A Guide to Godliness, Book 5 · Chapter 32
CAP. XXXII.
The laſt ordinary meanes of a godly life, is the choyce of our company, ſhunning the ſociety of the wicked, and conſorting our ſelues with the godly and Religious.
§. Sect. 1 That we muſt carefully auoid the ſociety of wicked and prophane perſons.
THe laſt ordinary meanes of a godly life is, that we make good choyce of our company, vntounto which two things are required: firſt, that we ſhun and auoid the ſociety of the prophane and wicked; the other is, that we conſort our ſelues with the godly and religious. By the former we are not to vnderſtand that we muſt forbeare the ſociety of all, who are not as forward and zealous in their profeſſion and practice as our ſelues, or who bewray in their courſe and conuerſation many infirmities and imperfections, as though thoſe were to be eſteemed wicked and prophane, who hauehave made but ſmall progreſſe in their ſanctification, if any ſparkes of grace and goodneſſe appeare in them, though (as it were) raked vp vnderunder the aſhes of many and great corruptions; for then we ſhould breake the bruiſed reede, and quench the Matth. 12. 20.ſmoking flaxe; and by our cenſorious neglect vtterly diſcourage them in their firſt entrance into Chriſtianity, and from making any further proceedings in the waies of godlineſſe. Yea rather, if we can in the iudgement of charity thinke, that the little good in them is in ſincerity and truth, we muſt, as the Apoſtle exhorteth, take ſuch vntounto vsus, and vſe all good meanes, in louelove and meekeneſſe, whereby we may Rom. 14. 1.draw them on by degrees to more perfection. For babes in Chriſt being vnable to helpe themſelues, had moſt need of tender cheriſhing, and thoſe that are ſicke, hauing ſome life of grace in them, had moſt neede of good Nurſes and skilfull Phyſicions, as our Sauiour hath Matth. 9. 12, 13.taught vsus by his owne example. And the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus not to neglect the weake, but to lift vp the hands that hang downe, and ſtrengthen the feeble knees; and to hold ſuch an euen courſe, that thoſe which Heb. 12. 12.are lame in the profeſſion and practice of Religion, be not through our harſhnes quite turned out of the way; but rather that they may be healed, & ſo Acts 3.may (like the Cripple in the Temple) together with vsus glorifie God, and louelove vsus aboue others, who hauehave beene the meanes of their ſpirituall cure. But ſuch onelyonly are here vnderſtood, who hauehave let the reines looſe to all impiety, and are of profeſſed prophaneneſſe, not caring to make ſhew of it vponupon eueryevery occaſion, and either ſcorne and ſcoffe at the exerciſes of godlineſſe, or neglect and contemne them in the whole courſe of their liues. Neither may we reiect ſuch as ſhew ſome willingneſſe to conforme themſelues to our good courſes, and to ioyne with vsus in the exerciſes of Religion, though for the preſent we ſee in them little power of godlineſſe; but onelyonly ſuch Iſmaels and Eſau's, as hold them in contempt, are worthy to be expulſed out of all ſocieties. Neither are we ſo to vnderſtand it, as though it were vtterly vnlawfull to come at all into the company of ſuch wicked men; for then (as the Apoſtle ſaith) we muſt goe out of the world; and 1. Cor. 5. 10.eueryevery place almoſt abounding with ſuch, we cannot chuſe but oftentimes at vnawares come amongſt them, but that we doe not purpoſely make choyce of ſuch company, and if vnwittingly we happen to come into it, that we quit our ſelues of it as ſoone as wee can. Nor are wee debarred from hauing any entercourſe and commerce with ſuch in worldly affaires, as trading and merchandize, buying and ſelling, and all other ſuch contracts, as are ordained for the benefit of humane ſociety, whereby we may doe or receiue good in our outward eſtate; nor from performing any ciuill or Chriſtian dutie to our friends & allies, kindred and neighbours, or any worke of mercy towards thoſe that are in miſery, and neede our helpe: ſo that we entertaine their company no longer, then is neceſſary for theſe vſes, and then be carefull that we goe not without our preſeruatiues about vsus, that we may not, in ſeeking to do them good, hurt