The Holy State, Book 3 · Chapter 5
CHAP. 5. Of Company.
COmpanie is one of the greatest pleasures of the nature of man. Maxime 1.For the beams of joy are made hotter by reflection, when related to another; and otherwise gladnesse it self must grieve for want of one to expresse itself to.
It is unnaturall for a man to court and hug solitarinesse. 2It is observed, that the farthest Ilands in the world are so seated that there is none so remote but that from some shore of it another Iland or Continent may be discerned: As if hereby Nature invited countreys to a mutuall commerce one with another. Why then should any man affect to environ himself with so deep and great reservednesse, as not to communicate with the societie of others? And though we pity those who made solitarinesse their refuge in time of persecution, we must condemne such as chuse it in the Churches prosperity. For well may we count him not well in his wits, who will live alwayes under a bush, because others in a storm shelter themselves under it.
Yet a desert is better then a debauch'd companion. 3For the wildnesse of the place is but uncheerfull, whilest the wildnesse of bad persons is also infectious. Better therefore ride alone then have a thiefs company. And such is a wicked man, who will rob thee of pretious time, if he doth no more mischief. The Nazarites who might drink no wine were also forbidden (Numb. 6.3.) to eat grapes, whereof wine is made. We must not onelyonly avoid sinne it self, but also the causes and occasions thereof: amongst which bad company (the limetwigs of the devil) is the chiefest, especially, to catch those natures which like the good-fellow planet Mercury are most swayed by others.
4If thou beest cast into bad company, like Hercules, thou must sleep with thy club in thine hand, and stand on thy guard. I mean if against thy will the tempest of an unexpected occasion drives thee amongst such rocks; then be thou like the river *Cambd. Brit. in Merioneth.Dee in Merionethshire in Wales, which running through Pimble meere remains entire, and mingles not her streames with the waters of the lake. Though with them, be not of them; keep civil communion with them, but separate from their sinnes. And if against thy will thou fall'st amongst wicked men, know to thy comfort thou art still in thy calling, and therefore in Gods keeping, who on thy prayers will preserve thee.
5The company he keeps is the comment, by help whereof men expound the most close and mysticall man; understanding him for one of the same religion, life, and manners with his associates. And though perchance he be not such an one, 'tis just he should be counted so for conversing with them. Augustus Cesar came thus to discern his two daughters inclinations: for being once at a publick Shew, where much people was present, he *Sucton. in August. Caes.observed that the grave Senatours talked with Livia, but loose Youngsters and riotous persons with Julia.
9.He that eats cherries with Noblemen shall have his eyes spirted out with the stones. This outlandish Proverb hath in it an English truth, that they who constantly converse with men farre above their estates shall reap shame and losse thereby: If thou payest nothing, they will count thee a sucker, no branch; a wen, no member of their companie: If in payments thou keepest pace with them, their long strides will soon tire thy short legs. The Bevers in New England, when some ten of them together draw a stick to the building of their lodging, set the *Wood in his description of New England.weakest Bevers to the lighter end of the log, and the strongest take the heaviest part thereof: whereas men often lay the greatest burthen on the weakest back; and great persons, to teach meaner men to learn their distance, take pleasure to make them pay for their companie. I except such men, who having some excellent qualitie are gratis very welcome to their betters; such a one, though he payes not a penny of the shot, spends enough in lending them his time and discourse.
To affect alwayes to be the best of the companie argues a base disposition. 7Gold alwayes worn in the same purse with silver loses both of the colour and weight; and so to converse alwayes with inferiours degrades a man of his worth. Such there are that love to be the Lords of the companie, whilest the rest must be their Tenants: as if bound by their lease to approve, praise, and admire, whatsoever they say. These knowing the lownesse of their parts love to live with dwarfs, that they may seem proper men. To come amongst their equalls, they count it an abbridgement of their freedome, but to be with their betters, they deem it flat slavery.
It is excellent for one to have a Library of Scholars, 8especially if they be plain to be read. I mean of a communicative nature, whose discourses are as full as fluent, and their judgements as right as their tongues ready: such mens talk shall be thy Lectures. To conclude, Good Company is not onelyonly profitable whilest a man lives, but sometimes when he is dead. For he that was buried with the bones of *2. Kings. 13.21.Elisha, by a Posthumous miracle of that Prophet, recovered his life by lodging with such a grave-fellow.