The Christian Warfare Part 2, Book 1 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
That the companie of the wicked is verie dangerous, by reason of euill examples, and corrupt communication.
ANd thus hauehave I shewed the manifold euils,§. Sect. 1. Wicked examples allure and perswade vsus vntounto sinne. which come of frequenting wicked company. In the next place let vsus consider of some speciall meanes, whereby principally this societie becommeth vntounto vsus thus hurtfull and pernicious; and these are either by their examples, or by their allurements and perswasions. For the first, the societie of wicked worldlings is exceeding hurtfull vntounto vsus, because thereby there are daily set before vsus examples of euill, whereby wee are either allured to imitate and follow their wicked and vngodly practise, or at least, are much vexed and grieued, to see God so dishonoured by their sinnes. In the former respect, looke how many euill examples are before our eies, and so many stumbling blockes are laid before our feete, to hinder vsus in our spirituall race, and to stop vsus in our way, as we are trauelling to our heauenly countrie; and such is the corruption of our nature, that we need no other perswasions to draw vsus vntounto sinne, for euen the sight thereof is a baite sufficient to allure vsus to imitation. And hereof it is, that euen the Heathen man reckoneth this as Inter Causas malorum nostrorum est quod viuimus ad exempla: nec ratione componimur, sed consuctudine abducimur, &c. Senec. Epist. 123.a chiefe cause of all our euils, because we liue after the example of the multitude, and are not composed and ruled by reason, but are carried away with custome; and whereas if few should doe it, we would not imitate them, when as many begin to doe it, we follow for company, as though it were more honest, because it is more common; and so error, when as it is made publicke and customable, is esteemed of vsus in the place of truth. Whereby it appeareth, that seeing examples are admitted of vsus in place of rules and precepts, therefore the examples of wicked worldlings must needs be very powerfull, both in weaning vsus from that which is good, and in alluring vsus vntounto euill. In the former respect one saith, that men oftentimes desire to heare Gods Greg. Sup. Ezech. lib. Hom. 13.word, but whilest they behold others contemptuouslie turning away their eares, they also neglect the sauing hearing of the truth. And many also desire to rest contented, and to cease turmoiling in worldly businesse, and resolue not to subiect themselues to earthly desires; but whilest they behold others by vnquiet labouring to come forward in the world, and to bee aduanced vntounto riches and honours; being not as yet firme and well setled in the way of truth, by the euill example of others, they slide backe into the way of wickednesse. And as they eneruate and weaken our good resolutions, so also they corrupt vsus with sinne; in regard wherof one saith, that the tender mind which is vnsetled in that Subducendus populo est tener animus, & parū tenax recti: facile transitur ad plures, &c. Senec. epist. 7.which is right, is to be withdrawne from beholding the multitude; because we are proue to goe with companie; and euen Socrates, Cato and Laelius, might change their mind, and bee brought to alter their good resolution by the dissenting multitude; so vnable is any of vsus, when as our disposition is best composed, to beare the assault of vices, when as they come against vsus strengthened with so great a troope. And if one example of luxuriousnesse or couetousnesse doth much hurt; if one delicate, nice and wanton companion doth by little and little weaken and effeminate vsus; if one rich neighbour doth kindle our concupiscence; and if a malicious companion doth rub off his rust, euen vponupon him that is innocent and ingenuous, what thinke you will befall them, against whom Dum spectant laesos oculi laeduntur et ipsi. Ouid.combined wickednesse doth make a common assault? As therefore those who hauehave sound eies, doe carefully refraine looking vponupon theirs which are sore and bleared, because euen by seeing them, a secret poison and infection is transmitted, whereby they also are tainted; and as men in time of the plague, do carefully make choice of their aire and company, and auoid them who are infected, and hauehave running sores vponupon them; so with no lesse care are we to auoid the sight of wicked examples, and the fellowship of such as are infected with the plague of wilfull and presumptuous sinne, because a poison and infection secretly commeth from them (as from the crampfish to the hand of the angler) by the contagion whereof we also are tainted and infected. For sinne▪ like the plague or leprosie, is of a spreading nature, going from one to another, vntill it hauehave infected a whole countrie; and as a stone cast into a great water, troubleth not only that part into which it fell, but stirreth vp certaine circled wrinckles in the face or superficies of the water neere about it, and these being moued, doe also after the same manner moue those parts which are contiguous the one to the other, till it extend to the very bankes; so wicked suggestions being cast into the mindes of worldlings, are thence produced into act, and so being made examplarie to those that are about them, doe not rest there, but by contagion spread themselues ouer all the countrie. To which purpose one saith, that no man erreth to himselfe alone, but doth disperse and communicate Nemo errat vni sibi, sed dementiam spargit in proximos, accipitque inuicem &c. Senec. epist. 94.his follie to his neighbours, and interchangeably receiueth the like from them. And therefore the vices of the people are in eueryevery particular man, because the people communicates them, and is made worse it selfe whilest it maketh others worse. It learneth ill things, and then teacheth them, and so wickednes groweth to a monstrous greatnes, that being all cast into one heape, which eueryevery one knoweth to be worst.
