comfortablewalking ivitbGod. heart and skill touphold any holyconferences, or to affoord any reciprocal" or mutual' helpe , in the feeling paflages of fan&ification, are occafions toput Gods children out of ufe and ure with the language of Canaan,from the embracement ofmany joyful" confiderations, and exercifeofthofe comfor- table Meditations, and holy converfation above, which . Chriftian company would occafionally and feafonably put into them, and keepe frefh andworking in their minds; and by confequent, bereave them thereby of much zeale, comfort, feelings of Gods favour, joyful" fpringings of heart,boldnes intheir waies,cheerefulneffe in the exercifes ofReligion,and that comfortable fruitionofother prerogatives of Chrifliani- tie; which manyother oftheir brethren doe, and they, by the benefit of religious companions and delightful" converfing with theSaints, might plentifully enjoy. Apprehend this paflagearight : I fay, a Chriftian maybe much worfenedand weakened in his graces,by companying too much, and converfing delightfully with the meere civil' .man, or whitedTombes : For hee may (pend with fuchmen wholeweekes, nay, moneths and yeares, and have not one word offan&ified difcourfe, and holy talke minif}red unto him. Scarce a word tobee had from them of the Word of God, and way to heaven; no conference of the fecrets of Sandification, ofperplexities of confcience, of their ever- kiting abode together in the Manfions of heaven. Motions that way wouldbee very irkefome and tedious unto them : fuch talkewouldquickly beget filence,melancholy,fadneffe, and a defire to breake off company. Now the Chriftian by this meanes,neither having his tongue exercifed,nor his eares much acquainted with edifying Chrithandifcourfc, growes negle&iveof ftoring his memory withholy things, unzea- lous, and cold in theapprehenfionsofheaven, dull and heart- leflè togodly duties. If thus ; what infe&ion then from notorious and lewd companions ? But above all, in thispoint the fellowiìtip of thePapift is mofi pernicious ;; forbyhim aman is in danger bothof havinghis underftanding and judgement corrupted with
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