our ſelues with the contagion of their wickedneſſe, nor receiue more detriment in our ſpirituall eſtate, then they or we profit in reſpect of outward things. Though in truth it is moſt ſafe conuerſing with wicked men, when we miniſter vntounto them in their extremities, ſeeing when they are benummed with the cold of their afflictions, they cannot ſpit out their venome and poiſon, but like frozen ſerpents may be taken into our hands without receiuing any great hurt. Beſides that, their neceſſity importuning our helpe, will be a curbe to reſtraine their malice, at leaſt till their turne bee ſerued, that they may make vsus more cheerefull in relieuing their miſeries. But this onelyonly wee vnderſtand to be vnlawfull, to ſtretch our action further then our excuſe will reach, that is, vnderunder any, or all theſe pretences, to conuerſe with wicked men more then we neede. And much more to make them our boſome friends, and to entertaine familiar acquaintance and ſociety with them, being either bewitched with their naturall and morall parts, or allured with ſome baytes of worldly benefit, or carnall delight. For though wee may not out of hatred towards the perſons of euill men be enuious againſt them, yet in deteſtation Pro. 24. 1.of their ſinnes, wee muſt not deſire to bee with them, as Salomon teacheth vsus.
§. Sect. 2 That the Scriptures often warne vsus to ſhun wicked company.
And for this we hauehave many caueats, and expreſſe inhibitions in the Booke of God, both in the Old and New Teſtament, for in them both Pro. 4. 14, 15.theſe beaſts are vncleane. So Salomon chargeth vsus, not to enter into the path of the wicked, nor to goe in the way of euill men; Auoid it (ſaith he) paſſe not by it, turne from it, and paſse away. For though he be about other matters ſo ſhort and ſententious, yet wiſely fore-ſeeing the greatneſſe of this danger, he thought he could ſcarce vſe words inow in warning vsus to ſhunne it. And the ſame reaſon maketh him to beate ſo often vponupon it in other places: Forſake the fooliſh and liue, and goe in the way of vnderſtanding. Pro. 9. 6.My ſonne, walke not thou in the way with the wicked, refraine thy foote Pro. 1. 15, 16.from their path; for their feete runne to euill, &c. And amongſt other ſinners, he ſpecially inhibiteth vsus to keepe company with drunkards and gluttons, which in the world are eſteemed the only good fellowes and boone companions, becauſe they aboue other ſinners are moſt dangerous; ſeeing they both allure vsus with their ill example, and draw vsus by their inuitations that way, to which our carnall appetite is naturally too prone. Be not (ſaith he) amongst wine-bibbers, amongst riotous eaters of Pro. 23. 20.fleſh. Thus the Apoſtle alſo in the New Teſtament inhibiteth vsus to keep cōpany with wicked men. HaueHave no fellowſhip (ſaith he) with the works of darkneſſe, Eph. 5. 11.but rather reprooue them. And againe, We command ye, brethren, in the 2. Theſ. 3. 6.Name of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that ye withdraw your ſelues from eueryevery brother that walketh diſorderly, and not after the tradition which yee hauehave receiued of vsus. And, If any man that is called a brother, be a fornicatour, or couetous, or 1. Cor. 5. 11.an Idolater, or a rayler, or a dunkard, or an extortioner, with ſuch an one I hauehave written, you ſhould not keepe company, no not to eate. But aboue all other ſocieties with the wicked, we muſt take ſpeciall care, that wee doe not match with them in that neere bond of marriage, according to that of the Apoſtle, Bee not vnequally yoked together with vnbeleeuers: for what fellowſhip 2. Cor. 6. 14.hath righteouſneſſe with vnrighteouſneſſe? and what communion hath light with darkenes? & what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? or what part hath he that beleeueth, with an Infidell? For if holy Dauid match with ſcoffing Michol, 1. Sam. 18. 21. 2. Sam. 6. 16, 20.ſhee will be a ſnare vntounto him, and a proud ſcorner of his humble zeale in Gods ſeruice. If Iehoram the ſonne of good Iehoſaphat, marry with Ahabs daughter, it will be a ſtrong inducement to make him an Idolater, and to doe euill in the ſight of the Lord.2. King. 8. 18.
