Precious Remedies Against Satans Devices, Part 1 · Subpart 12
Now the Remedies againſt this device of Satan are theſe that follow.
THe firſt Remedy againſt this device1. Remedy. of Satan, is, to dwell (till your hearts be affected) upon thoſe commands of God, that doe expreſſely require us, to ſhun the ſociety of the wicked, Epheſ. 5. 11. And have no fellowſhip Non paerentum aut majorum authoritas ſed Dei docentis imperium, Jerom. The commands of God muſt ou…-weigh all authority, and example of men.with the unfruit fud works of darkneſſe, but rather reprove them. Prov. 4. 14, 15, 16. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and goe not in the way of evill men. Avoid it, paſſe not by it, turne from it, and paſſe away. 1 Cor. 5. 9, 10, 11. 2 Theſſ. 3. 6. Prov. 1. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. turne to theſe Scriptures, and let your ſoules dwell upon them, till a holy indignation be raiſed in your ſoules, againſt fellowſhip with vaine men. God will not take the wicked by the hand, as Job ſpeaks, why then ſhould you? Gods commands are not like thoſe that are eaſily reverſed; but they are like thoſe of the Medes, that cannot be changed; if theſe commands be not now obſerved by thee, they will at laſt be witneſſes againſt thee, and milſtones to ſinke thee, in that day, that Chriſt ſhall judge thee.
The ſecond Remedy againſt this device2. Remedy. of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that their company is very infectious,Euſebius reports of John the Evangeliſt, that he would not ſuffer Cerinthus the heretick, in the ſame bath him, left ſome judgement ſhould abide them both. Euſeb. lib. 3. cap. 25. A man that keepeth ill company, is like him that walketh in the Sun, tanned inſenſibly. and dangerous, as is cleare from the Scriptures above mentioned. Ah! how many have loſt their names, and loſt their eſtates, and ſtrength, and God, and Heaven, and ſoules, by ſociety with wicked men? As ye ſhun a ſtinking carcaſe; as the Sea-man ſhuns ſands, and rocks, and ſhelves; As ye ſhun thoſe, that have the plague-ſore running upon them: ſo ſhould you ſhun the ſociety of wicked men. As weeds endanger the corne, as bad humors endanger the blood, or as an infected houſe the neighbourhood: ſo doth wicked company the ſoule. Bias a heathen man, being at Sea in a great ſtorme, and perceiving many wicked men with him in the ſhip, calling upon the Gods; oh ſaith he, forbear prayer, hold your tongues, I would not have the Gods take notice that you are here, they will ſure drowne us all; if they ſhould. Ah ſirs! could a heathenProv. 13. 20. v. ſee ſo much danger in the ſociety of wicked men, and can you ſee none?
The third Remedy againſt this device3. Remedie. 2 Tim. 4. 17. Iſa. 11. 7. 29. Ezek. 3. 10. Mat. 16. 9. Revel. 3. 5. 10. Mat. 3. 7. Iſa 10. 17. 27. ch 4. 55. 13. Ezek 26. Judg. 9. 14. Job 21. 18. Pſal. 18. 42. Pſa. 14. 18. Pſa. 42. Ezek. 22. 18, 19. 65. Eſa. 5. Ezek 24. 6. Lactantius ſaith of Lucian (nec diis, nec hominibus pepercit) he ſpared neither God, nor man; ſuch monſters are wicked men, which ſhould render their company to all that have taſted of the ſweetneſſe of divine love, a burden and not a delight. of Satan, is, to looke alwayes upon wicked men, under thoſe names and notions, that the Scripture ſets them out under. The Scripture calls them Lions for their fierceneſſe, and Beares for their cruelty, and Dragons for their hideouſneſſe, and Dogs for their filthineſſe, and Wolves for their ſubtilneſſe. The Scripture ſtiles them Scorpions, Vipers, Thornes, Briars, Thiſtles, Brambles, ſtubble, dirt, chaffe, duſt, droſſe, ſmoke, ſcumme; as you may ſee in the margent. 'Tis not ſafe to look upon wicked men, under thoſe names, and notions, that they ſet out themſelves by, or that flatterers ſets them out by; this may delude the ſoul; but the looking upon them under thoſe names, and notions, that the Scripture ſets out by, may preſerve the ſoule from frequenting their company, and delighting in their ſociety. Doe not tell me what this man calls them, or how ſuch and ſuch count them; but tell me, how doth the Scripture call them? how doth the Scripture count them. As Naballs name was, ſo was his nature; and as wicked mens names are, ſo are their natures; you may know well enough what is within them, by the apt names that the Holy Ghoſt hath given them.
The fourth and laſt Remedy againſt4. Remedie. O Lord, let me not goe to hell, where the wicked are, for Lord, thou knoweſt, I never loved their company here, ſaid a gracious gentlewoman, when ſhe was to die, being in much trouble of conſcience. this device of Satan, is, to conſider, that the ſocietie and company of wicked men, have been a great griefe and burden, to thoſe precious ſoules, that were once glorious on earth, and are now triumphing in heaven. Pſal. 120. ver. 5, 6. Woe is mee that I dwell in Meſech; that I ſojourne in the tents of Kedar. My ſoule hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. So Jeremiah, Oh that I had in the wilderneſſe a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and goe from them; for they be all adulterers, an aſſembly of treacherous men, Jer. 9. ver. 2. So they vexed Lots 2 Pet. 2. c. ver. 7, 8 Vide Bezam.righteous ſoule by their filthy converſation; they made his life a burden, they made death more deſirable to him then life; yea, they made his life a lingering death. Guilt, or grief is all the good, ſoules get by converſing with wicked men.