254 Chap.i 6. An Exäofttionupon the Bookof J p B. Verf 7. a wide Inure (Prov 21.9.) And it-is better to be in a Defert among wild Beans, then in a populous City among beatify men. This made the Prophet detire a Lodging in the Wilder- nefs (Jer. 9. 2.) The Country about Sodom was pleZmt like the Garden of God, yet how was the righteous foul of Lot vexed with the filthy and unrighteous converlation of the Sodomites ? how unealie are our lives made to us by dwelling among either falfe Friends or open Enemies ? In theCreation,when God faid,Itis not goodfor man to be alone; he fùbjoyns, Let us mare him a helpmeet for him. A- dam had all the beafis of the earth, about him, but they were no company for him, man knows not how to converfe with beatts, or employ his reafon with thofe that have none. As, it is not goodfor man to be alone, fo to be in company that is not meet for him is as bad, or worfe then to 'be aioue.There- for_faithGod ,Let us make him a help meetfor bim,the making cf a woman brought in meet company for mankind ; yet fame men are as unmeet company for men as beafis are, and are therefore in Scripture called Beafls. Paul fought with fuel; beatts at Ephefus ; there are few places free of them,and many places are full of them. D.avidcryes out, Woe is me that I am conffrained to dwell in Blefech, &c. Therewas company enough, but it was woful company. The Primitive Saints affociared themfelves, they continued in fellowthip one with another,as meli as in the Apofiles Doblrine,or in breakingof breadandprayer (AlIs 2 42.) They were all of one mind,and were therefore fit to makeone body.7hecomma. ;lion andfellorefhipof the Saints, is the lower heaven of Saints. And the making of fuch a company defolate,is the faddefl de- folation that can be made on earth : communion of Saints in Heaven, is one great accrilion to the joy ofheaven. And 'Cis a greatcomfort to the Saints in the midfl ofall the ill neigh - bourhood which they meet with here, to remember that they (hall meet with no ill neighbours there ; none but Friends there, none but loving Friends.There [hall not be a crofs thought, much letsa era's word or at`ion among thofemany millions ofglorified Saints for ever ; nor (hall there be any among them there but Saints : no tares in that field, nor chaffin that floor, no Goats in that Fold,no nor any Wolves, inSheep skins,no prophane ones there,no nor anyHyppocrites there.
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