazing on them. A little spot in silk or scarlet is more looked on than a great one in russet or sackcloth. A crack in a pebble is nothing so eyed or prejudicial as a small flaw in a jewel. Corruptio optimi pessima. Satan doth therefore plant his strongest batteries against the royal forts of magistracy and ministry, (whoever are spared, David and Peter shall be sifted,) knowing that he gaineth a double advantage their and scandal which two by miscarriage, example, ; by wings it will soar higher, and fly much further. An ordinary tradesman without much noise but if an alderman or may prove bankrupt ; merchant, that had a name for a great estate, breaks, the city and country ring of it. The honour of God and credit of the gospel are much engaged in the carriage of a gentleman that is a pro fessor. The many eyes that look upon you, the many feet that after and the of the blessed which is follow you, glory God con7 cerned in you, do all call aloud to you, to have your eyes in your s Eccles. ii. to head, (ses the wise man phrase is, 14,) make straight paths for your feet, and to walk nobly, exactly, worthy of the Lord, even unto all well -pleasing. Besides, honour is apt to be a snare and temptation, and there fore requireth the greater care and circumspection. Places of honour are like strong meats, which, being well concocted, yield much good nourishment, bring much glory to God, and good to souls; but they are of very hard digestion. He must have a strong brain that will bear much wine, and he much grace that will walk humbly and closely with God in a high condition. In a time is work is talents word, your little, your great ; your are account will be Saviour many, your weighty ; your observeth every moment how tender you are of his honour, that was so tender of eternal welfare how thankfulness your ; you testify your to him for all the bitter agony and ignominy which he suffered for you.

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