The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Satan hath a wonderful advantage of that person whom he meets (without any warrant from God) alone. If I travail alone between Sun and Sun, I have the Law for my protection, that if I be robbed, I may recover my loss of the Country; but if at other times, it is at my own peril. If I be alone at the call of my God, either when secret duties, or my particular calling require it, and my grand enemy set upon me, I may expect help from him whose work I am about; but if when he commandeth me to associate with his people, I needlessly wander from them, and any hurt befall me, I must thank my self, and look for no reparation at his hands. It is observable, that the house of Jobs Eldest Son, which was the grave wherein all his children were buried, stood alone; otherwise the wind from the Wilderness, could not have smote the four ⟨p. 259⟩corners thereof. O tis dangerous to be solitary, when God requires thy company amongst his chosen.

Satan hath a wonderful advantage of that person whom he meets (without any warrant from God) alone. If I travail alone between Sun and Sun, I have the Law for my protection, that if I be robbed, I may recover my loss of the Country; but if at other times, it is at my own peril. If I be alone at the call of my God, either when secret duties, or my particular calling require it, and my grand enemy set upon me, I may expect help from him whose work I am about; but if when he commandeth me to associate with his people, I needlesly wander from them, and any hurt befal me, I must thank my self, and look for no reparation at his hands. It is observable, that the house of Iobs Eldest Son, which was the grave wherein all his children were buried, stood alone; otherwise the wind from the Wilderness, could not have smote the four ⟨p. 259⟩corners thereof. O tis dangerous to be solitary, when God requires thy company amongst his chosen.

There is a woe to him that is alone, such a man shall be sure to have Satan for his companion. He is ever ready to assault, when none is near to assist. Eve was tempted with too much success when she was alone, without her Husband; Dinah gadding from her fathers house, was defiled; Joseph was then assaulted, when the whole Family was gone, save the instrument of the assault; How soon are stragglers snapped up, when those that march with the body of the Army are safe! Pirates lye skulking to find a Vessel sailing alone, when those that sail in company are a convoy to each other; They who separate, are soon seduced. The Cormorant, or Sea-Eagle hath this property, that she will not seize upon the fish in the water, when they are in shoals, but when single she makes them her prey. Solitude is not more hurtful to the body then to the soul, and to nature then to grace. When David was an exile from the society of the Israelites, and wandered abroad, he fell into diffidence and distrust, nay, into hard and blasphemous thoughts of God; as if he had forgotten to be gracious, as if he himself had cleansed his heart in vain; He then said, in his haste, that all men (even Samuel who had anointed him to the Kingdom, and promised him from God, that he should be King) were liars.