Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A62040
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The works of George Swinnock, M.A. containing these several treatises ...; Works. 1665.
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Swinnock, George, 1627-1673.
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1665
(1665)
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Wing S6264; ESTC R7231
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557,194
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940
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thy heart right as mine is Is there the fear of God truth of grace in thy heart then give me thy hand come up into the Chariot be thou my friend The Choice of a Christian must flow from another fountain then worldly profit namely the amiableness of the Image of Christ in the person The heat and light of a wicked mans love as a lamp is fed with and floweth from some earthly substance and is extinguished when that is denyed but the heat and light of a Saints friendship as the solary rays springeth from an heavenly cause and therefore will continue The Apostle speaketh of love out of a pure heart 1 Tim. 1. 5. That iâ— pure love a pure stream which ariseth from a pure heart a pure spring that is not onely the grace of God secret in a Christian but the grace of God seen in his Companion whom he loveth It is clearly visible that many associate with Christians not for their vertues but at a venture they were possibly the first they fell in league with or upon some other respect for they know others as high in holiness whom they slight nay possibly hate whereas he that loveth grace in one loveth grace in all It s an infallible sign of a crooked nature saith Cicero to be affected with none but Praetors and great men It s little sign I am sure of grace to joyn onely wiâ—h those Saints that are rich or high in the World If thou admirest holiness in scarlet and robes and contemnest it in sackcloth and russet I must tell thee thou art grosly deceived for thou admirest the Scarlet and honour not the holiness at all I do not deny but amongst Christians a man that hath the opportunity may choose out some rather then others to be his most intimate companions Christ though he loved all his Disciples yet had one especially the beloved Disciple who leaned on Iesus bosome Amongst all the Apostles he vouchsafed to three onely the favour of his extraordinary friendship When he raised up the Rulers daughter he suffered none to go in save Peter Iames and Iohâ— When he was transfigured he took up with him onely Peter Iames and Iohn In his bitter and bloody Agony these three were taken out from the rest Luk. 8. 51. Mat. 17. 5. and 26. 37. But if I might advise thee Reader in such a Choice I would give thee these two Cautions First That thou prefer those whom God prefers I mean such as have most grace It s a sign of a Coward to choose a weak enemy and its a sign of little grace to choose the weakest Christian friends He that hath most of Gods heart deserveth most of thine I am ready to think that Peter Iames and Iohn that had more of Christs love then the rest had more of his Likeness and Image then the rest I confess some respect in the choice of a bosome friend ought to be had to his prudence Some men though holy are indiscreet and in point of secrets are like Sives can keep nothing committed to them but let all run thorough A blab of secrets is a Traytour to society as one that causeth much dissention It s good to try him whom we intend for a bosome friend before we trust him As men prove their Vessels with Water before they fill them with Wine If we finde them leaking they will be useless as to that purpose Too many are like the Dead Sea in which nothing saith Aristotle sinks to the bottom but every thing thrown into it swims at the top and is in sight Nakedness in mind is as well a blemish as nakedness in body It s wonderful folly which some persons manifest in stripping themselves naked before every one and unbosoming themselves whoever stands by Pictures that have no Curtains before them gather much dust and so do those minds that are ever open and exposed to every mans view Others are like the Sea full of wealth and worth of great abilities in spiritual things but there is no coming at it they are so concealed that none is ever like to be the better for it Those golden Mines that are never known enrich none There are a middle sort of Christians between these that like a secret box in a Cabinet is not seen without some difflculty but as occasion is it is opened and then many jewels of rare value appear The Bow that is hardest to bend doth the most service for it sendeth forth the Arrow with the greatest force The Nut that is hard to crack hath the best kernel These Christians may as likely as any be thy bosome friends Though some respect I confess may be had to sutableness of disposition in him whom thou choosest for an intimate friend As in marriage so in friendship its best when there is some equality and likeness in pairs as of Tongs or Gloves there must be a parity Such friendship founded both in grace and nature is like to be lasting 2. That in prefering some thou castest no contempt upon others The smallest piece of peaâ—l is worthy of esteem the little violet is pleasant The poorest Christian he that hath the least grace deserveth our love and observance Christ takes notice of two mites of a little strength of some good thing and shall not we Math. 12. 43. Rev. 3. 8. 1 King 13. 14. Babes in Christ being unable to help themselves have most need of good Nurses Weak Saints who can hardly go alone do most want an helping hand A Saint that is mean as well as a mean Saint must be countenanced It s good to countenance godliness in the rich but its evil not to encourage it in the poor Our love must like the oyntment powred on Aarons head which ran down not onely to his beard but to the very skirts of his garment be drawn out to the highest and fall down on the lowest Saints David by this shewed the life and truth of his love I am a Companion of all that fear thee and keep thy Statutes Psa. 119. 63. Of all None that hath thy fear but shall find me their friend Though I am their King and above the highest yet for thy sake I can chearfully be Companion to the lowest SECT V. THirdly In thy Choice have respect to spiritual ends and accordingly improve it Attend and intend thy own and thy Companions soul-good in it Fâ—iendship hath a key to the heart which it may use nâ—t only to let it self into its secrets but also to introduce its own conceptions He hath a great advantage of perswading another to and encouraging him in holiness who is already entertained as his friend into his heart Where the person is so acceptable the instruction will be the more welcome We carry others sometimes along with us to our friends houses and they are kindly entertained for our sakes Now to improve this interest any other way then on Gods behalf is sacriledge How abominable were it then