The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Secondly, By good company pious souls have been confirmed. Whilst Latimer and Ridley lived, they kept up Cranmer by intercourse of letters. Christian conference is a great help to perseverance. The staff of bonds was the Jews beauty and safety, Zach. 11.14. Company causeth courage; the beams of joy are the hotter for reflection. Ipse aspectus viri boni delectat, saith the Moralist, The very countenance of a good man makes us cheerful. Our sight of him is reviving to us. When Paul saw the brethren, he blessed God, and took courage, Act. 28. 15. When many Mariners pull at a rope together, they strive with the more alacrity; therefore Christ sent his Disciples by two and two, Mark 6.7. When Jonathan went against the Philistines, he would take his Armour-bearer along with him. The blessed Jesus going into the Garden to his bitter, bloody Agony, chose Peter, James and John to accompany him. The great Apostle expected comfort from the Romans company, and hoped to confirm them by his; For I long to see you, that I might impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established. The closer the stones of the Edifice are joined together, the stronger is the Building; That I might be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me. Grace is the Oil of gladness, and the more of this oil, the more of gladness; when Pauls faith and the Romans met in one channel, such a river of oil would be a river of pleasure: The union of such flames could not but become a good fire, to refresh and rejoice their hearts: Job. 41.16. As its said of Leviathan, that his scales are his pride, i.e. his strength in which he boasteth; and the ⟨p. 245⟩reason of it is rendered, One is so near to another that no air can come between them; They are joined one to another they stick together, that they cannot be sundered: So it may be said of the people of God, Their unity will be their security; when one is so near to another that no enemy can come between them, when they are joined one to another and stick together that they cannot be sundered, then it may be said of them as of him, In their neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before them, ver. 21.