George Swinnock

was born in the antient Borough of Maidstone in Kent, an. 1627, brought up religiously when a Child in the family of Rob. Swinnock a most zealous Puritan of that Town, educated in Cambridge till he was Bach. of Arts, went to Oxon to get preferment in the latter end of 1647, at which time he entred himself a Communer of Magd. Hall. Soon after he became one of the Chaplains of New Coll, and on the sixth day of Octob. following (1648) he was made Fellow of Ball. Coll, by the authority of the Visitors appointed by Parliament. In 1650 he became Vicar of Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, and thereupon resigning his Fellowship on the 24 of Nov. the same year, took the degree of Master of Arts six days after. In 1660 or thereabouts, he was made Vicar of Great Kimbel in Bucks, and in Aug. 1662, being ejected tor nonconformity, he was received into the family of Rich. Hamden of Great Hamden in the said County of Bucks Esquire, and continued with him for some time in the quality of a Chaplain. At length upon the issuing out of his Majesties Declaration for liberty of conscience, in the latter end of the year 1671 he retired to his native place, where he continued in preaching and praying among the Godly till the time of his death. His works are these.

The dore of Salvation opened by the key of regeneration: or, a Treatise containing the nature, necessity, marks and means of regeneration. Lond. 1660. &c. in oct. and in qu. commended to the Readers by the Epistles of Edw. Reynolds D. D, Tho. Watson of S. Stephens Walbroke in Lond. and Mr. Rich. Baxter, written in Jan. 1659. This book was printed the third time at Lond. 1671. oct.

The Christian mans calling: or, a treatise of making Religion ones business, wherein the nature and necessity of it is discovered, &c. Lond. 1661. &c. qu. The second part of this book, which directeth Parents, Children, Husbands, Wives, Masters, Servants, in prosperity and adversity to do their duties, was printed at Lond. 1663, &c. qu. and the third part there in 1665, &c. qu.

Several Sermons, as (1) The Pastors farewell and wish of welfare to his people: or, a valedictory Serm. on Acts 20.32. Lond. 1662. qu. It was preached, as it seems, at Gr. Kimbell before mention’d. (2) The fading of the flesh, and flourishing of faith: or, one cast for eternity, &c. Funeral sermon on Mr. Caleb Swinnock of Maidstone, on Psal. 73.26. Lond. 1662. qu. To which is added by the said Author The gracious persons incomparable portion. (3) Men are Gods, Gods are Men, two Assize sermons.—These I have not yet seen, and therefore I cannot tell you the Texts.

Heaven and Hell epitomized, the true Christian characterized, as also an exhortation with motives, to be speedy about the work of Conversion. Lond. 1663. qu.

The beauty of Magistracy: in an exposition of the 82 Psal. wherein is set forth the necessity, utility, dignity, duty and morality of Magistrates. Lond. 1660. &c. qu. Assisted therein by Tho. Hall, of whom I have spoken under the year 1665. p. 235.

Treatise of the incomparableness of God in his being, attributes, works and word, opened and applied. Lond. 1672. oct.

The Sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission: wherein is discovered the nature, causes and cure of those sins. Lond. 1675 and 79. oct. What other things this Mr. Swinnock (who was accounted an eminent Preacher among those of his perswasion) hath written, I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he died on the tenth day of Novemb. in sixteen hundred seventy and three,1673. and was buried in the Church at Maidstone before mention’d. In that most virulent and diabolical Pamphlet called Mirabilis annus secundus ((f))((f)) Mirabilis annus secundus: or, the second part of the second years p [••] digies, &c. Printed 1662. in qu. pag. 49. is a story of one Mr. Swinnock a Minister in S. Martins lane near Canon street in London, sometimes Chaplain to one of the Sheriffs of that City, who for his Conformity to the Ch. of England, and for wearing a Surplice, which he began to do on the 21 of Sept. 1662, (after he had often said among the brethren, he would rather burn than conform, &c. as the Author of the said Mirab. an. saith) it pleased the Lord (as he further adds) to strike him with sickness, which proved a violent burning feaver, whereof within a few days after, before another Lords day came about, he died, &c. Who this Mr. Swinnock was, I cannot tell, neither doth the Author set down his Christian Name, otherwise we might have said something more of him, and something to the disproof of that most vile Author.