I. II. IV. V. VI. Qseffio f,andCafe ofConfcience Chap. 3.8. Queft. What other reafon maybe rendred why we fhould fo carefully (bun evil ? company fw the Scripture teaches us to thun all finful occafions, as well as aelions : therefore we muffkeep out of the way. Quell. Se in; there isfo mach denger,by badcompany what muff we do that live in bad times and places ? Atfw. Firfl, look to thy grace that it be true, and then thou mayeul be fore that ill company !hall not rob thee of it. True grace is compared to oile ; now call oile into a vefíel of water, and it will not mingle with it , but will fwim on the top : So `race will fwim upon thewater of tentation. As all the water in the fait fea cannot make the fith fait ; fo all the wicked in the world cannot change the natureof grace : Agood man will retaine his goodneffe in bad pla- ces , and company : as lofepb did in the Court of wicked Pharaoh : Nehemiah in the Court of Artaxerxes : Obadiah in Ahabs Court : Daniel in Nebuchad- nezzars : Abijah in wicked, and idolatrous jeroboams houfe : and the Saints in Nero's houlhold. Secondly , yet we ought tobewaile our living in bad places and times : Its our misery, though not our fin : fo did Ifaiah, ch.6.5. andDavid,Pfal.i 20.5. and Lot, 2 Pet,z.7,8. Thirdly, it is our duty, the worfe the times and places are wherein we live, the better, and the more blamelefle we fhould labour to be, that thereby we may adorne our profelfion,flop the mouths ofthe adverfaries , and winne them to imbrace Chriftianity , Phi/.2.1 ç. As liars thine brightellin a dark night , and fire burns hotteíl in a frofly day : fo fhould our profeffion thine brightefl in the darkefl places ; and our zeale burne hotteft when the love of many wax_ eth cold ? Fourthly, we mull not think to excufe our wickednefïle , becaufe we live in bad times, and places ; as Abraham didhis lie by his being in Gera?. Gen.zo.t r. Its the badnfieof thy heart , not of the place that makes thee bad.As no place, though never fo good, can exempt a man from finne : the Angels finned in heaven, Adam in r aradtfe, Judas in Chrrlls family : fo no place , though never fo bad, can excufe a man from fin. Fifthly, ifit be fo commendable tobegood in bad places and company , how abominable then is it tobe bad in good places, and company ; to be dirty fwine in a faire meddow. Sixthly , delight not in bad places and company : To delight in fuch,argues that thou art bad thy felfe Nofcituod ex focio qui non cognefcitur ex fe, Deut. 22. so. Mailer Love o_f Grace. Quell. Whether is-co- puny better thenfolitarineffe ? Anfw. Though there be a fit time for folitarineffe,andevery thing is beautifäl in its feafon : yetcivil converfation is to be preferred before folicarineffe , as tending more to the glory ofGod, the advancement and enlarging of theKing- dome ofChrifl , the good both ofChurch and Common-wealth with all the members of them, and our own preterit comfort, and future joy, which ismuch augmented , when by our Chriflian converfation , and vertuous actions, our ho- ly profeffion, and good example , our admonitions , exhortations, counfel, con- folation ; our works ofjuflice, and charity, andbyall other good Ofiices'mutual- ly ,performed , webuildup chofe that are about usin their moll holy faith , and draw many to accompanyus to the Kingdome of Heaven : Hence, Gen. z. 18. Its not good man to be alone , Ecclef.4.9,Io. rwo. are better then one., &c. and Saint Paul lays-it as a chargeuponall. lick, o,24,25. T. provo&g one another to love and (roodworks, &c,. uefl. Howmay this be, furtherproved? 4nfw. 411
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