Chap638. gboso iha choice, andMf ofCompany. 373 and condemnedby that zeale,andforwardneffe ofthe true Chriftian, and that if that holy f1 idtnefle heneceffarily required, they plainlyproclaime the dalnnable- neffeofhis Rate , uponwhich he fecurely repofes himfelf, as fufficient tc falvati- en. Hence they fo hated David, Pfal. 69.4. what heart then can a Chriflian have to converfe intimately with fuch as hate him for his goodrieffe- fake: Fifthly, Its abfurd that a member ofChrifl fhould exerche familiarity with a limbof Saran: neither can God endure chat his faithful! fubjeEts fhould fo con- ver£e with traitors. Sixthly, Converting with fuch,doth croft, and overthrow this common , and Chriftian duty, that in all companies we fhould eitherdoe good, or receive good, or both : whereas in this cafe a Chriftian takes hurt , and doth hurt : He takes hurt Becaufe he throws himfelf upon tentation , andhazards being infe5}edeither with profaneneffe, or Lukevarmneffe. He hurts others alfo, and that i. He hardenshis companions in their unregenerate courfes , becaufe they think he would notfo familiarly converfe With them,except he were well con- ceited of theirfpiritual slate. 2. He is aHumbling block to the weakChriflian, who by looking upon his e- amplemay be led awry from the (trait path ofhis profeffion, andby taking there- by liberty of imitation , whereby his young beginnings of grace may be choaked,Sec. 3. Herebyhe grieves flrong Chriflians , when they fee him fo far forgetful! of himfelf, and disgraceful! to his profeffion as to converfe with the enemies of God. Seventhly, when an unregenerate man fees that a Chriftian preffes into his company, and delires to fpend time with him, he prefently concludes, that fure he fees in-himmatter worthyof Chriftian company, and endowments sufficient to rank him among(! theSaints, or elfe he could not take fuchdelight in his con- verfation : whereupon he is fearfully hardened in his prefent courfes , and fettled with refolution upon the plaufibly deceivablenefle of his unregenerate (late. Eighthly, Above all for this purpofe perufe often, and ponder well, I. The prohibitionshereof in Gods book , ICar. ;.rz. Ephef.g.ii.Prov. 14,7. z Thef. 6, Prev.4.14. 2. The proteflattons, and praótifesof the Saints, 7'fal. 26.4, S. 'tr. 15. z 7. 2 King- 3.14. 3, The punishment infli led for the familiarity with the ungodly, as z Chrq. 19.2. and 20.37. Queft. May we not convel-fe with oer unconverted kindred, friends, neigh- bwurs, &c. Anfw. Yes, But then you mull obferve thefe rules, First, labour for more power of grace, knowledge, fanaification , Chriftian wifdom, and refolution in thee to convert them, then there is of ftubbornef e, fenfuall malice, finfull wit,worldly policy,and fatanicall fophiftry in them toper- vertthee. Secondly, See that thyheart be fincere , and that in the finglenefa thereof thouPeek truly their converfion, and not thineown fecret contentment. For in this point thyheart will be ready todeceive thee: thoumayeft go into fuch com- pany with apretence, and purpofe to folicite them about falvation, and to pre- vail with them about the bet+thins, andyet, before thou art aware, mayfl be in- fnared inthe unwarrantabledelights ofgood fellowship, pleafant passagesof wit, andfilch idle familiarities, as thouwaft wont CO enjoy with them in thy unrege- nerate rime : and foikteadofthedifeharge ofa Chrif3tanduty , thou maytl both hurt ihyfelf, andharden them. Thirdly, V. VI. . VII. VIII. I. II.
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