Sin Stigmatized, Part 2 · Section 207
§ 207.
1. 2 Vſe of the former reaſons.TO ſumme up all in a word, or lay all theſe grounds and motives together. If we endanger our ſelves, our lives, our eſtates, looſe our credit, our peace, our time, by frequent aſſociating with ungodly men, and can no way expect their love and friendſhip; be ſure you come not (or at leaſt ſtay not) in their company. It is not ſafe venturing among them, in confidence of our owne ſtrength; no more then it is to conſort with cheaters, in hope that they will not cozen us. Dead fire, we know, being ſtird up, will burne a freſh: and corruption, like a candle new put out, is ſoone kindled againe; If Sathan but blow upon it, the owne heate is enough to enflame it.
No, venture not thy ſelfe, though thou haſt once, or twiſe come off cleare from them; Sampſon could withſtand his wives temptation ſeven dayes, but at length, by her importunity, ſhe prevailed with him, Iudg. 14. Over many in this caſe are like to ſicke men, who when they have had a good day, or two, thinke themſelves preſently well againe; ſo they make bold to put off their Kerchifes, to put on thinner garments, and to venture into the freſh ayre; whereupon follow unrecoverable relapſes. Wherefore take heede, or if thou doſt keepe them company, it is an argument, that thou art ſicke of their diſeaſe, idleneſſe. And of this Vſe ſo much.
2 If wicked company are ſo infectious, 2 Vſe.that they will worke a conſumption in any mans vertues, that is daily converſant with them, and waſte them from an ounce, to a dram; from a dram, to a ſcruple, to a graine, to nothing, ſo that he may ſay with Chriſt in the croud, who hath touched me, for I feele vertue gone out of me? Let us be (as Seneca adviſeth) more circumſpect, with whom we eate and drinke, then what we eate and drinke. He that hath money, will beware of theeves: if you have any grace, venture it not among theſe riflers: for, art thou inclined to pray? they will tempt thee to play: wouldeſt thou goe to a Sermon? by their perſwaſion, the Taverne or Theater ſtands in the way. But alaſſe! if others tempt thee not, thou wilt tempt others: temptation needs not ſtand, like a Taverne-buſh, in thy way, for thou wilt invite thy ſelfe, hunt after temptation.
3 Vſe. 3 Is every man buſie in diſpending that quality, which is predominant in him? And can we converſe with none but will worke upon us, and by the unperceived ſtealth of time, aſſimilate us to their owne cuſtomes? will tvvo friends, like tvvo brands ſet each other on fire vvith good, or ill, vvhen one alone vvill goe out? vvill a ſtreight tvvig, if it be tied to a crooked bough, become crooked; or a crooked tvvig, become ſtreight, if it be tied to a ſtreight rule: as Peter denied his Maſter amongſt the Iewes, vvhom he confeſt amongſt the Apoſtles? Then keepe company, but let it be vvith ſuch as may make thee better; flie evill ſociety, leaſt their kind vvords ſo vvorke upon thy yeelding nature, that thou knovveſt not hovv to deny: they are ſuch as have taken the Devills oath of Allegiance; and thou haſt ſmall hope to prevaile vvith them to good.
A certaine King (as St. Auguſtin reports) being hard favoured, and fearing leaſt his Queene ſhould bring forth children like himſelfe; got many faire and beautifull pictures, vvhichwhich he cauſed her ſteadfaſtly to behold every day: goe thou and do likewiſe, be converſant with good men, and in good things, and thou ſhalt doe that unbidden, which others can ſcarce doe compelled by the Law, as Aristotle ſpeakes of the ſtudy of Philoſophy. O what an happy thing it is to converſe with the vertuous! their gracious words, or holy examples, will be ſure to ſtirre up the gifts of God in us; they will either adde ſomething to our zeale, or ſomething to our knowledge: the ſociety of Prophets, is able to make even a Saul propheſie. The ſight of others falling heartily to their meate, brings on our ſtomacks: yea, if we have no gifts to ſtirre up, their communion cannot but leave ſome tincture behind it; if not of Piety, yet, at leaſt, of a good profeſſion, and ſome inclinableneſſe. If Saul had not had a good and diſcreet companion, when he went to ſeeke his Fathers Aſſes, he had returned backe as wiſe as he came: but now he is dravvne into counſell with the Man of God, and heares more then he hoped for, 1 Sam. 9.6. The meſſengers of the ſame Saul, vvhen they lived in the Court, vvere (as is likely) caried avvay vvith the ſvvinge of the times, and did apply themſelves to their Maſters ungodly practiſes, as appeareth in their going to apprehend David, that Saul might kill him: yet were they no ſooner in company with the Prophets, in Nayoth, but their minds were changed, and they likewiſe propheſied, 1 Sam. 19.20.