§. Sect. 3 Examples of the faithfull who hauehave ſhunned wicked company.
VntoUnto theſe teſtimonies of holy Scriptures, dehorting vsus from entertaining neere ſociety and alliance with the wicked, we may adde the examples 2. King. 3. 14.of Gods ſeruants, who hauehave carefully ſhunned all fellowſhip with them. Thus Eliſha ſo much deteſted the wicked life and raigne of idolatrous Iehoram, that had he not reſpected the preſence of Iehoſaphat, who was in his company, he would not, as he profeſſeth, ſo much as hauehave looked towards him, nor ſeen him. So the Apoſtle Iohn, as it is recorded of him, finding Cerinthus, a blaſphemous heretike, in a bath with ſome of his conſorts, Ierenaeus aduerſ. Haereſ. l. 3. c. 3.belching out blaſphemies againſt our Sauiour Chriſt, in haſte departed with his cōpany, for feare of being attached by Gods Iudgments together with them; Who was no ſooner gone out of the company, but preſently the houſe fell downe and ouerwhelmed all that curſed crue. But moſt plainely may we ſee this practiſed in the example of holy Dauid; who in many places ſheweth how much he hated and ſhunned the ſociety of wicked men; I hauehave not (ſaith he) ſate with vaine perſons, neither will I goe in with Pſal. 26. 4, 5.diſſemblers; I hauehave hated the congregation of euill doers, and I will not ſit with the wicked. A froward heart ſhall depart from me, I will not know a wicked perſon. Pſal. 101. 4, 7.He that worketh deceit, ſhall not dwell within my houſe; he that telleth lies, ſhall not tarry in my ſight. So elſewhere, he baniſheth them out of his company, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, and, Away from me, ye wicked, Pſal. 6. 8. Pſal. 119. 115.&c. I will keepe the Commandements of my God.
§. Sect. 4 Reaſons perſwading vsus to ſhun the ſociety of wicked men, firſt, becauſe it is a ſtrong tentation vntounto euill.
Beſides which teſtimonies and examples, we may adde diuers effectuall reaſons, which may diſſwade vsus from keeping company with wicked men. As firſt, becauſe we ſhall be in great danger to grow in ſhort time like vntounto them. For it is a ſtrong tentation to draw vsus vntounto all euill, and it is iuſt with God, to leaue vsus when we wilfully ruſh into it. The louelove which wee beare to their perſons, will leſſen daily our miſlike of their ſinnes, making vsus to thinke them at firſt leſſe haynous then they are, afterwards ſmall and veniall, then tolerable and excuſable, till at laſt we come to iuſtifie and defend them, to approoue and practiſe them. Beſides, ſinne is of a contagious nature, and wee moſt apt to receiue infection; in which regard, it ſpreadeth as faſt as the plague in a City, or the rot in a flocke of Sheepe. For not onelyonly are the examples of the wicked of ſuch great force, that if wee keepe them company, they thinke it a ſtrange thing, if we doe not runne with them into the ſame exceſſe of riot; but they are alſo ready to ſet vponupon vsus 1. Pet. 4. 4.with perſwaſions, and to vſe arguments of worldly aduantage, to allure vsus to accompany them in their wickedneſſe, as Salomon teacheth vsus. Being Pro. 1. 10, 11, 12heerein like to them who are ſicke of the plague, that care not how many are infected by them, that ſo the fewer may ſhunne their company. And this Dauid knew to bee ſo ſtrong a tentation, that reſoluing to keepe Gods Commandements, he firſt cauſed the workers of wickedneſſe to depart from him, Pſal. 119. 