The works of George Swinnock, M.A

3. Position. Christians should as God gives them opportunity, if there be any hope of doing good, endeavour to reform men, before they wholly reject their company; Nay, and pray for their welfare after they have refused them for Companions. Its small kindness to shut up a man that hath the plague, lest he should infect others, and to use no means for his own cure. If I find that a man is desperately bent in wickedness, that Religion is the object of his laughter, and to give him any serious counsel, is to cast Pearl before Swine; I must judge such Ishmaels and Esaus, unworthy of humane society; but its a very hard case to shut a man up in a Coffin, and bury him before he be quite dead • Sometimes vicious men are in distress, and a godly man hath a call from God to do him some charitable office; here the Christian may have less fear of receiving hurt from them. Afflictions are bonds, and these beasts in Chains are not so unruly; Pauls Viper benumbed with cold did not sting him; Here a Christian hath also more hope of doing good to ⟨p. 128⟩them. The hard metal, when in the fire, may receive impressions. Men will take that Physic willingly in their sickness, which they refused in health.

3. Position. Christians should as God gives them opportunity, if there be any hope of doing good, endeavour to reform men, before they wholly reject their company; Nay, and pray for their welfare after they have refused them for Companions. Its small kindness to shut up a man that hath the plague, lest he should infect others, and to use no means for his own cure. If I finde that a man is desperately bent in wickedness, that Religion is the object of his laughter, and to give him any serious counsel, is to cast Pearl before Swine; I must judge such Ishmaels and Esaus, unworthy of humane society; but its a very hard case to shut a man up in a Coffin, and bury him before he be quite dead • Sometimes vicious men are in distress, and a godly man hath a call from God to do him some charitable office; here the Christian may have less fear of receiving hurt from them. Afflictions are bonds, and these beasts in Chains are not so unruly; Pauls Viper benummed with cold did not sting him; Here a Christian hath also more hope of doing good to ⟨p. 128⟩