Can he who finds no pleasure in the company of spiritually-minded persons, or even sneers at them as saints,-can he be said to "have the Spirit"? Judge for yourself.Old Paths, Chapter X
Though the pelican be a melancholy bird, and naturally inclineth to deserts, yet when they remove their places, they go in companies, and the first stay for the last, as they fly over the mountains, Isa. xxxiv. 11; Eph. ii. 14. Though saints love sometimes to be solitary, as having secret busi-ness with their God, yet they do not forsake the assembling them-selves together.
The evil spirit is for solitariness; he walketh in solitary places, seeking rest, Matt. xii. But God is for society; he dwelleth among his children, and bestoweth his choicest com-forts upon the congregations of his poor. The Father provideth the greatest cheer, and maketh the best feast, when many of his children come together to wait upon him, though each coming singly is welcome to his table.
Let the heat of their lust increase my longing after that place where there is no Judas among thine apostles, no Demas among thy disciples; where all the society will be of one mouth and mind, of one heart and way; where all the company will join in concert, and the whole celestial choir tune their strings, and raise their voices to the highest pitch in sounding thine excellencies, and singing thy praises without sin or ceasing.
It is easier for the bad to corrupt the good, than for the good to convert the bad; it is easier to run down the hill with company, than to run up the hill alone.