115.becauſe ſo long as they conſorted with him, he had little hope of making good his reſolution. And finding not power in himſelfe to reſiſt it, becauſe of the many allurements and baits of wickedneſſe, hee deſireth by prayer Gods aſſiſtance: Incline not mine heart to any euill thing, to practiſe wicked workes with men that worke iniquity; and let me not eate of their dainties. Pſal. 141. 4.Thus Elymas the Sorcerer being, it ſeemeth, in times paſt gracious with Sergius Paulus the Deputy, ſo maliciouſly withſtood the Apoſtles, Paul and Barnabas, and ſo powerfully wrought with the Gouernour to turne him away from the faith; that the Apoſtle was faine vehemently to Act. 13. 8.oppoſe him, and to diſgrace him with the Deputy, by bringing vponupon that caytife by miracle, a fearefull Iudgement of God. And this danger of being tainted and corrupted with the ſins of wicked men, by keeping them company, Salomon plainely implieth, where he perſwadeth vsus to make no friendſhip with an angry man, and not to goe with one that is furious, lest wee Pro. 22. 24.learne his wayes, and get a ſnare to our ſoules; for as he ſaith before; Thornes Verſ. 5.and ſnares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keepe his ſoule, ſhall bee farre from them. And ſo likewiſe the Apoſtle, where perſwading the Corinthians to excommunicate the inceſtuous perſon, leſt they ſhould be infected with his example, vſeth this as a reaſon, becauſe ſin is like vntounto leauen, a little whereof leaueneth the whole lumpe. The which we ſee 1. Cor. 5. 6.verified in the example of Ioſeph, who notwithſtanding that he was Gen. 42. 15, 16.ſo vertuous and Religious, yet liuing in the Kings Court, learned to ſweare ordinarily by the life of Pharaoh. Yea, if their example be not ſtrong enough to allure vsus to ſinne, yet other motiues draw vsus into it, and eſpecially feare of their ſcornes and reproches, violence and perſecution, if we goe not with them hand in hand in their euill courſes: As we ſee in the example of Dauid, who being in the Court of Achiſh, one time baſely counterfeiteth madneſſe, and at another time diſſembleth, and faineth himſelfe to be a friend to the Philiſtims, and an enemy to Gods people; and in the Apoſtle Peter, who Nazian. ad Caeſarium.being amongſt the High-prieſts ſeruants, for feare of them denieth his Maſter. So that as one ſaith wittily, If wee keepe companie with wicked men, though wee be not burnt with their fire, yet wee ſhall be ſmutcht with the ſmoke. Yea, not onelyonly doe wicked men hurt vsus in theſe reſpects by this ſocietie and familiarity, if ſeeing their ſinnes, we doe not ſhew our diſlike, by our rebuke, and (if they will doe no good) by leauing their companie; but wee alſo ſhall hurt them, and harden them in their ſinnes, becauſe it is no ſmall heartning and incouraging of wicked men to goe on in their euill courſes, when as they are countenanced with the ſocietie of the godly, and are mooued to thinke that they are, if not commendable, yet at leaſt tolerable, or elſe men of ſuch Pietie would not be ſo inward and familiar with them. Whereas contrariwiſe by ſhunning their ſocietie, wee ſhall giuegive them occaſion to enter into a conſideration of their eſtate, and of their ſinnefull courſes, which make them lothſome both to God and all good men; and moue them at leaſt to an outward reformation, out of naturall ſhame, to be thus ſhunned, according to that of the Apoſtle; If any man obey not our Word, hauehave no company with him, that he may be aſhamed.2. Theſ. 3. 14.
§. Sect. 5 Other reaſons to diſſwade vsus from euill company.
