Cbap 38 about the choice andufeo f corupany. good as we are able; and ro help than forward to eternal life : purpofing alto toget Lome fpiritual good to our felves, as occafion fhall be offered. Thirdly, we muffrefolve, if we candonoother good , at leaf/ to be harrn-, 1 fi and to leave no ill favour behinde us, either by our fpeech or behaviour , .eray.SO. _o. and zo. 5. Col. 3. iz. s 7hef. 5. 23. fames 5, 20. dude I Sam. 23.,6. Quell. Hr,v may 'weattain unto this ? dhfw: Firff,we muflpray for gracebefore we go into company, as facob prayed to be kept from the fordof Efau, Gen.3z.1 i. fo we muff pray that we be no infe6fed by them. Secondly, we fhould think of fome profitablematter before-hand ; and intreat God to enable us todeclare the fame. Thirdly, wemull wifely and carefullywait for, and lay holdon the fitteff oc- cafions of doing and receivinggood. Fourthly ,'we mull refolve not to thwart or croffe others, but in the fpirit of meekneffe, and lenity to bear onewith another , Ga1,6.1, 2. Col. 3.12. and for that end to put on love, which envies not , boaffethnot, rejoyceth not in iniqui- ty , provokes nor, nor is eafily provoked unto anger : but fuffers long, hopeth all things,&c. I Cor.13.4,&c. P'rov.10.12. I Per.4,S, Queff.How fhall we be fltrinfloed with matter to edtfte one another ? Anfw. If rio prefent occafionbe offered ,as was to Chriff , Luke Tr. 27, 2g, we muff have confideration, both of the things and of the perfons. The things we are to thinkof arc either force part ofGods word which we have lately heard preachedof, or that we have read , or meditatedupon , or force work of God lately fallenout,wherein yet we muff avoid the common abufe,which is either to turne it over as table-talk, or matter of news without making any further ufe thereof. Quaff. what if we cannot thusfurnifhourfelves? Anfw. Then let us read, or caufe tobe. read, Lome portion of Scripture,out of which we may be the better furnithed: And as for perlons , we muff confider whether theybe fuperiors , inferiors, or equals, whether good or bad, whether they need infIruaion, reproof, quickning,or comfort, &c. that fo we may ac- cordinglyapply ourfpeeches to their,andour o,vn edification : asChrift didrL,sk. 14.7,8 andit.27iz8. ueff. Why muß we be fo careful thus to furnifh and exercife our felves ? lnfv. Becaufeweare commanded to'provokeone another to love, and good work_:, Heb.io_4. To exhort one another daily , Heb.3.12. To redeem the .time, Eph. 5. 16, Now a word fpoken in diefeafon is like apple: of Gold c. Prov. 25. r I. Our fpeech muff begracious alwayes , etc. Co1.4.6. No corrupt communication anuFlproceed out ofour mouths, C'c. Eph.4.29,3o. we muff edofie ene another , Thef,5.11. Sodid. Paul, A&. 26.27,28,29. Queft. what iffor all this wecannot bring our hearts to it ? Anfw. Its, better for fuch to keep home, to look to our families, and attend out callings, then ro go into company where weneither do, nor re- ceive good. Queff. -What ifwemeet with fuch brutifh and fcornfulperfons as willnot endure good communication ,zinfw. Then followChrif}s rule : Givenot that which is holy untodogs, tÌ'c. iVlat,7.6. and have nofeHówfhip with the unfruitful works ofdarkneffe, Ephef. '5. i i . Yet withal, we muff wifely bear, and Peek towin them : but if we can- not prevaile, we muff follow Solomon: rule,,Prov. 14.7. Departfrom the compa- ny ofOf foolifh man, whin thoufeeffnot in him thewords of wifdome. Praîtice of Chriftianity. C c c Qùeff.
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