The works of George Swinnock, M.A

then give me thy hand, come up into the Chariot, be thou my friend.

The Choice of a Christian must flow from another fountain then worldly profit; namely, the amiableness of the Image of Christ in the person. The heat and light of a wicked mans love, as a lamp is fed with, and floweth from some earthly substance, and is extinguished when that is denied; but the heat and light of a Saints friendship, as the solary rays, springeth from an heavenly cause, and therefore will continue. The Apostle speaketh of love out of a pure heart, 1 Tim. 1. 5. That i• pure love, a pure stream, which ariseth from a pure heart, a pure spring; that is, not only the grace of God,¹ secret in a Christian, but the grace of God, seen in his Companion whom he loveth. It is clearly visible, that many associate with Christians, not for their virtues, but at a venture, they were possibly the first they fell in league with, or upon some other respect; for they know others as high in holiness whom they slight, nay possibly hate, whereas he that loveth grace in one, loveth grace in all. Its an infallible sign of a crooked nature (saith Cicero) to be affected with none but Praetors and great men. Its little sign I am sure of grace, to join only wi•h those Saints that are rich or high in the World. If thou admirest holiness in scarlet, and robes, and contemnest it in sackcloth and russet; I must tell thee thou art grossly deceived; for thou ⟨p. 119⟩admirest the Scarlet, and honour, not the holiness at all.

The Choice of a Christian must flow from another fountain then worldly profit; namely, the amiableness of the Image of Christ in the person. The heat and light of a wicked mans love, as a lamp is fed with, and floweth from some earthly substance, and is extinguished when that is denyed; but the heat and light of a Saints friendship, as the solary rays, springeth from an heavenly cause, and therefore will continue. The Apostle speaketh of love out of a pure heart,