Company is both comfortable and profitable. The Fellican avoideth other Birds,1 and keeps alone, but her tone is always sorrowful. Christians walk more merrily in the way of Gods commandments, when they have many fellow Travellers; Christian discourse doth so enchant the hearts of the passengers, that Gods statutes are their songs in the house of their Pilgrimage. A Partner, though it be in misery, is a mercy; and to have one to sympathize with us in our sufferings, is no small ease. The way to prevent the flying in pieces of these Vessels, filled with the most piercing sorrows, is to give them vent, by opening our selves to others. This made David bewail the want of such friends; My lovers, and my friends stand aloof from my sore, and my kinsmen stand afar off. Heman sings, or rather sighs to the same doleful Tune; Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness, Psa. 38. 11. and 88. ult. Besides, there is as much profit as comfort in Companions. The Vulgar read that which we translate Company, Job 16. 7. The members of my body; because Associates as members of the same body, are serviceable to one another, as the several parts of the same building, they help to bear up each other in their proper places, which if divided, would all fall to pieces. They never walk long, being soon weary, whoever walk alone. Many Houses in the City have such weak walls, and are so slightly built, that if they stood several in the open fields,2 they would not stand a year, an high wind would easily tumble them down, which now standing in streets together, receiving support from, and returning it to others, continue many scores ⟨p. 89⟩of years. Thus many Christians would be easily overthrown by the storms of temptations,3 were they single and solitary, who resist them with courage, and come off with Victory, being assisted with their Companions. But this benefit ariseth not from every Companion; Some are like Coals, which instead of warming us, do black, nay burn us. Its better to travail alone, then with a Thief; Better is a blank, then an ill filling; bad humours infect the blood, and evil men infect the soul; Its better (though it be melancholy) to travail alone, then with them who lye in wait for our blood; He is no better then distracted, who knowingly goeth with them that will lead him into by-paths to his ruin.
Company is both comfortable and profitable. The Fellican avoideth other Birds,1 and keeps alone, but her tone is always sorrowful. Christians walk more merrily in the way of Gods commandments, when they have many fellow Travellers; Christian discourse doth so inchant the hearts of the passengers, that Gods statutes are their songs in the house of their Pilgrimage. A Partner, though it be in misery, is a mercy; and to have one to sympathize with us in our sufferings, is no small ease. The way to prevent the flying in peices of these Vessels, filled with the most piercing sorrows, is to give them vent, by opening our selves to others. This made David bewayl the want of such friends; My lovers, and my friends stand aloof from my sore, and my kinsmen stand afar off. Heman sings, or rather sighs to the same doleful Tune; Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness, Psa. 38. 11. and 88. ult. Besides, there is as much profit as comfort in Companions. The Vulgar read that which we translate Company, Job 16. 7. The members of my body; because Associates as members of the same body, are serviceable to one another, as the several parts of the same building, they help to bear up each other in their proper places, which if divided, would all fall to peices. They never walk long, being soon weary, whoever walk alone. Many Houses in the City have such weak walls, and are so slightly built, that if they stood se•eral in the open fields,2 they would not stand a year, an high wind would easily tumble them down, which now standing in streets together, receiving support from, and returning it to others, continue many scores ⟨p. 89⟩of years. Thus many Christians would be easily overthrown by the storms of temptations,3 were they single and solitary, who resist them with courage, and come off with Victory, being assisted with their Companions. But this benefit ariseth not from every Companion; Some are like Coals, which instead of warming us, do black, nay burn us. Its better to travail alone, then with a Thief; Better is a blank, then an ill filling; bad humors infect the blood, and evil men infect the soul; Its better (though it be melancholy) to travail alone, then with them who lye in wayt for our blood; He is no better then distracted, who knowingly goeth with them that will lead him into by-paths to his ruine.
- 1Comes jucundus in via pro vehiculo est. Senec.
- 2Societas est ad•nati• hominum ad aliquid perficiendum. Aquin.
- 3Solem è mundo tollunt qui tollunt amicititiam. Amb. de Amicitia. c. 7.