Now as these euill examples are in all very hurtfull; so§. Sect. 3. Euill examples of superiors are most pernicious. they are most pernicious when they are obserued in superiours: for seldome doe these tall cedars fall, but they beate downe also all the low shrubs that stand about them. And thus doe masters by their euill examples corrupt and poyson their seruants, parents children, Magistrates the people, Ministers their flocks, and most of all Princes their subiects, seeing all the countrie is readie, either for feare, or flatterie,Ea conditio est principis, vt quicquid faciat praecipere videatur. Quint. to conforme it selfe to the example of their King; in regard whereof (one saith) that Princes actions stand for precepts, and their examples hauehave the power of a law to draw their subiects to imitation.
But as these euill examples are very hurtfull, as they corrupt§. Sect. 4. Euill examples nourish pride, and hinder repentance. vsus with sinne, so also in nourishing pride and securitie, and in hindring of repentance; whilest comparing our selues with others, which hauehave burst out into greater wickednes, wee are readie through selfeloue to conceit our owne excellencies; and so whilest we are wholly taken vp in thinking how farre wee exceed them in vertue and goodnesse, we neuer thinke how farre short we come of that which God requireth of vsus. To say nothing of that incouragement which men take vntounto themselues, of committing wickednes, when they see others doe the like, and yet scape vnpunished and florish in the world. For as the Wise man saith, because sentence against an euill worke is not executed speedily, therefore Eccles. 8. 11.the heart of the children of men is fullie set in them to doe euill. And therefore seeing wee are so greatly endangered with wicked societie, by beholding their euill examples, let vsus carefully auoide them; or if at vnawares wee happen to come into such companie, let vsus (as one exhorteth) be very Basil. Ascetica.watchfull ouer our selues, that wee doe not suck in these inticing baits of sinne, neither by our eyes, nor by our eares, lest by little and little we be inured to it, and lest certaine figures and characters of those euils, which wee hauehave seene and heard, doe remaine still in our mindes to our ruine and destruction. And because we cannot sufficiently with our owne watchfulnesse, preserue our selues from being ouertaken with this deceitfulnes of sinne, let vsus with Dauid (hauing set a watch before our eyes and eares) desire the Lord that he will not suffer our hearts to be inclined vntounto euill, that wee should commit wicked workes Psal. 141. 3. 4.with the men that worke iniquitie.