And theſe reaſons, though there were no more, are ſufficient to withdraw all that intend to leade a godly life, from inward friendſhip with wicked perſons. VntoUnto which, if it were needfull, many others might be added. As that ſuch ſociety may be vntounto vsus a ſtrong preſumption, that we are not truely righteous, and vpright in heart, but that we ſtill halt between God and the world. For if as Salomon ſaith, An vniuſt man Pro. 29. 27.is an abomination to the iuſt, and he that is vpright in the way, is an abomination to the wicked, how can we delight in one anothers company? And if, as our Sauiour hath taught vsus, we were not of the world, but in their Ioh. 15. 9. 1. Ioh. 2. 15.number whom he hath choſen out of it, then would the world hate vsus, and we it; and little comfort ſhould we take in conuerſing familiarly one with another. Againe, as ſociety with the wicked is dangerous, for feare of being tainted with their ſinnes, ſo alſo becauſe it maketh vsus Iam. 4. 4.liable to their puniſhments: For as the Lord often ſpareth the wicked for the righteous ſake, ſo alſo he puniſheth with temporall iudgements the godly for the wickeds ſake, and pulleth them from them with violence (as Lot from the Sodomites) when as for earthly reſpects they are loth to leaue their company. And therefore if we would not periſh with Corah and his companions, we muſt leaue the Tents of thoſe wicked men, and come out of Babylon, if we be Gods people, that Num. 16. 26. Apoc. 18. 4.we may not be partakers of her ſinnes, and that we receiue not of her plagues. Finally, the vtter leauing of familiar ſociety with the wicked, will be vntounto vsus a comfortable euidence of our eternall happineſſe; ſeeing the Spirit of God hath pronounced them bleſſed, that walke not in the Counſell of the vngodly, nor ſtand in the way of ſinners, nor ſit in the ſeat of the Pſal. 1. 1.ſcornefull; that is, who doe not conuerſe, nor communicate with them in any of their ſinfull courſes.
§. Sect. 6 That we muſt conſort our ſelues with the godly and vertuous.
The ſecond point is, that as we are carefully to ſhun the company of the prophane and wicked, as being notable pulbacks in the waies Pro. 13. 20.of godlineſſe, ſo muſt we with no leſſe care conſort our ſelues with the godly and vertuous, as being a ſingular furtherance vntounto all Chriſtian duties. For being naturally backward and auerſe vntounto all that is good, and after that we are regenerate, fraile and feeble in all duties of a godly life, here, if any where, is Gods Word verified, that it is not good for man to be alone, but that an helper is needfull vntounto him, and that Gen. 2. 18.two are better then one, becauſe they hauehave a good reward of their labour; for if they fall, the one will lift vp his fellow, &c. And therefore wee muſt not, to ſhun the company of the wicked, run into the contrarie extreme, and keepe company with none, ſeeing God hath made vsus politicall creatures, who are preſerued by mutuall ſociety; and fellow members of the ſame body whereof Chriſt is the head: and therefore we muſt not by withdrawing our ſelues, makea Schiſme and rent, but continue together in louing ſociety, that we may be ready to performe mutually all good offices whereby we may edifie and benefit one another: According to that of the Apoſtle; Let vsus Heb. 10. 24.conſider one another, to prouoke vntounto louelove and to good workes: not forſaking the aſſembling of our ſelues together, as the manner of ſome is, but exhorting one another, &c. For the more we conuerſe with the godly & religious, the greater increaſe ſhall we finde in our Piety, Faith, LoueLove, Zeale and all others graces, as coales layd together, doe, if any of them be kindled, kindle one another, and ſo all together make a great fire, which if they be ſeuered one from another, giuegive but little heat, and in a ſhort time will goe quite out. And this we ſee in the example of Dauid, who greatly reioycing in the communion of Saints, and in the fellowſhip of the Faithfull, excelled alſo in Piety and Holineſſe. So he profeſſeth that all his delight was in Gods Saints; that his eyes were to the Faithfull of the Pſal. 16. 3. Pſal. 101. 6.Land, that they might dwell with him. That though he were a King, yet he made himſelfe a companion of all them that feared God, and kept his precepts, Pſal. 119. 63, 79.and that he inuited ſuch to come vntounto him; and reioyced greatly when they ſaid, Let vsus goe together into the Houſe of the Lord. And it may be obſerued that then Chriſtians flouriſhed in greateſt purity, and Pſal. 122. 1.beſt thriued in all grace and godlineſſe, when this community and fellowſhip was moſt frequent amongſt them. For ſo it is ſaid, that they continued Acts 2. 46. & 9. 31.daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from houſe to houſe, did eate their meate with gladneſſe and ſingleneſſe of heart, prayſing God, and hauing fauour with all the people.
