The works of George Swinnock, M.A

II. The Spiritual burden of their iniquities and sins; Whether more immediately against God. Though we must not bear with them in their sins, yet we must help to bear their sins with them. We ought to sit on the same floor with them that are fallen down, and to mourn with them, and for them, and to bear some of the weight; This temper was so eminent in Ambrose, he would so plentifully ⟨p. 290⟩weep with the sinning party, that a Great Commander under Theodosius beholding it, cried out, This man is only worthy the name of a Bishop.

II. The Spiritual burthen of their iniquities and sins; Whether more immediately against God. Though we must not bear with them in their sins, yet we must help to bear their sins with them. We ought to sit on the same floor with them that are fallen down, and to mourn with them, and for them, and to bear some of the weight; This temper was so eminent in Ambrose, he would so plentifully ⟨p. 290⟩weep with the sinning party, that a Great Commander under Theodosius beholding it, cried out, This man is onely worthy the name of a Bishop.

As Stags when they swim over a River, to feed in some Meadow, they swim in a row, and lay their heads over one another's backs, bearing the weight of one another's horns, and when the first is weary, another taketh his room, and so they do it by course. So Christians must be willing to bear each others weight, whilst they are passing through those boisterous waters, till they land at their glorious eternal harbour.

As Stags when they swim over a River, to feed in some Meadow, they swim in a row, and lay their heads over one anothers backs, bearing the weight of one anothers horns, and when the first is weary, another taketh his room, and so they do it by course. So Christians must be willing to bear each others weight, whilst they are passing through those boistrous waters, till they land at their glorious eternal harbour.