The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Again, He might stand amongst them, but durst not (unless necessitated, as a Prisoner kept by force in a Prison) sit with them. A godly man may go to such persons as we do sometimes to felons in a Gaol, about business, but he likes not to stay in such a nasty place. Its said of the Lizard, an unclean Bird, that she liveth in Graves and such places of corruption; But the Dove a clean creature, loves to build and lie clean. Though •he sinner, like Satan, delights in herds of Swine; the Saint disesteemeth a vile person, and honoureth them that fear the Lord, Psa. 15. 4.¹ The Burgess of the new Jerusalem (saith one upon that Text) reprobos reprobate, & probos probat, he rejecteth the vicious, and though they may be great and high, counteth them but vile, Elisha was so far from bestowing his love, that he thought an evil King not to deserve a look. As the Lord liveth, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the King of Judah, I would not look towards thee, nor see thee, saith the Prophet to the King of Israel, 2 King. 3. 14. That unerring pattern, our blessed Saviour, did not judge wicked Herod worthy of one word. Then Herod questioned with him in many words, but he answered him nothing, Luk. 23. 9. But the true Christian honoureth them that fear the Lord, though he disesteemeth the wicked. Saints are Gods jewels, and therefore must needs be of great price with them that have any judgement. ⟨p. 114⟩Ingo an ancient King of the Draves, at a Feast,² sets his Pagan Nobles in his Hall below, and entertained a company of poor Christians at his own Table in his Presence Chamber, in the most Royal manner, and with the costliest cheer that might be; and when this different dealing was wondered at by his Peers, he gave them this Reason, I do this act, not as King of the Draves, but as King of another World, where these poor men shall be my Companions and fellow-Princes; David was a great Sovereign, yet the Saints only were his Associates; Let them that fear thee, turn unto me, and such as keep thy righteous judgements. They who but touched the carcasses of men (and wicked men are but moving carcasses) were unclean seven days,