A Treatise of Conversion, Chapter 1 · Section 29
SECT. XXIX.
5. A Changed heart will have change of company, if it may be had. There is somewhat in Nature that disposeth all men to delight in that company which is most sutable to their disposition. While their hearts are carnal, they love the company of such: a man that is of their mind and way, and will break a jest, and be merry with them, or talk with them about their worldly matters, is the best companion for them; For the company of mortified and heavenly men, they have no pleasure in it. They do but mar their mirth with putting in words about the evil of sin, and death, and judgement, and everlasting things: They do but trouble them, and cast them into dumps, and therefore they have no mind to their company. But when Converting Grace hath changed them, their minds in this are changed also. Oh, how sin less and unsavory then is it to them to sit or walk in the company of such that have never a word of God, or that may help them in the matters that their hearts are set upon. Their merry talk, and fine discourse, is to him but as the crackling of thorns in the fire Eccles. 7. 6. It doth but trouble him, and move him to compassionate such empty souls that have no God, no Christ, no Heaven to talk of, but meer unprofitable trifles; but the company of those is sweet to him, that will discourse about the matters of his salvation: That will tell him how he may get more Grace, and open to him more the mysteries of the Gospel, and speak of the Riches of Gods Love in Christ, or tell him of the dangers that are yet before him, or the duties that he must perform. These matters are now savory to him, for these he knows do indeed concern him, and are worth the talking of. When a man is in a strange Countrey a thousand miles of, it doth him good to meet with his own countrey-men, and talk with them about his friends, and family, and his estate, and inheritance, and home, which he must return to: one hour of this discourse is sweeter to him, then an 100 with the strangers of the countrey, about matters that are little to him: so is it here. A Christian that knoweth he is a stranger in this world, and that his God, his salvation, his home, his Inheritance, are all in the world to come; Had rather far discourse with a heavenly minded man about his father, and everlasting works and blessedness, then with worldly men about this world. Who loveth not the company of his dearest friends and Brethren more then of strangers or enemies? We know, those that fear God are like to be our companions for ever, and therefore we would have them our companions here. You may see by Scripture that it is thus with true Christians, Psalm 15. 4. In his eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear God, Psalm 55. 14. They take sweet counsel together, and walk to the house of God in company, Mal. 3. 16. They that feared the Lord, spake often one to another, &c. Psalm 119. 63. I am a companion, saith David, of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy Precepts. And it is one of the Hebrews Commendations, That they became companions of them that suffered for Christ. Heb. 10. 33. And on the contrary side, it was faigned to be one of Jobs Iniquities, to go in Company with the workers of iniquity, Job 34. 8. For men are supposed to be such as their company is: and we are commanded with such, no, not to eat, 1 Cor. 5. 11. And to have no company with them, that they may be ashamed, 2 Thes. 3. 14. And Solomon saith, Prov. 13. 20. A companion of feels shall be destroyed.