That the compante*prickedworldling: it toteauoided. 1 S t andof fauing them from their finites ; whereas wee being -full ofthe corrupt humours offinne,and of the feedes ofall wickedneffe,are apt to receiue the outward infeelion ; nei- ther can wee purelywithout the mixture of our corruption, propound fuch good ends to our workesand a6bons; yet firing it was done by our Sauiour ChrifLit is not abfolutely vnlawfull invs ; fo that we endeuour to do it in his manner, and to the fameends, vfing all good meanes to preferue our felues from hurt, whilefl wee labour after others good. For feeing by the rule of charitie wee are bound to loue our neighbours as our felues, it followeth that we may lawfully hazard a flippe or foyle (in the meane time vfing all good meanes wherebywe may beenabled to (landvpright) ifwe haue anyhope that by our helpe our brother may be pulled back from the guile ofdeflru6lionwhereinto he is falling. Howbeit in this cafe circumfpeetion is to be vied,left whi- lcflwee labour toraife others vp,wee our feluesdoe catch a downfall,andwhilefl wee endeuour to cure theirdifeafes, we ourfelues be tainted and infected with their contagion. For fuch is our pronenes to fall into this Gcknes ofthe foule, that vnlefiewee vfe all good prcferuatiues,they will not bee bettered, and wee fhall become much work, and bring our felues into grieuous,but yet vnpitied,difeafes.Foras the fonneofSyrach faith,who lbtll hauepttieofthecharmerthat is Fajen., S. _flungoftheferpent ?or offilch as comewere thekeafls(to tame theirwildneffe?) fo is it with him that keepeth comparte teitha wicked man,andwrappeth himfelfe in hisfin: es. And thus haue I (hewed in what cafesthe companieof4.Seci.S. worldly and wicked men is lawful and warrantable; where- towhat cafes by alto it is ease to gather in what rcfpe61 it isvnlawfull the companie of and condemned; namely,when it is vfuall and familiar, vo- mic1tedworld. luntarieand not ofany neceflìtie, or vrgent occafion, raflt tings is to be and defperatc,withoue vfing anytneanes wherebywemight condemned. be preferued from being corrupted by their focietie. And finally, when as wee doe not in vprightnes ofconfcience, propound as our maine end their tpirituall good, and con- uerfionvnto God, but our ovine worldly ends: as for 'ex- ample, when wee aime by our familiar acquaintance with L them,
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