A62040:403
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.
Chapter 4: How Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness, in good Company; With a Good Wish…
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.
As God delights in the company of his Children, Isa: 62. 4. Thou shalt be called Hephzibah, i.e. my delight is in her, so the Saints delight in communion with one another; things of like Nature, desire to be joined together. Love the consequent of likeness, hath an attractive power, and covets the presence of the party beloved; Balm put into the Bee hives, causeth the Bees to come together, and others to come to them. Grace like fire, solders together those that before differed. Hence, Saints are like Doves, they fly in troops to their windows, Isa. 60. 8. Though the Pelican be a melancholy Bird, and naturally inclineth to deserts, yet when they remove their places, they go in companies, and the first stay for the last, as they fly over the Mountains, Isa. 34. 11• Eph. 2. 14. Though Saints love sometimes to be solitary, as having secret business with their God, yet they do not ⟨p. 235⟩forsake the assembling themselves together. That verse, Psa. 84. 7. which we read, they go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appearing before God, Junius reads it, and so it is in the Hebrew, They go from Company to Company; as they went up to Jerusalem, they went in troops and companies; Possibly we translate it strength, because much of our safety consisteth in good society. He that travails alone, is easily made a prey, [Greek or Hebrew], One man is no man; Even Counties that have been large, have drawn themselves into Associations, for mutual and common defence.
As God delights in the company of his Children, Isa: 62. 4. Thou shalt be called Hephzibah, i.e. my delight is in her, so the Saints delight in communion with one another; things of like Nature, desire to be joyned together. Love the consequent of likeness, hath an attractive power, and covets the presence of the party beloved; Balm put into the Bee hives, causeth the Bees to come together, and others to come to them. Grace like fire, soders together those that before differed. Hence, Saints are like Doves, they flie in troops to their windows,