§. Sect. 7 That good company taketh away all tediouſneſſe in good exerciſes.
More eſpecially, this ſociety with the godly and religious, doth much further vsus in all duties of a godly life, becauſe it taketh away the tediouſneſſe of our iourney, when we hauehave good company to trauaile with vsus: Seeing they draw vsus on by their good diſcourſes, and put out of our mindes the tediouſneſſe of the way; they comfort and encourage vsus, when we begin to be weary; they are ready to help vsus, if any euil betide vsus; to ſecure vsus by their aſſiſtance from feare of our ſpirituall enemies, who are ready to rob vsus of the treaſures of Gods graces; and when we are ſlothfull, they much better our ſpeede, becauſe we would not be caſt behind. Againe, the fellowſhip of the godly doth much further vsus by their good example, ſeeing their zeale and diligence conuinceth our luke-warmeneſſe and negligence, and their good workes of piety and righteouſneſſe are good patternes and preſidents for vsus to imitate. For though the Law of God bee the moſt perfect rule, and the example of our Sauiour Chriſt the moſt exact ſquire, according to which all our actions and whole conuerſation are to be framed; yet theſe being of ſuch incomparable excellency, and ſo farre aboue our low growth in grace and ſhort reach, would altogether diſcourage vsus in the ſence of our imperfections, if wee did not alſo obſerue men ſubiect to the like infirmities, walking before vsus in the wayes of godlineſſe, and inuiting vsus to follow them, who though they goe not ſo ſwiftly as they ſhould, yet hauehave much outſtripped vsus in the Chriſtian race. Furthermore, this ſociety and communion with the faithfull, is a notable meanes to make vsus familiar with God, and to inioy the fellowſhip of his holy Spirit, which is the chiefe bond that vniteth vsus together in this holy communion. For where two or three are gathered together in Matth. 18. 20.Chriſts name and Gods feare, to performe Chriſtian exerciſes, and to further one another in the waies of ſaluation, there he alſo is in the midſt of them, taking notice of their actions, and making himſelfe better knowne vntounto them, his face and fauour, his bounty and goodneſſe, whereby they are incouraged with more chearefulneſſe to doe him ſeruice.
§. Sect. 8 That good company preſerueth vsus from falling into many ſins, and inciteth vsus to many duties.
Finally, it is a notable helpe vntounto a godly life, becauſe it is a powerfull Magna pars peccatorum tollitur, ſi peccaturis teſtis aſſistat. Seneca Epiſt. 11. Malum quippe quod nemo videt nemo arguit, &c. Bernard. Epiſt. 115.meanes to reſtraine and pull vsus backe, when as we are ready to fall into any ſinne. In which regard that wiſe heathen man perſwadeth his friend, to ſuppoſe ſome graue man to bee preſent when he was alone, becauſe men would not eaſily offend, if there were alwaies ſome by to bee witneſſes of their faults. And one of the Ancients vſeth it as a reaſon to diſſwade from a ſolitary life; becauſe thereby wee become more prone to ſinne; ſeeing that euill, which none ſeeth, none rebuketh; and where there is none to reprehend, both the tempter aſſaulteth more ſecurely, and the offence is committed more licentiouſly. If thou doeſt any good things in good company, no man prohibiteth. But if thou wilt doe euill, thou art not ſuffered; for preſently thou art by many obſerued, reproued, and amended; whereas contrariwiſe, if they behold any good, they all admire it, honour and imitate it. In which reſpect alſo, good company doth no more forcibly reſtraine vsus from euill, then incite and prouoke vsus vntounto that which is good. For as iron ſharpeneth iron, ſo a man ſharpeneth the countenance of his Pro. 27. 17.friend; that is, one friend by the preſence of another, is whetted on and prouoked to doe ſuch good duties as deſerue his approbation. In which reſpect the Apoſtle exhorteth Chriſtians to obſerue one another, that they may whet and ſharpen each other to louelove and good workes. For if euen Heb. 10. 24.hypocrites, and men of ingenuous natures, though they care not for good exerciſes, are ready to ioyne with their friends in them, to get their allowance and louelove: Then how much more will it quicken thoſe that are truely religious, vntounto eueryevery good worke and Chriſtian dutie, which they like and louelove, when with the approbation of their friends, they hauehave the allowance of God and their owne conſciences? And if Saul himſelfe prophecied by keeping company with the Prophets, being as it were rap't and rauiſhed for the time with a diuine furie: how 1. Sam. 19. 20, 21.much more ſhall thoſe that are truely religious, bee much inflamed with zeale and deuotion in all holy exerciſes, when being in good company, they are rap't vp and rauiſhed with the diuine breath of the holy Spirit, which bloweth amongſt them?