And thus it appeareth that euill examples of wicked§. Sect. 5. Euill examples of the wicked vex and grieue Gods seruants. worldlings are very hurtfull and pernicious as they corrupt and infect vsus with sin: but though we were so preserued by Gods spirit yt there were no danger of taking hurt by this contagion, yet many other euils are incident vntounto vsus, if wee be daily beholders of these wicked examples. For being the children of God it must needes bee grieuous vntounto vsus to see our heauenly Father thus dishonoured; being faithfull seruants of the great King of heauen and earth, it cannot chuse but much vex and trouble vsus, when wee see the glorie of our Lord and master impeached by wicked miscreants; yea and seeing we are of the same flesh and blood with these worldly men, the workmanship of the same Creator, yea people of the same countrie, and as it were children borne by the same mother; it must needs afflict our soules with griefe and bitter sorrow, when wee behold them daily running on in a course, which will bring them to eternall destruction, both in their soules and bodies. And thus was righteous Lots soule 2. Pet. 2. 7. 8.grieued, when he saw the filthie conuersation of the wicked Sodomites. For he being righteous and dwelling among them, in seeing and in hearing, vexed his righteous soule, from day to day, with their vnlawfull deeds. And holy Dauid professeth that his eyes Psal. 119. 136. 139.gushed out with riuers of waters, and that his zeale euen consumed him, because his enemies kept not Gods law, but forgot his words. Yea thus our Sauiour Christ himselfe being conuersantMat. 3. 5. among the wicked Iewes, mourned when he saw the hardnes of their hearts.
Finally, by being with wicked men, and not doing as they§. Sect. 6. If we doe not follow the euill examples of the wicked, we procure their hatred. doe, nor following their examples, wee doe thereby exceedingly prouoke their malice and hatred: for it is a sufficient quarrell for a wicked man against those yt feare God, if they be innocent, and seeme to make conscience of those sinnes which they see them commit, because their abstinence from euill seemeth to proclaime their wickednesse who do commit it, and awakeneth their sleeping consciences when as they are galled with their refusall. Whereby oftentimes it commeth to passe that the godly being spectators of these euill examples, and denying to ioyne with them in their enormities, doe not onelyonly thereby endanger their names to be branded with their obloquies reproches, and disgraces, but also their persons to their violence and furie; as we may see in the example of Lot, who though he did in most louingGen. 19. and humble manner refuse to communicate with the Sodomites in their sinnes, yet so incensed them to rage hereby, that they would hauehave laid violent hands vponupon him, had not God miraculously deliuered him from their furie. And as it monethmonth them to hate vsus, so through our naturall corruption wee are readie to extend our hatred beyond it due limits, abhorring not only their sinne, but their persons also. All which euils as they ought, so they may easily be auoyded, if wee will shunne the societie of wicked men, and frequent the companie of the vertuous; for so shall we neither be allured nor grieued by their examples, nor yet nourish this open hostilitie betweene vsus, but may liue like strangers one to another, seeing we cannot liue as friends. To this purposeNecesse est ant imiteris aut oderis: vtrun{que} autē deuitandū est: ne vel similis malis fiar, quia multi sunt: neue inimicus multis, quia dissimiles sunt. Senec. epist. 7. §. Sect. 7. That the euill speeches of wicked men doe much corrupt vsus. one saith, that if we be spectators of the euill conuersation of wicked men, we must of necessitie, either imitate or hate them; both which are to be auoided, lest thou shouldest either be like to wicked men, because they are many, or an enemie to many, because they are vnlike: and therefore it is best for a man either to be conuersant with himselfe, or to keepe companie with those who may better him, or that he may better.
And thus hauehave I shewed the manifold euils which come of wicked company, through their bad examples: vntounto which we may adde the hurt which we are apt to receiue by their speeches and communication. In which respect the societie of wicked worldlings is dangerous and hurtfull: first, in regard that by their speeches they corrupt vsus; for being either worldly or prophane, and spent either about earthly things, as profits and preferments, or in vaine mirth, ribauldry, filthines, foolish iesting, and such like wicked discourses, it commeth to passe that by frequenting their company we become as worldly as they, hauing not only our hearts fast nailed to the earth, but our tongues tuned to the same key, vttering nothing but that which sauoureth of the world and worldly vanities; or which is worse, being corrupted with their filthie communication, we in the end grow, if not to imitate, yet at least to like, or not so much to dislike them as we ought: for there is a secret poison in worldly and wicked speeches, which when they are admitted into our eares, infuseth it selfe into our minds, whereby they being corrupted, do taint also all our speeches and actions; of which the Apostle Paul warneth vsto take heed, Be not (saith he) deceiued, 1 Cor 15. 33.euill words corrupt good manners: or if they doe not thus corrupt vsus, then of necessitie they do much vex and grieue vsus, when as we heare our heauenly Father thus dishonored, and see those, whose company we frequent, running swiftly the§. Sect. 8. That wicked men with their allurements and persuasions withdraw our hearts from God. way to destruction and condemnation.
