There was company enough, but it was woeful company. The Primitive Saints associated themselves, they continued in fellowship one with another, as well as in the Apostles Doctrine, or in breaking of bread and prayer (Acts 2.42.) They were all of one mind, and were therefore f•t to make one body. The communion and fellowship of the Saints, is the lower heaven of Saints. And the making of such a company desolate, is the saddest desolation that can be made on earth: Communion of Saints in Heaven, is one great accession to the joy of Heaven. And 'tis a great comfort to the Saints in the midst of all the ill neighbourhood which they meet with here, to remember that they shall meet with no ill neighbours there; none but Friends there, none but loving Friends. There shall not be a cross thought, much less a cross word or action among those many millions of glorified Saints for ever, nor shall there be any among them there but Saints: no tares in that field, nor chaff in that floor, no Goats in that Fold, no nor any Wolves in Sheep-skins, no profane ones there, no nor any ⟨p. 255⟩Hypocrites there. Uunsutable company would render our lives miserable in Heaven it self. If God should say to the godly and the wicked (as David once did to Mephibosheth and Ziba, Thou and Ziba divide the Land) divide Heaven among you; might they not answer (with reverence) as Mephibosheth did to David, Nay let them take it all to themselves, O our souls come not into their secret, and unto their assembly let not our honour be joined: if Swearers, Adulterers, Liars, should be our company in Heaven, Heaven it self, were unheaven'd, and everlasting life would be an everlasting death. And that which further argues the burdensomness of unsuitable company, is, that even wicked men themselves cannot but confess that they are burdened with the company of those who are good; if such come in presence where they associate in any sinful converse, how weary are they of their company? How do they even sweat at the sight of them? And how glad are they when such turn their backs, and are gone: the only reason why they like them not, is because they are not like them, and they are not good company, because they are good. All company is made desolate to us, which is not made suitable to us. Job had many about him, yet he complains, Thou hast made desolate all my company.
There was company enough, but it was wofull company. The Primitive Saints associated themselves, they continued in fellowship one with another, as well as in the Apostles Doctrine, or in breaking of bread and prayer (Acts 2.42.) They were all of one minde, and were therefore f•t to make one body. The communion and fellowship of the Saints, is the lower heaven of Saints. And the making of such a company desolate, is the saddest desolation that can be made on earth: Communion of Saints in Heaven, is one great accession to the joy of Heaven. And 'tis a great comfort to the Saints in the midst of all the ill neighbourhood which they meet with here, to remember that they shall meet with no ill neighboures there; none but Freinds there, none but loving Freinds. There shall not be a crosse thought, much lesse a crosse word or action among those many millions of glorified Saints for ever, nor shall there be any among them there but Saints: no tares in that feild, nor chaffe in that floore, no Goates in that Fold, no nor any Wolves in Sheep-skins, no prophane ones there, no nor any ⟨p. 255⟩Hypocrites there. Uunsutable company would render our lives miserable in Heaven it self. If God should say to the godly and the wicked (as David once did to Mephibosheth and Ziba, Thou and Ziba divide the Land) divide Heaven among you; might they not answer (with reverence) as Mephibosheth did to David, Nay let them take it all to themselves, O our soules come not into their secret, and unto their assembly let not our honour be joyned: if Swearers, Adulterers, Lyers, should be our company in Heaven, Heaven it selfe, were unheaven'd, and everlasting life would bee an everlasting death. And that which further argues the burdensomness of unsutable company, is, that even wicked men themselves cannot but confess that they are burdned with the company of those who are good; if such come in presence where they associate in any sinfull converse, how weary are they of their company? How do they even sweat at the sight of them? And how glad are they when such turne their backs, and are gone: the onely reason why they like them not, is because they are not like them, and they are not good company, because they are good. All company is made desolate to us, which is not made suitable to us. Job had many about him, yet he complaines, Thou hast made desolate all my company.
