4v glowmHfß we reprove, that we may net Sera. 7. hofhaphat, &c. but we never read that godly men fared better for the company of the wicked, but rather wor f e , 'Pf al . i 19. 115. Depart from meye evil doers, for Iwill keep the Commandments of my God ; it is a very hard matter to keep wicked company, and to keep the Command- renrs of God together. The Lacedemonians would never fuffer a flranger tobe with them above three dayes , for fear of infellion and corruption with their evil manners. And verily thole that are flrangers CO God and godlinefs, fhould be as little as may be our companions. 8. By Maintenance, by upholding and incouraging men in their fins' (bough thou never commictell them thy felf, yet then art guilty, 2 roh. I I. He that biddeth hire God fpeed , is partaker of his evil Deeds. Though thou doefl' not commit it, yet if thou doell applaud it, and re- joyce in it, and fay it is well done, thou arc a partner ; if thou art not the mother of it, yet thou art the Nurfe of it ; if thou art not the Fa- therof it , yet thou art the Guardian of it , and God will lay the brat at thy door,as Pure as if thouhadll begot ir. Thus I have done with the firll thing , howwe becomeguilty, or how many wayespartalsers of other mens lins: There are many more might be named, as by handring good, by excufing evil, by adminifiring occa- fian, bynot reproving, not mourning, not reclaiming, cc. But thefe and manymore that pradlical Authors handle , they are but underling - fprigs from the great branches that I have opened. 2. Why a Chriflian mnfl be carefulto avoid, and not topartake o fother mens fns ? The reafons of the DoElrine. Anfw. Out of a Threefoldprinciple. z. Out of a principle of Charity to our Brethren. 2. Out ofa principle of Pitty to ourfelves. 3. Out of a principle ofPiety toGod. I. Out of charity to our Brethren, that we benot means and infiru- ments to promote their ruine and deflru6lion : For,ro partake ofother mens Sins, though it does moreburthen au, yet it does never a whit cafe them, but does rather harden them, and confirm them in their pradti- fes, for company in fin makes men ail it with thegreater confidence. Now this is to do the Devils part in the habit of afriend. Sirs,we mull be charitable, Charity is the Golden Rule, charity is the bond of perfe- ¿lion ; now if it be a piece of charity to help up our Brothers Oxe or 19fs when he is fallen into a Ditch, Exod. 23. 4. Sure 'cis morecharity to co as much for insfoul, 3ude 23. Others lave with fear, Pullin them out ofthe fire.Sin is the deep Ditch of the Soul,and Sin is the Hell fire of the
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