The blessed and glorious God,1 the Father of mercies, and fountain of all communion, of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named, who hath sufficiently evidenced the good of Companions, in saying, It is not good for man to be alone, and who hath sanctified society by his own example, in creating Angels and Men, not only for mutual comfort, in the fruition of each other, but also that his sacred Majesty, and those Heaven-born spirits might have fellowship together, as intimate friends, ⟨p. 132⟩and especially in that infinite complacency which he had in his beloved Son, and his Son in him from all eternity, who was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him. Having made me rational, and thereby meet for converse with men; Religious, and thereby capable of communion with Christians; I Wish that I may never abuse his kindness by shutting up my self as Monks and Nuns in Cells or Cloisters, or as some melancholy persons, in a Closet or Chamber; but may know both how to be alone, and how to be in company, and be so sensible of his love in affording me fellow-travellers, that my journey to my Fathers house may be the more pleasant, that I may accept it thankfully, and improve it faithfully to his own praise. My God suffereth my spiritual wants, that I may look for help (under him) from others wealth, and he affords me spiritual riches, that I might be able to supply others poverty. Its his pleasure, that none of his Children (though to some he gives liberal estates, to all a competency) should be able to live without being beholding to their Neighbours. Though privacy hath fewer incitations to evil, company hath more provocations to good, by so much •s doing good, is better then not doing evil. Let me prefer society before solitariness; Yet Lord, let me never be a good-fellow in the Worlds sense, to join with all sorts; but let my fellowship be with them that have fellowship with thee. Though I may have bad acquaintance, let me not have a bad Companion, whatsoever commerce I may have with sinners, let my communion be only with thy Majesty, and thy Saints. O let them that fear thee, turn unto me, and such ⟨p. 133⟩as keep thy righteous judgements, Psal. 119. 79.
THe blessed and glorious God,1 the Father of mercies, and fountain of all communion, of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named, who hath sufficiently evidenced the good of Companions, in saying, It is not good for man to be alone, and who hath sanctified society by his own example, in creating Angels and Men, not onely for mutual comfort, in the fruition of each other, but also that his sacred Majesty, and those Heaven-born spirits might have fellowship together, as intimate friends, ⟨p. 132⟩and especially in that infinite complacency which he had in his beloved Son, and his Son in him from all eternity, who was dayly his delight, rejoycing always before him. Having made me rational, and thereby meet for converse with men; Religious, and thereby capable of communion with Christians; I Wish that I may never abuse his kindness by shutting up my self as Monks and Nuns in Cells or Cloisters, or as some melancholy persons, in a Closet or Chamber; but may know both how to be alone, and how to be in company, and be so sensible of his love in affording me fellow-travailers, that my journey to my Fathers house may be the more pleasant, that I may accept it thankefully, and improve it faithfully to his own praise. My God suffereth my spiritual wants, that I may look for help (under him) from others wealth, and he affords me spiritual riches, that I might be able to supply others poverty. Its his pleasure, that none of his Children (though to some he gives liberal estates, to all a competency) should be able to live without being beholding to their Neighbours. Though privacy hath fewer incitations to evil, company hath more provocations to good, by so much •s doing good, is better then not doing evil. Let me prefer society before solitariness; Yet Lord, let me never be a good-fellow in the Worlds sense, to joyn with all sorts; but let my fellowship be with them that have fellowship with thee. Though I may have bad acquaintance, let me not have a bad Companion, whatsoever commerce I may have with sinners, let my communion be onely with thy Majesty, and thy Saints. O let them that fear thee, turn unto me, and such ⟨p. 133⟩as keep thy righteous judgements, Psal. 119. 79.
- 1The Introduction.
