Four books on the eleventh of Matthew

12. Another Rule is this, Communion with the Saints, spiritual Communion, Heavenly Communion, not frothy Communion, but a spiritual holy gracious communion with the Saints, will facilitate the ways of God very much, the experience of this is very much, I do not know how it comes to pass, but certainly, now there is a great deal less communion between Gods people than formerly the times have been, when some that have been alone, have bin striving and tugging, and could not get their hearts into any good frame, they have come bu• into the company of Gods people, & laid their experiences together, and warmed themselves together, and then they have gone away, and they have thought nothing too hard that God should require of them to do or to suffer, they would go into their closets and pour out their hearts, if there were trouble in the Family, between Wife and Husband, in regard of passion, when they have been amongst Gods people, they could carry themselves in a gracious manner, Oh! communion, much communion with the Saints of God, it is that that facilitates the ways of Religion. We know in travelling, if a man be travelling a journey all alone especially if he have wind and weather against him, his way is tedious to him, very hard and grievous, and he is tired in his journey: but now, if he travel and have good company, and good discourse, and is joyful, ⟨p. 769⟩and cheerful when he is going, his journey is nothing, when he comes to the Inn, he saith, I thank God, I am not weary at all, Why is it so? the journey is long, I but the company is good, the discourse is good, and that makes it easy: So it is in our journey to Heaven, we complain of tediousness in our journey, Why is it? because we love to be alone. As many that are of a dumpish disposition, loving always to be alone, there is a time indeed that people should be alone, & they have sweet refreshings from God that way, but there is a time to have Society with the Saints, and it is an ordinance appointed by God for the facilitating of Gods ways, while we are passing in the wilderness in our way to Heaven, and therefore make Conscience of that, to have Communion with the people of God, to spiritualize your Communion, and make what use you can of them to help you in your Christian course.

12. Another Rule is this, Communion with the Saints, spirituall Communion, Heavenly Communion, not frothy Communion, but a spiritual holy gracious communion with the Saints, wil facilitate the waies of God very much, the experience of this is very much, I do not know how it comes to pass, but certainly, now there is a great deal less communion between Gods people than formerly the times have been, when some that have been alone, have bin striving and tugging, and could not get their hearts into any good frame, they have come bu into the company of Gods people, & laid their experiences together, and warmed themselves together, and then they have gone away, and they have thought nothing too hard that God should require of them to do or to suffer, they would go into their closets and pour out their hearts, if there were trouble in the Family, between Wife and Husband, in regard of passion, when they have been amongst Gods people, they could carry themselves in a gracious manner, Oh! communion, much communion with the Saints of God, it is that that facilitates the waies of Religion. We know in travelling, if a man be travelling a journey all alone especially if he have wind and weather against him, his way is tedious to him, very hard and grievous, and he is tired in his journey: but now, if he travel and have good company, and good discourse, and is joyfull,