Secondly, the speeches and familiar communication of wicked worldlings, are hurtfull and pernicious; as they are the diuels spokesmen to wooe our hearts from God, perswading, alluring and inticing vsus to withdraw from him all true obedience, by neglecting the duties which he requireth, or committing the vices which he hath forbidden: for we are to know that in this regard worldly men are very impudent, not sticking in plaine tearmes to blow the trumpet of rebellion against God; and when they cannot catch vsus with their wicked company, nor allure vsus by their euill examples, they stay not heere, but in direct speeches solicite the diuels suite, either discouraging vsus from vertuous actions, by telling vsus that they are needlesse, or too troublesome, either that they will not stand with our credit, but traduce our names, and impeach our reputations, or that they are against our profit and preferment in the world, or else prouoking and perswading, yea alluring and incouraging vsus to commit with them sin and wickednesse by all manner of perswasions, inticing speeches, faire promises and kind vsage: by which baits they labour to draw all who frequent their company into the snares of destruction and perdition. An example whereof we hauehave in Putiphars wife, who laying aside all modestie, inticedGen. 39. 12. Ioseph vntounto sinne; in the harlot alluring the yong man to folly; and in wicked Ahab, who gaue vntounto Iehosaphat andPro. 7. 13. his followers bountifull entertainment, that he might hereby intice him to goe vp against Ramoth Gilead. Against2. Chron. 18. 2. which perswasions and inueigling baites, the Wise man armeth vsus, saying, My sonne, if sinners doe intice thee, consent thou not: If they say, come with vsus, we will lay wait for blood, and Pro. 1. 10. 11. 13. 14.lie priuily for the innocent without a cause, &c. Wee will find all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoile. Cast in thy lot among vsus, we will hauehave one purse: my sonne walke not thou in the way with them, refraine thy foot from their path, &c.
The which counsell that we may follow with the greater§. Sect. 9. That these wicked allurements are very dangerous. care, let vsus consider that these tentations are exceeding dangerous; being vrged by men in our owne likenesse vnderunder colour of louelove, with pretence of our owne profit and aduantage; seeing the Orator which perswadeth, and the theame whereon he discourseth, are so pleasing and well accepted of our corrupt nature. But that we may resist such wicked allurements, let vsus know that they are but Syrens songs which intice to leape into the sea of destruction, and but the worlds inchantments, whereby conspiring with Satan, it laboureth to carry vsus swiftly vntounto hell; like vntounto that pleasing discourse vsed by the old serpent to our first parents, which promised to equall their estate with Gods, but in truth made them in as bad case as the diuell, had not the Lord in merciemercy deliuered and restored them. And therefore let vsus stop our cares against these worldly allurements, whereby wicked men intice vsus vntounto sinne, and like the diuels aduocats perswade vsus to by the hazarding of our soules, to obtaine worldly vanities; or rather let vsus, because we wil not heare their bewitching tunes, abandon their company: for as one saith, We are in good forwardnesse Magna pars sanitatis est, bortatores insaniae resiquisse, &c. Senec. Epist. 94.towards the obtaining of our soules welfare, when as we leaue the companie of those who perswade vntounto wickednesse, and go farre off out of this hurtfull societie. And though they would still tie vsus vntounto them in the bonds of louelove; yet let vsus abhorre their company and breake off from them, esteeming them of all others our most dangerous enemies; seeing vnderunder colour of good will, they expose our soules to vtter destruction; and our most pernicious persecutors, who by inticing vsus vntounto euill,Greg. Moral. lib. 3. cap. 11. do not kill the bodie alone, but plunge both bodie and sould into euerlasting death.