A62040:247
The works of George Swinnock, M.A
The works of George Swinnock, M.A. containing these several treatises ...
London: printed by J.B. for Tho. Parkhurst, 1665
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Distinct. It is one thing to come into wicked mens company, as a mans occasions or relations require, and it is another thing to choose such company; ⟨p. 126⟩David was frequently amongst the bad, but his delight and joy was only amongst the good. An Acquaintance is one thing, and a Companion is another thing. Acquaintance is the Herd; A companion is the particular one, culled out of it for a special friend. Its one thing to have intimate familiarity, and another thing to have common and civil commerce with such men.
2. Distinct. It is one thing to come into wicked mens company, as a mans occasions or relations require, and it is another thing to choose such company; ⟨p. 126⟩David was frequently amongst the bad, but his delight and joy was onely amongst the good. An Acquaintance is one thing, and a Companion is another thing. Acquaintance is the Herd; A companion is the particular one, culled out of it for a special friend. Its one thing to have intimate familiarity, and another thing to have common and civil commerce with such men.
1. Position. To love my Neighbour as my self, doth not infer an equality, but the quality of my love. A Christian must love all men truly, but is not bound to love all men equally. The greatest degree of our love is limited by God himself (next to his blessed Majesty and our selves) to these two objects, the household of faith, and our own household, not excluding others, but preferring these, fo• even within our selves, there is a difference in our love; we love our head, and heart, and other vital parts, with a closer affection then those outward integral parts that are not of so great concernment to us. I may therefore love every man as my self, and yet love some above others, and my own soul above all. Exemplar potius est exemplato. The example is before the thing exemplified. If a man is bound to love another as himself, he must needs love himself first, and more then another. Thy love to them, may cause thee to hope that thou mayst convert them, but thy love to thy self should make thee fear lest they should pervert thee.