Ob. But ſay ſome of Bacchus his fooles. I keepe company with brave fellowes, that are generous, free, bountifull &c.
Anſw. 2 Excuſes taken away.Alaſſe! thou doſt but ſlander him with theſe titles. He is a proud, ignorant, inconſiderate Aſſe, that feares he is not loved, unleſſe he be loſe and ſcattering; that ſtrives ſo to be like a god in bounty, that he throwes himſelfe into the loweſt eſtate of man. He that gives to, and ſpends upon all abundantly (which is for none to doe, but him that hath all) he that had rather keepe company with the dregs of men, then not be the beſt man: he that ravells out a ſpacious fortune upon flatterers; he that out of vaine glory will be worſhip't and kneed, to the ſpending of a faire inheritance, and then ends his dayes in lewdneſſe and contempt (as what is it, that ambition will not practiſe, rather then let her port decline) he is a fooliſh Steward, that thus ſhowers away in one yeare, what his anceſtors have beene gathering twenty: yea, he is a mad man, that makes his kindneſſe to others, prove cruelty to himſelfe, and all his poſterity.
Ob. Againe, others are all for mirth, they keepe company at the Taverne, with none but curious and quaint wits, eloquent Poets and Orators; now aske them, as Manoah did Sampſon, Is there never a companion for thee among thy Brethren, the people of God, that thou muſt aſſociate thy ſelfe with theſe of uncircumciſed hearts and tongues? They will anſwer. Give me only theſe for my companions, for they pleaſe me.
Anſw. Can none pleaſe thee, but ſuch as diſpleaſe God? doſt thou not know, that who ſo will be a friend to ſuch, makes himſelfe the enemy of God? Iames, 4.4. or art thou ignorant, that pleaſant wits viciated in accuſtomed lewdneſſe, with ſweete tunes entiſe men to deſtruction; as is morald in that fiction of the Sirens, they delight the ſenſe, but ſlay the ſoule: and will any man poyſon his body, to pleaſe his taſte? or goe into an infected houſe, to fetch out a rich ſuite? or put his finger into a firie Cruſible, to take out gold It's true, like Iugglers and ſuch as play trickes of Legerdimaine, they will deceive us with a kinde of pleaſure and delight: but is it any priviledge for a man to be tickled to death, that ſo he may dye laughing? Their diſcourſe may be reſembled to the fruite that undid us all, which was faire in ſight, ſmooth, in handling, ſweet in taſte, but deadly in effect: or to the Clarian water, which made men eloquent, but withall ſhort liv'd: or the gifts, which thoſe Elfes called Lamiae, uſed to preſent unto children which made ſo many as accepted of them looſe their comlineſſe for ever after. And he that much affects their company (being an honeſt man) is juſt like that free Citizen, that ſo doted on a female ſlave, that he would needs marry her; though by that match, he were ſure, by the Law, to become a ſlave with her. He overvalues the drunken and reeling love of theſe men, that buyes it with the ruine of himſelfe, his eſtate, and family. Wherfore, as in Meates, we doe not only ſtand upon pleaſantneſſe, but wholeſomeneſſe: ſo let us regard wholeſomeneſſe as well as pleaſantneſſe, in our diſcourſe and company. A good man can lend nothing to the increaſe of mirth in wicked company: and he that will not lend, let him take heede of borrowing.
And ſo much for defence againſt what they doe, which may be avoided.
If you would have as much againſt what they ſay, which muſt be endured,
Reade a late Treatiſe, called, THE VICTORY OF PATIENCE. In the meane time, thinke what account you ſhall give of that you have read.
FINIS.