Works, Chapter 4 · Section 1
SECT. I.
FIrst,Motives to frequent good company. The good of good Company. Consider the extraordinary good of Christian society. The Children of God are like Ambergreece, sweetest in composition. When Flower is added to Flower, and many tyed together, the Posie is the more pleasant.
Company is in it self eligible; Banishment is esteemed a civil death, and counted a punishment but one remove from a natural death. Hence, how much hath it been bewailed, not onelyonly by a Cain; Thou hast driven me this day from the face of the earth, Gen. 4. 14. but even by a David; I am like a Pellican of the Wilderness, I am like an Owl of the Desart; I watch, and am as a Sparrow alone upon the house top, Psa. 102. 6, 7. But how much worth is the society of the Saints? Christian society is like an Arch-building, wherein every stone upholds its fellow, which if it should not, the whole would suddenly fall. One hand, saith Euripides, can make but weak defence; but as our Latine Proverb is, Multorum manibus grande levatur onus, Many hands make light work. Several Horses may draw that weight with ease, which one is not able to stir. Saints help each other, as the several parts of the building; the Foundation bears up the Walls, the Walls bear up the Roof, the Rafters bear up the Laths, the Laths bear up the Tiles; Hence it is esteemed a priviledge to a Town or City to be made a Corporation. And Merchants manage their callings, not onelyonly more orderly, but also more successfully, when they are once made a company. Surely Paul would never have sent some hundred miles for Timothy, if his company had not been of great value. Dr. Taylor blessed God that ever he came into Prison, to be acquainted with that Angel of God John Bradford. One sinner is a Devil to another, tempting and provoking each other to wickedness; Therefore the Philosopher, seeing two vicious persons together, cryed out; See how the Viper is borrowing poison of the Asp! But one Saint is an Angel to another, perswading and encouraging one another to holiness. They take sweet counsel together, and go to the house of God in company. The Patriarchs removed their Habitations for the benefit of water-springs. Every Saint is in some sense a Well of living water; and did men but know their worth, they would delight more to be with them. Sure I am, he that hath such a good Neighbour, shall never want a Good-morrow. As a Pomander Ball cast into a Censer, will fill the whole house with its pleasant savour, so a Christian will endeavour to perfume all that come near him. How pleasant then is the favour arising from many Christians in company together!
The society of the Prophets is able to make even a Saul to prophesie; The Pleiades, which are the seven stars, joyned in one constellation, (Canst thou bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades? Job 38. 31.) help one another in their work, which is to bring on the Spring, the best season of the year; Christians in consort are an abridgement of Heaven, shining like a Firmament of bright Stars, not one malevolent aspect among them, and they all conspire together, to further a spring and new shoot of grace, the best of blessings in each others hearts. As Sincerity is the heart of Religion, so society is the breath of Religion, it helps to preserve it alive. The spiritual life of the Philippians, did upon their first quickening, appear by this, and twas also very helpful for their continuance and increase, Phil. 1. 5.
No Christians are so full, but they stand in need of their fellows; He that had as large a stock of grace as any since Christ, yet could not live without commerce with others, Rom. 15. 24. The goodliest house may want a shoar. The Shunamite, though she told the Prophet she dwelt among her own people, and therefore needed not any to speak for her to the King, was glad to receive that kindness by the hands of the Servant, which she denyed to accept from his Master.
I shall mention the advantage of good Company, in five particulars.
First, By good Company, sinful souls have been converted. A crooked Bough, joyned to a strait one, groweth strait; Latimer was converted from Popery, by the good Company and Conference of Master Bilney. The Daughters of Ierusalem, came to be in love with the Bridegroom, by being in company with his Bride; by being acquainted with the Church, they became enamoured with Christ. At first they wondered at her fondness of him, that she was so impatient till she had found him (Cant. 5. 8, 9.) but they had not been long with her, before the heat of her love had warmed them with the same earnest desire and longings. Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee! Cant. 6.1. They that come where oyntments and sweet spices are stirring, carry away some of the savour. One live coal may set a whole stack on fire; Evil Company, like the River Melas in Baeotia, makes all the sheep that drink of it black;Fulk. Meteor. lib. 4. but Good Company, rather like Clitumnus in Italy, makes them that drink of it white. Saul, by being in Company with a wise Servant, was brought to hear of a Kingdom; He that walketh with wise men, shall be wise, Prov. 13. 20. This made Algerius the Italian Martyr, say, I had rather be in Prison with Cato a wise man, of whom I might learn some good, then in the Senate-house with Caesar.
As one Circle caused by a stone thrown into the water, begets a second, and that a third; And as one Rain-bow begets another, and they two together beget a third; so one Christian helps to beget another to Christ, and they two joyning, turn more from the errors of their ways. Holiness like an Elixar, by contraction, if any disposition in the mettal, will render it of the same property. The Indians were brought to embrace the Christian faith, by the holy conference and company of Edesins and Frumentius, two private Christians.
