The works of George Swinnock, M.A

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.

Or whether their sins are immediately against our selves; If the teeth bite the tongue, that seeketh no revenge. When the feet through their slipping, throw the body upon the ground, it riseth up, and all is well. Some Christians are of such weak stomachs, that they can digest nothing that looks like an unkindness or injury; But its the glory of a man to pass by offences. Cyprian saith, to bear with affronts, is a ray of Divinity. A noble-spirited man will disdain to take notice of petty dis-respects, he will over-come contempt by contempt. But an heaven-born Christian hath higher principles, and more sublime motives to forgive his offending brother. I Paul, the Prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with a long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, Ephes. 4. 1, 2. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you, ¹verse ult. It is reported of Cosroes the Persian King, that he ⟨p. 291⟩caused a Throne to be made for him, like Heaven, with the Sun, Moon, and Stars, artificially placed above it, and under his feet thick and black clouds, and high winds and tempests. He that would have an Heaven here, I mean, enjoy God, and himself, must of necessity trample these under his feet.