The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Its possible whilst they may make some use of me to decoy and trepan others, or to raise ⟨p. 442⟩and advance themselves, they may carry me upon their shoulders as men do their Ladders, when there is hopes thereby of climbing to their desired height, but when that is done, or if the Ladder prove too short, they will throw it upon the ground, If I will not always be some way or other m•king provision for their flesh, I shall be dismissed with the brand of an unworthy fellow. If I converse with mean and poor men, I find but little comfort in their company, I see their poverty, and indigency, and hunger, and nakedness, which I cannot help or prevent, I heard their cries, and groans, and complaints, by reason of oppressing Landlords, or tyrannical revengeful Neighbours, or unfaithful Friends, or distempered Bodies, all which affect my soul, and grieve me to the heart, that I am ready to sit in the dust, and cry, and groan, and mourn with them; Let me go where I will to converse with any, in this wilderness of the world, I find little but briars, and brakes, and thorns, and thistles, and matter of sorrow and lamentation; but when I retire alone to converse with my God, I am freed from those distracting clamours and vexations, cries and disturbing noise, and might, could I but leave an ungrateful unbelieving heart behind me, find in him an Heaven upon Earth; I may with Moses go up to Mount Pisgah, and take a view with the prospective glass of faith, of Palestine, and that goodly land flowing with milk and honey. I may enter into the suburbs of the new Jerusalem, taste some clusters of the Grapes of Canaan, and view as in a glass those celestial beauties and glories which I hope one day to see face to face, and to be partaker of• O my soul, what needst thou care how ⟨p. 443⟩much the world scorns thy company, or to what place thy God see fit to banish thee! if thou canst but as Zacheus, when gotten out of the crowd, climb up into the Sycamore of meditation, and obtain a sight of thy Saviour; If he want no company who is with the King, surely thou mayst deny all the company on earth for the King of Kings! Look how lovingly he invites thee to take a turn or two with him alone in the fields; Come my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, there I will give thee my loves;