Secondly, By good company pious souls have been confirmed. Whilst Latimer and Ridley lived, they kept up Cranmer by intercourse of letters. Christian conference is a great help to perseverance. The staff of bonds was the Jews beauty and safety, Zach. 11.14. Company causeth courage; the beams of joy are the hotter for reflection. Ipse aspectus viri boni delectat, saith the Moralist, The very countenance of a good man makes us chearful. Our sight of him is reviving to us. When Paul saw the brethren, he blessed God, and took courage, Act. 28. 15. When many Mariners pull at a rope together, they strive with the more alacrity; therefore Christ sent his Disciples by two and two, Mark 6.7. When Ionathan went against the Philistines, he would take his Armour-bearer along with him. The blessed Jesus going into the Garden to his bitter, bloody Agony, chose Peter, Iames and Iohn to accompany him. The great Apostle expected comfort from the Ro…mans company, and hoped to confirm them by his; For I long to see you, that I might impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established. The closer the stones of the Edifice are joyned together, the stronger is the Building; That I might be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me. Grace is the Oyl of gladness, and the more of this oyl, the more of gladness; when Pauls faith and the Romans met in one channel, such a river of oyl would be a river of pleasure: The union of such flames could not but become a good fire, to refresh and rejoyce their hearts: Iob. 41.16. As its said of Leviathan, that his scales are his pride, i.e. his streng…h in which he boasteth; and the reason of it is rendred, One is so near to another that no air can come betweeu them; They are joyned one to another they stick together, that they cannot be sundred: So it may be said of the people of God, Their unity will be their security; when one is so near to another that no enemy can come between them, when they are joyned one to another and stick together that they cannot be sundred, then it may be said of them as of him, In their neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before them, ver. 21.
Secondly, By good company erring Saints have been recovered. Holy David lay sleeping in his sin till his good friend Nathan jogged and awakened him. Many a one hath been roused out of his spiritual lethargy by private admonition. Hence saith Solomon, Two are better then one, because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but wo to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up, Eccles. 4. 9, 10. Men that are troubled with the Falling-sickness, are sometimes carried away and die with their distemper, it seising upon them when none is with them; but when they fall amongst company, by rubbing and chaffing them they often come to themselves again. Every scandalous sin especially is a kind of Falling-sickness, very dangerous to the soul; its ill therefore for them that are overtaken with it and have none with them by serious admonition to recover them out of it.
I have read of a Minister that in the night had a sudden motion to go visit a certain neighbour, and though he argued with himself the unseasonableness of the time, and his ignorance of any cause for such an action; yet the impulse upon him was so strong that he could not withstand it; so going to that friends house late in the night, he found none at home save the Master of the house. Truly, (saith the Minister to him) I am come to your house thus late, but I know not to what end, nor for what purpose. Yea (saith the man of the house) but God knoweth; for I have made away, through my prophaneness, so many childrens portions, and here is the rope in my pocket, with which I was going to hang my self. But what, replied the Minister, if I can tell you of one that made away with more portions, and yet was saved? Who was that? said the Neighbour. Adam, saith the Minister, who as a publique person, was intrusted with the stock of all his posterity, and prodigally wasted them, yet was saved. Thus by his serious and seasonable counsel, he stayed the man from his purpose, and was, probably, instrumental for much spiritual good to him.
Fourthly, By good Company, dull Christians have been quickened. Two cold things, steel and flint, smitten together, send forth fire. When two lye together they have warmth, but how can one be warm alone? Eccles. 4. 11. When David was old, and his natural heat decayed, they got a young damsel to lye neer him, and to put some warmth into him; Cold Christians have been heated, by being near others that have been glowing coals. When Silas and Timothens came from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in Spirit; before, he was warm, but then in a light flame, Act. 18. 5. Some men of weak stomachs, have fed the more for seeing others fall so heartily to their meat. As Iron sharpeneth Iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend, Prov. 27. 17. Some interpret the words thus, Rub Iron against Iron, and it giveth an edge unto it; so if a man lye often grating upon his friend, by unkind usage, it will sharpen his countenance to discontent, and make his spirit keen and angry; and to make good this exposition, they observe, that the wise man doth not say, so a friend sharpeneth, &c. but, so a man; because, by his unworthy carriage, he puts off the nature of a friend, and therefore doth not deserve the name… But I rather incline to the other interpretation; As Iron sharpeneth Iron; Rub one file against another, and though before they were dull and blunt, they both become thereby bright and sharp; So friends that are heavy and backward, and over-run with rust, for want of use, by mutual conference and communion, they become lively, quick, and keen, about spiritual things. Christian society, like rubbing Iron against Iron, takes away that rust which made them so dull and unactive, and sets a spiritual edge upon them. Vrbanus Regius, an eminent Dutch Divine, meeting with Luther about Goburg, he spent a whole day in conference with him,In vit. of which himself writeth, that he never had a more quickening, comforting day all his life time.
