The Drunkards Character, Section 195
§ 195.
BUt is it warrantable,Quest. may some say, to separate from our old acquaintance, That it is lawfull … wi…hdraw our selves from …hei… soci…ty and …ow.(being vicious) and other the like companie?
Not totally; for then we must goe out of the world, 1 Cor. 5. 10. nor from any in all cases;Answ. for then we must separate from the publike assemblies: nor in regard of civill society, and necessary commerce; for this were to unglew the whole worlds frame, which is contexted onelyonly by commerce and contracts, there by certaine wise uses to be made of them, for our convenience or necessity, which need not, yea, must not be forborne: as wherefore serves discretion, but that (as a glasse window) it may let in the light, and keepe out the winde?
Neither can wicked men, in this case, be avoided: but so long as wee are in this World, we must converse with men of the World: and we know it is lawful enough, in tearms of civility, to deale with infidels, yea, even thesavage Cannibals may receiue an answer of outward courtesie. If a very dog fawne upon us we stroke him on the head, and clap him on the backe, much lesse is the common bond of humanity untyed by grace; disparity in spirituall professions, is no warrant for ingratitude: yet a little friendship with such, is enough; the lesse communion with any of Gods enem es, the more safety: and sure I am, that those who affect a familiar entirenesse with such, bewray either too much boldnesse, or too little conscience.
Yea, we may not only converse with evill men, but communi…ate with them also without harme, so it be not in evill things: as in the Sacrament the unworthy receiver eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe, sibi, non tibi, to himselfe, not to thee.
But as touching a familiar en…irenesse, and leagues of amity, that they are unfit, unwarrantable, dangerous, is easie to prove. As what saith the Holy Ghost by S. Paul? Wee command you brethren, in the name of our Lord Iesus christ, that ye withdraw your selves from every brother that malketh inordinately, and not after the instruction which … received of us, 2 Thes. 3. 6. And againe, speaking unto the converted Ephesians, touching others among them who were whoremongers, uncleane persons, covetous men, and idolaters, hee saith, be not companions with them, Ephesians 5. 5. 7. And lastly, in that case of the incestuous Corinthian, hee doth not only excommunicate him, but makes a rule upon it, that if any one, which professeth himself a Christian, shall live in any scandalous course, that they shall not afford him so much as civill and familiar converse, I Corinth. 5. 11. If any man that is called a brother, saith he, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a raiter, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one eate not. Marke this all ye swinish drunkards, and beastly livers, that God dischargeth us your society.
But to proceed. Why was that Law …nacted, for the strict avoiding of Leprous persons? it was not the body only that was herein respected, by the God of spirits; those that are spiritually contagious must be still and ever avoided, they must be separated from us, we from them; they from us, by just censures; or if not, wefrom them, by a voluntary declination of their familiar conversation: or if they can joyne our heart to theirs, they will disjoyne it from God; to let passe Saint Pauls charge, 2 Corinthians 6. 17. come out from among them, and separate your selves: And that of the Angell, Revelation 18. 4. come out of her my people, which especially have relation to Idolaters: see what hath beene the practise of Gods people since Noah, Lot, Abraham, and Israel, which have beene alledged already. Doth not David say, I have not sate with vaine persons, neither kept company with the dissemblers. I have hated the assembly of evill doers, and will not company with the wicked, Psal. 26. 4. 5. And was not Ioseph, whom the Holy Ghost stileth a just man, fully minded (before the Angell forbad him) to put away Mary, after he was betrothed unto her, when hee but supposed her to bee dishonest? Matthew 1. 19. And was not all this, to shew us what we should doe in the like cases?
Wherefore, let us tread in their steps, and say with a worthy Divine, though I may have many bad acquaintance, yet I will have no bad companions: for even the tame beasts will not keepe with the wild; nor the cleane dwell with the leprous. But above all, let us keepe no drunkards, nor swearers in our houses, Psalme 101. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. no, nor scoffers, Ismael must be turned out of doores, when hee once fals a jeering of Isaac: and indeed if we doe, it is a shrewd suspition we are not sincere our selves: for grace, as it is resembled to heate, so like heat, it gathereth together things of one kind, separateth things of a contrary nature, as drosse from Gold.
In fine, if they have forsaken all honesty and good conscience, it is time for us to forsake them: if they depart from us, in the foundation of faith and good workes; let us (as justly wee may) depart from them, in the building of brotherly fellowship: they build on the sand, let us build on the rock: yea, if they forsake the right way, wee must forsake them, or Christ will forsake us.