Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

chat the company ofwic%ed tborldlings Jrt , e auoided. 149 line only tbith thole who are innocent. And the Apofìle tel- leth vs, that if we will not at all come into the companie offorni- r.Cor.s. t... catorr of this world, or with the couctatu, orwith extortioner:, or with idelaters,we mull then/cane the worldalfo. And ther- fore we muff not follow the foolifh dotage ofPopifh Her- mits and Anchorifls,who make it a high degree of their per.. feOlion to hue alone, and CO fequefier themielues kern al fo. cietie ofmen ; for as the Heathen man could fay,he that wil Arif .de rep, content himfelfe with himfelfe, and leaue the companie of lib,r.car.a all others, had need to be either a God, whom none can mend,or a fauage bear, who hateth humane fellowfhip,and will not come ncere them, vnleffe it be to deftroyorhurt them. It is lawful] then in fome cafes tokeepecompanie with gset7.3, wicked worldlings. As for example, when humane focie- in what caferit tic, andcommonciuili tie doth require it; neither is itpofli islawfullto bic to liuein a common wealth,vnleffe we tsbferuethe rules come in compa- of ciuilitie, and performe mutual! duties of citizens, and ewitb wicked neighbours one to another, whether they be profellours of religion,or but meere worldlings. Forwithout this,not on. lyall trading, buying, felling, and fuch other commerce, 'wherewith the Commonwealth is maintained and prefer - ued,d.ecaieth, and quite ceafeth ; but euen duties required neceffarily to the .preferuing oflife, and ofour being in the world,fhould alfo be neglected. As then euery man ought in the time of common plague, to preferue hishealth, by keeping hitnfelfe ftom comming amongft infe6ted perfons; and et.infome cafes, his comming neere them is notonelie lawfYull,butalto neceffarie,as to quench a fire,to'helpea wo- man in her labour and childbirth, and tominiftervntothem fuch neceffari es, as may preferue their hues ; fais it lawful! in thefe, and fuch like cafes to come into the company of chofe who are fpiritually infedled with the plague offinne. Butthe company of wicked men is to be auoided,in -refpeát ofneere fricndfhipand familiar conuerfation,, whenas wee take delight to frequent their company, as k were, ofour owne choice,neither ciuill conuerfation,nor humane necaG fitic vrging vs thereunto To this purpofe one faith, that L 3 üba

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