Fifthly, By good Company, much sin hath been prevented; Christian society is like the pulse, which ariseth from the heart, and hath a double Motion, of contraction, and dilatation, both for the expelling of noxious fumes, through the insensible pores of the flesh, and for the drawing in of cool air to refresh the heart and vital parts. Its useful to increase grace; Sothern-wood groweth best in Gardens where its first planted; Grace shoots up most in Gods Vineyard, amongst his Plants; The out-lying Dear, that leave the Herd, seldom thrive. Those parts dye that are severed from the body. Its useful to prevent vice. That deformed Harlot hath been ashamed to appear in such honest Company. The Romans durst not call for their obscene Plays in Catos presence.
When David was like to be slain, Abishai came and rescued him; good company hath prevented the Christians falling from Christ. Peter confest Christ among the holy Apostles, though he denyed him among the ungodly Servants of the High Priest. If one prevail against a man, two shall withstand him, and a threefold cord is not easily broken, Eccles. 4. 12. Two streams united into one channel, may bear up a Vessel of some burthen. Iunius being much tempted to Atheism, profest himself very much helpt against it, by discoursing with a plain Countryman near Florence.
Naturally, saith Chrysostom, A man hath but one head to advise him, one tongue to speak for him, two hands to work, two feet to walk, and two eyes to see for him. Now, saith he, had a man that skill and cunning, to make that one head many, and that one tongue many, and so his eyes, and feet, and hands many, he would hardly be circumvented by any carnal policy. Good Company doth this, it makes that one head many, that one tongue many, those two hands, eyes, feet, many; for Saints study for others good as well as their own; their eyes, their tongues, their hands and feet are always imployed for the benefit of their companions. Now in many Counsellours there is much safety. He that hath many eyes to watch for him, is likeliest to be kept from falling. No Vessels are in such hope of security, and to be defended from Pyrates, as those that sail with so strong a Convoy. As God hath set conscience to watch over the inner man, and by reason of that help we avoid much unholiness; so God hath set Christians to watch over one anothers outward man; and truly, these eyes being over us, may prevent the commission of much evil.
The society of Saints, is sometimes in Scripture compared to a Garden; It hath fruits and drugs in it, of all sorts, some for food, some for Physick, some for corrosives, some for Cordials, some to warm the frozen Saints, some to cool the fiery sinner, some are profitable for one purpose, some for another; For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; So we being many, are one body in Christ, and we all members one of another, Rom. 12. 5, 6. A company of Christians, is a great Fair, where all sorts of provision, both for necessity and delight, is to be had. Hence Satan is so busie and diligent, if it be possible, to prevent Christian Communion, I was coming once and again, but Satan hindered me, 1 Thes. 2. 18. And his servants have learned this of their hellish Master. Iulian the Apostate, and the Heathen Emperours banished Christians into Islands where they could not have access one to another, being suspicious that their mutual communion would tend much to their mutual comfort and confirmation. Bradford was accused to do more hurt in prison, by his Letters and Speeches, then in the Pulpit by his Preaching. One Christian cometh to another, as Paul to his Romans, with the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ. Therefore as Cato would often make division amongst his Servants, judging their union to tend to his disadvantage; so Satan soweth discord amongst Christians, knowing their concord would tend to the throwing down his Kingdom.
Surely, of all fellowships, this is the onelyonly good fellowship; Next to communion with God, there is no communion like the communion of Saint… The World doth but catechrestically name their rabble of drunken, swearing, and riotous wretches, *In the same sense that the Poet speaks, A…ri sacra fames; or as mons is so called, a non movendo.Good Fellows; No otherwise then the Atheistical Popes are termed Pii, the greedy cormorants called Innocents, and the earthly Muck worms Caelestines. The conjunction of sinners, is a combination with Divels; The Prince of darkness is the head of their league, and they all wear his black colours. But the communion of Saints is a fellowship with God, he is the foundation of their union; These things write I unto you; that ye may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and Iesus Christ his Son, 1 Joh. 1. 3. What fellowship can in any respect compare with theirs, who have fellowship, not only with Christians, the highest and most excellent of Men, or with Angels, the noblest and most honourable of creatures, but even with God himself, the Fountain and Ocean of all honour and perfection! O how happy is that company which hath his presence! how amiable is that Council which hath such a President! and how desireable is their amity, who are united under this blessed and glorious Potentate! May it not be said of such Companions, what Zeba and Zal…unna spake of Gideons brethren, Each one resembled the child of a King? Judg. 8. 18. Their Parentage is so great, their society is so gracious, and their priviledges are so glorious, that if a man purchase his freedom of a Company in one of our Cities, at so dear a rate; what should he not give or do to be free of this Corporation? He that hath but an eye of faith to see the glory …nd magnificence of this Society, may well express himself, as Titus the Emperour, when he saw the remainder of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Now I well perceive that this is none other then the house of God, and the dwelling of the God of Heaven; neither was it for naught that the Iews stood so earnestly in the defence thereof; For great is the glory of this Temple; The splendour thereof is without compare.