$42 Chap. 34. An Expoyrtion upon the Bookof O B. Verf. 8, Note -firff. 7o offociate with wicked men , or to chufe wicked mesafor our company, is the mark of a waked man. A godly man may be among wicked men , but he doth not chufe their company. Hewhile with them is as Lat was in So- dom, his righteous ioule is vexed. A godlyman is amongwicked men, as hiQ graces are amonghis corruptions; as his humility is ,.with his pride , his faith with his unbeliefe, there are all in his foul at once,but his faith doth alwayes flrive againfl his unbeliefe, his humility oppofeth his pride , his grace of felf-deniall, refills his Pelf-feeking, his nleeknefshis paflions, and his patience the unquietnefs of Cpirit. Agodlyman is pained in the companyof wicked men, as Davidwas (Pfal: 120. 5.) woe is me that Ifo- : iaurn in Mefech, and dwell in the tents ofKedar. Davidwas there but he did not delight to be there. To aflbciate With the wicked is proper to the wicked. The Apoflle gives that caution (Eph: 5. a i .) Have ne fellow/hip with the unfruatfullworkr of darkne f r, bat rather reprove them. Seeing the works of darkneCs are unfruitful! ofany good, it mull needs be bad tohave fellowship withthem. As we mutt not at all joyn with wicked men in fpirituall commu- ion orChurch-fellowship (2 C'or: 6. 14.) Be not unequallyyoa- ked with unbelievers ; for what communion bath light with dark- nefs,and Chriff with Bella!, &c. Come outfrom among them, and touch ne unclean thing. So we fhould have as little civili com- munion or fellowfhip with them as we can ; and when we are ne- cef stated to have civili communion with them , we muff utterly avoyd all fìnfull communion with them, that is, communion with them in their fins. It is both a shame to Gospel profeflion and a great offence to the fincere profefforsof the Gospel, when they whoprofeife it are much in the company of the workers of ini- quity, and walke with wicked men. Secondly, From thematter of the charge, Obferve. whilegodly men.behave themfelves likewicked men,they may be fay togoeincompany with them, This heavy charge falls justly upon them whether they de- ánear a themfelves in their afïli6lion (as job in fume fort did ) like
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