Works of George Swinnock, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint)

To the Worshipful, and his honoured Patron, Richard Hampden, of Hampden, in Buckinghamshire, Esq. and to the Honourable Lady, Letitia Hampden, his virtuous consort. Though philosophers difference man especially from brutes, by his chief natural quality, Reason,1 yet some divines like rather to do it by his supernatural excellency, Religion: probably upon this twofold ground, partly because religion is the highest and truest reason, and therefore causeth the greatest essential distinction, What can be more rational than the supreme truth to be believed, the chiefest good to be embraced, the first cause to be acknowledged, and those who were made by God, and live wholly upon him, to improve all for him, and to live wholly to him? The giving up our souls and bodies unto God is called our reasonable sacrifice Rom. xii. 2; those that are irreligious are termed unreasonable, 2 Thes. iii. 2. I ndeed, atheists are but beasts, shaped in the proportion and dressed in the habits of men. It is impossible for man to manifest more want of reason, than in wandering from God, the fountain of his being, and the wellspring of all his blessedness. Who ever, unless bereft of his wits and distracted, would murder his body, much less his precious soul, for ever? A ssoon as ever the prodigal came to himself, he came to his father. It was a clear sign he had lost his reason, when he left bread in his fathers house for husks amongst swine. Men shearts naturally are, like Nebuchadnezzar s, the hearts of beasts, grazing only in fleshly pastures, and savouring only sensual pleasures, till their reason returneth to them; then they bless and honour the most high God, who liveth for ever About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Scienc