ckapf4,8 4bq1044 4oice andaefeexvinpany. ,.flnfw. Firft, Bet. ufeis frequently forbidden in the Scripture :AsProv,4.14i1 Ç. and 9. . 6 . ands . 15.: 16. and 23.2.0. Ephef.5. t r. z Tbef.3.6. 1 Cor,5,11. Z Cor. 6.14.See the danger of it in Davids snatching with fcoffingMechol, I Sam./ 8.z1. yiehoriefts marrying with Ahabs daughter, 2 Sam.6.16,2o. 'Secondly, we have theexamples-of the godly ltudiouflydeclining fuch compa- bvc.i(JáElifha, 2Ring: 3.14. of David, Pfal.z6.45. and tor. 4, 7. and 6.8. and 1a9. 1,15. Thirdly, There are anany - reafons to enduce usto it ì For I. We are ingreat danger inaldwrttime ro grow, like unto them : For fin is ofa contagious nature , and we are tnott apt to receive infeótion , and they will endeávdurto entice us, Prov. a 10,r1, Z. This David knew, and therefore reftxesagaiatttfilch company, Pfal.r.i9.lr5.and prates to God foraffiltance, Pfal.141..4. See t he.dangerofkeeping.fuchcompanyin there exarriples, Aft:1:3. S. l'ro,a2.24,25.Gen4t.IS,¡6. the reafonisrendredbyPaul, 1Cor,5;6. - s.; 9uph.-fociety arguesfirongly thatwe are not rainy religious, and ups bht in hem, but that .we/ ilfhàdtbetvveienCod andthe World, For Prov. 29. 27. An j lii,mán rs an abomination to thejuf,and he that is upright in his way.as anabomi- nation to the wicked. Seealiío,YaJr,í 5,9. Joh.s.i 5, i tretlt, irfhawthintw4ffwecanfort-o*rfelves aoithall 9nív. Finít, I.Vithrhofethat aregodly,andvertirous, asbeing a fingular fur- therance to aldchi Ptin/ duties, Prov,l'3. zo. Hereby we may edifae one another, Heb. 50.24. For the moreweconverfewith fuch, the greater encreafe we fhall find of one piety, faith,love, zeal; &c. as coals laid together dokindle one ano- ther. Sowe fee in the example ofDavid, who rejoyced in the faciety of fuch Pfa.16.3.Pfa,r r 9.63,79.Hence ?fal. 22,2. 1. when the Church flourrlhed molt, and did thrive in grace, andgodiinefs they thus converfed toderher,, AR: 2.46. and 9. 31. Quell. what other arguments may provoke us to make choice offach com- pany Anfw. it takes away the tedioufnefs of our journey, when we have fuch company to travell with us ; Seeing they drawus onby their gooddifcourfes, and put out ofour minde the tedioufnefs ofthe way. : they comfort, and encourage us t henwe are weary : they are ready to help usifany evil befall us : they atilt/ us againft our fpiritual enemies that would rob us of the treafures ofour graces : they further us by their good example : yea its a notable means to make us familiar with God, and toenjoy the fellowfhipof his holy fpirir, which is the chiefell bond that unites us together in this holycommunion. For Mar. 18.20. where two or three aregathered together in his name, Chrift is in the midft to makehimfelf known to them. Secondly, Good company preferves usfrom falling into many fins , and in- citeth us.to many duties. If thou does any good things in fuch company, none willislnider thee : but if thou doefl evil, thou art prefently obferved, reproved, and amended, Prov.27,17. For as iron fharpens Iron,fo doth the face of a man kwfriend: Saul himfelf prophefiedby keeping company with the Prophets, much more are Gods children inflamed, andprovoked togood by fuck company. Thirdly, Hereby we are the better fitted, and enabled co perform all Chrilti- anduties one towards another : as r. Ofwatching one over another, that we may take all occafions of doing .good,by reflrainingfuch as are ready to fall,& provoking eachother to all vertuous a6tions, Heb.10.24. we mullflrengthen our brethren, Luke 22.32. So Phil. 2.4. 2. Of iuftruaion,_whereby with all readineffe we inform the ignorant , and en- 9ighten them in the knowledgeofGod, and his truth , Ali. 26. 18. Reclaime the erroneous : exhorted to, fam.5.2o. Turn many to righteoufnefs, and therefore fhall fhine in the kingdom ofGod,Dan.r2.3. . Of
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