§. Sect. 9 That by good company wee are fitted to performe Chriſtian duties one towards another.
Laſtly, good company is a ſingular helpe vntounto a godly life, as it fitteth and enableth vsus to vſe all Chriſtian duties one towards another, whereby we doe mutually further one another in all holy and religious actions, tending to edification, to the inriching of vsus with all ſauing graces, and the ſtrengthening of vsus vntounto all good workes. The firſt whereof is mutuall obſeruation, and watching ouer one another, that we may take all occaſions of doing good, both by reſtrayning thoſe from ſinne that are ready to fall into it, and by inciting and prouoking one another vntounto all vertuous actions. VntoUnto which the Apoſtle exhorteth; Let vsus (ſaith he) conſider one another, to prouoke vntounto louelove and to good workes. For Heb. 10. 24.the Law of charity requiring, that wee ſhould louelove our neighbours as our ſelues, bindeth vsus to ſeeke their good as well as our owne, and to this end to watch ouer them, that we may take all good opportunities, whereby we may further them in the waies of godlineſſe. And therefore let vsus not thinke that wee hauehave diſcharged our duty, when as wee hauehave vſed the meanes of our conuerſion and ſaluation, and that we hauehave nothing to do with other men; ſeeing our Sauior requireth, that when we Luke 22. 32.are conuerted, we ſtrengthen our brethren. And the Apoſtle giueth vsus in charge, that we ſhould not onelyonly looke on our owne things, but that eueryevery man ſhould alſo looke on the things of others. And not to take care of our brethren Phil. 2. 4.as well as our ſelues, is plainely to diſcouer that we are of Cains ſpirit, Gen. 4.who refuſed to be his brothers keeper, and no true members of Chriſts body, whoſe property is, not to reſpect their owne good alone, but as it is conioyned with the good of the whole bodie, and of all the reſt of their fellow members. The ſecond Chriſtian dutie, is inſtruction, whereby with all readineſſe, we informe the ignorant in all the waies of godlineſſe, inlighten them in the knowledge of God and his truth, and open their eyes, that they may turne from darkeneſſe to light, and from the Acts 2…. 18.power of Satan vntounto God, that they may receiue forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, and inheritance amongst them which are ſanctified by faith in Christ. Whereby alſo wee reclaime the erroneous which wander out of the way of truth, which is a ſpeciall dutie required by the Apoſtle: Brethren, if any of you Iames 5. 20.doe erre from the truth, and one conuert him: let him know, that he which conuerteth the ſinner from the errour of his way, ſhall ſaue a ſoule from death, and ſhall hide a multitude of ſinnes. Which duties if we performe, wee ſhall be richly rewarded in Gods Kingdome, where they that turne many to Dan. 12. 3.righteouſneſſe, ſhall ſhine in the light of glory, like the Starres in the firmament, as they ſhined here in the light of truth. The third dutie is admonition, whereby wee put our brethren in minde of their dutie, when they ſeeme to forget and neglect it by falling into ſinne, and lying Rom. 15. 14. 1. Theſ. 5. 14.in it without repentance, or omitting the duties of Gods ſeruice, either thoſe which are generall and belong to all Chriſtians, or thoſe which ſpecially belong to them in their ſeuerall places and callings, of which I hauehave ſpoken before at large. The fourth dutie is reprehenſion, whereby we rebuke thoſe that wittingly fall into ſinne, and wilfully continue in it without amendment. The which the Apoſtle requireth, where he chargeth vsus to hauehave no fellowſhip with the vnfruitfull Epe. 15. 