A Treatise of Self-Denial, Treatise · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV. Vain Company to he denied.
7. ANother ſenſual vice to be denied, is, A love to vain ungodly Company. This is a ſin that I think none but utterly graceleſs men are much carried away with. For the Godly are all taught of God to love one another, 1 Theſ. 4. 9. and to delight in the Saints as the moſt excellent on Earth, Pſal. 16. 2, 3. and to take pleaſure in their communion: and to look on the ungodly with a differencing belief, as fore-ſeeing their everlaſting miſery, if they return not: ſo that it is the ungodly that I have now to ſpeak to. Some fall in love with the company of good fellows, as they call them: and ſome love the company of harlots, & ſome of gameſters; and moſt of merry pleaſant companions, and men that are of their own diſpoſition: and the love of ſuch company, ticeth them to the frequent committing of the ſin. They would not go to gaming but for company: They would not go to the Alehouſe but for company: and when they are there, perhaps they will ſwear, and drink, and mock at godlineſs for company. But are you willing alſo to go to hell for company? Is the company of thoſe ſinners, better than the company of God, and his favour? were it not better to be that while with him in prayer, or about his work? If you love a tipling fellow better than God, ſpeak out, and ſay ſo plainly, and never diſſemble any more, nor ſay that you love God above all, or that you are Chriſtians. Have you more delight in the Company of them that would entice to ſin, than in the Company of the godly that would draw you from it? This is a moſt certain mark, that yet you are the children of the Devil, and in a ſtate of damnation. It is not poſſible for a ſanctified child of God to do ſo. See the deſcription of the man that ſhall be ſaved in Pſal. 15. verſ. 4. [In his eyes a vile perſon is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord] Birds of a feather will flock together. The company which you love, ſhews what courſes you love, and what you are. You delight in the company of thoſe that Chriſt will judge as his enemies: and how then will he judge of you? You delight moſt in the company of thoſe notorious fools, that know not the plaineſt and needfulleſt things in all the world: that know not that God is better than the world, and holineſs than ſin; and know not the way of their own ſalvation. If you are content to have the company of the ungodly for ever, you may take it here. But if you would not dwell in hell with them, do not go on in ſin with them. O when you ſhall ſee thoſe very men arreſted by death, and haled at the bar of God, and caſt into damnation, then you will have no mind of their company? Then, O that you could but ſay, that you were none of them. Like a man that is enticed by thieves to joyn with them: but when the hue and cry overtakes them, and they are apprehended, how glad would he be then to be from among them! I tell you ſinners, if grace recover you, you ſhall wiſh in the ſorrow of your hearts that you had never ſeen the faces of thoſe men that enticed you to evil: but if grace do not recover you, you ſhall wiſh ten thouſand times in Hell that you had never ſeen their faces: but then your wiſhes will be in vain. In the name of God bethink your ſelves, whether your companions can bear you out at laſt, and ſave you from the wrath of God, and warrant your Salvation? Nay whether they can ſave themſelves; Alas you know they cannot: God ſaith, If you live after the fleſh, ye ſhall die, Rom. 8. 13. and if theſe men ſay (as the Devil to Eve) you ſhall not die, are they able think you to make it good? What can they overcome the God of heaven? O Sirs, away as you love your ſouls, from ſuch mad and miſerable company as this.