Chap.• LSect. i. CHAP. Xi. SECT. x• • ! <?f Preparatives to Chdfl:ian:SocietY~ ~··· -1111!111l..~M111.1411 .ltherto~of fecret D.udes, and privateDUties,fo far as they conce~n every . ,f man ,in his own particular, and in his own family : Now as of many particulars conftll:s a family, fo of many famifies may confill: this Chrif/i,.n-Society we are ready to treat of; and·the rather do we fall upon it, becaufe we hold it a D~tty. to keep a cpnfranr, indcar.ed an~ loving correfporideJ)ce·with the Saints, to communicate with expen– mental Chritl:ians, in tljeir Experiences of Chrill working and dwel-. ling in them, To ;.xhort on< "norher, .and fo much t~~ mor~, 11s we fee tb_e Heb.: 10 • 24,a<i ""Y apprMching. Now that we may,joyntly and comFortably carry on this Duty , ob5 1: Our entrance into it, ferve we, ~ 2 . Our proce,edings in it. · . , ... , · 5 1 . Renounce all fiqful and wickedSociety. • I. FQr eriteraO.ce, ~ve m~ll: ( 2 •. ~~:e~~~\~[;ShGraces as will fitly P{epare, ~s for ;r. We mull: renounce aild difcharge all wicked·fociety ! For what fellowjhip hatb ~ighteoufnefs with unrighteoufne[s ? And wh11t communion hath light with dark_nefs l Ana a Cor, 6. '1 what concord hAth Chrift with Be/if!/? or whAt part h11th he thllt believeth with an infidel?. what agreement bath the Temple ?f God with Idols? as melted gold willunite it fe~f with , the fubfrance ofgold, but not mcorporate it felf withdrofs ; fo if ·Ood by his' Spirit . melts th.e heart, and fits iJ: for union with believers, then he feparates it from that which is Heterogeneous and difagreeing to it: Lord,. who jhall dwell in thy holy hill? faith Dnvid; the anfwer is given, prat. t•: 4· ."Jn whore e· 1 es a'vileperron ~s tontemned, but he h J' > • ~·7' 1' Ffd.t). J) ono.ureth them thAtfear the Lord : Underll:and the Text foberly concerning Contempt of a "ile perfon. 'David would not have us to deny him Courtefies andcivil behaviou}" ! We.may eat, and drink, and buy, and fell, and fhe;\1 kindeneffe, and pity hitn, arid pray for him, and carry ?ur felves with all wifdom towards him,though he be wit~out·; but ;ts for holy commlmton we mull: fay to htm as Pmr to S1mon, Thou haft nt~thet·part Ail. e. ·• I)' norfellowjl.oip ip this body; or as Nehemi..h to Sanb"ilat, Tobi"h and Gejhem, Tou·hnw no NeiJ. 2 " 10 portion) )..or right, nor mtm(Jrial i-n Jerufalem. ',. · · 2. ·W.e mu/~ entertain fuch Graces as will fidy prepare us for this Chril7i'!n $ociery, and they arc fuch ~s thefe : ----- : .' . . . l ; Humility : Humble men·contend not, cenfure not, quarrel not;difdain riot : They ' can meet with unequal refpects of age, fex, ll:ate and parts ; they can difcern even in women,what is to be honored, "nd if there be not always fo profound a ju<;lgment, yef ' many ttm~s there is more holy, and more·fweet.affections : They have n<?t the faith ?f·Chrtll mrefpe0 of perfons, but can fay to the poor man (if he l:le of the poorwhom 1•.1 G,od hath chofen nch in Grace, and heir of the Kingdom) Sit thou here in a good plaee ; theycan pre:er Grace before parts, and delight in the fweet fcent of creeping Violets; They can make ufe of,. ~nd improve' all other mens gifts , For in hopor th~y_ f"[cr one Rom, 12. ,., '!11oth~r, ·and fo they come to be kindely affeCl:ioned one to another ·ln brotherly love; they,can fpy out Graces of all forts, in all forts and ranks of people.: They obfervc the fwce~ aff~bthty and courtefic of fome great ones., ·the hone!~ diligence and patience of IOme poo.r ?ne~ ;· the blu!hing .modell:y and humility of fome folidly learned, the chearful acttvtty in <;iods :.worfkip of ·fome~ illiterate, that love Chrill: in finccrity , · -though they cannot difpute £or him : Severalftrts ofmen,havefeveralluflres; now the lv.1mble
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