11.workes of darkeneſſe, but to reproue them rather, implying, that if wee ſee ſinne in our brother, and doe not rebuke him for it, hauing a calling thereunto, wee hauehave communion and fellowſhip with him, and are acceſſary to his ſinnes. The right courſe of performing which dutie, our Sauiour plainely ſetteth downe: If thy brother ſhall treſpaſſe againſt Matth. 18. 15.thee, goe and tell his fault betweene thee and him alone: and if he ſhall heare thee, thou haſt gained thy brother, &c. Which dutie if wee neglect, we hate our brother in truth, whatſoeuer ſhew we make to the contrary, and doe nothing hereby but diſcouer our ſelfe-louelove, which maketh vsus loth to trouble our ſelues in ſo vnpleaſant a buſineſſe, and ſuffer others rather to periſh in their ſinnes, then wee will venter the alienation of their hearts from vsus by giuing them any diſtaſte. And this reaſon the Lord vſeth to preſſe this duty; Thou ſhalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, Leu. 19. 17.but thou ſhalt in any wiſe rebuke thy neighbour, and not ſuffer ſinne vponupon him. The fifth dutie is exhortation, whereby wee incite and prouoke others vntounto all duties of godlineſſe, pricking forward thoſe which are dull and ſluggiſh, dehorting and diſſwading from vice and ſinne, thoſe that are in danger to fall into it; and incouraging thoſe who runne well in the Chriſtian race, that they may continue faithfull, and hold out vntounto the end. And vntounto this the Apoſtle perſwadeth vsus; Exhort one another dayly, while it is called to day, leſt any of you be hardned through the deceitfulneſſe Heb. 3. 13.of ſinne. The ſixth dutie is conſolation, whereby wee ſtrengthen the weake hands and feeble knees, and refreſh with ſeaſonable Heb. 12. 12.comforts, thoſe which are ready to faint vnderunder the waight of their afflictions. And this the Apoſtle requireth of all Chriſtians: Comfort 1. Theſ. 5. 11, 14.(ſaith he) your ſelues together, and edify one another, euen as you doe; and againe, Comfort the feeble-minded, ſupport the weake, be patient towards all men. Reioyce with them that reioyce, and weepe with them that weepe; be of the ſame Rom. 12. 15.minde one towards another; for it is an eaſe to thoſe that are in miſery, to hauehave companions of their griefe, and the heauieſt waight is made more tolerable, when as it is borne by many ſhoulders. The ſeuenth duty is counſell, whereby we aduize thoſe, who doe not know of themſelues what to doe in the beſt courſe, which is an excellent office to bee performed by thoſe whom God hath indued with wiſedome and ſound iudgement, towards them who are weake and defectiue in theſe gifts. Yea in truth, it is very profitable, when it is giuen by thoſe which are of equall parts; yea oftentimes by thoſe who are much inferiour vntounto vsus, as we ſee in Abigails counſell to Dauid; becauſe lookers on being free from all preiudice and paſſion, can ſee more cleerly then thoſe who are intereſſed in the buſines, though at other times more quick-ſighted; pride, ſelfe-louelove, and vnruly affections, corrupting and blinding their iudgement, and miſ-leading them out of the right way. The laſt duty tending to further one another in godlineſſe, is good example, by which, ſhining before them in the light of an holy conuerſation, we doe not onelyonly ſhew them the wayes of righteouſneſſe, but alſo (as it were) by the hand leade them in it. And vntounto this our Sauiour exhorteth; Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that ſeeing Mat. 5. 16.your good workes, they may glorifie your Father which is in heauen. And the Apoſtle Peter, HaueHave your conuerſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that 1. Pet. 2. 12. and 3. 1.whereas they ſpeake againſt you as euill doers, they may, by your good workes which they ſhall behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation. And ſo much concerning the ordinary helpes and meanes whereby wee may be inabled and furthered in all the duties of a godly life.