Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That the company of a:ic4ed worldling! id to be auoided, 15 5 vvhen we feeke to breake from them. So that it is a thing of great difficultie to continue doing wtll,atnongfl thofe who are euill; or not to bee hindred in our courfe oIgodlincffe, when as wicked companions doe as it were hang on our neckes, and with all their power and policie labour to flay vs. And this that wife Heathen oblerued in his ovine experi- ence : Iconfeffe(faith he) mine orneweakkenrffe: Ireuerbrino Senec.epift.7. borne theft manners which I carted abroac; butfomething whit% I had well compofed it dtflurbed and put out of order; reme of the le vices winch ¡had put to flight,againe retorne:and as it he faieth them that haue been vexed with a long fcbnefe, who re- maineflill fo weaie, that they cannot without fome danger come abroad into the open aire; the fame happeneth veto vs, whofe minds are fomewhat recoueredout of the tedious fic%neffe of vice and ftnne: the co euerfation ofthe wicked multitude is agreat ene- mie vnto vs, emery one being readte to commend veto vs, or to thruft vpon vs fame vice, or at leati to taintand infell vs there- With at vnawares, &c. So that 1 armies retornehome either more couetous, ambitious or voloptuous,yea more cruell and in- humane,becaufel haue been amoni /I men. As therefore it is hardto dwell with a colliar and not be fmutted, to haue our conuerlationamongf theeues,and not,one time or other,to be robbed of our rich treafures : fo and much more difficult it is to keep familiar company with wicked worldlings, and not to be collowed with their corruptions; to line amongli thcfefpirituall theeues, and not to be (polled ofthe riches of Gods grace : in which refped1 they are fo much more hurt- ful! and penicious vnto vs, then theeues and robbers; as much as the foule exceedeth the bodie, and Gods fpirituall 4bar " 9efor- graces and heauenly ioyes which they fleale from vs, exceed visor retpett me in worth, earthly gold and momentanie treafures,ofwhich ,reearaf lyto time will rob vs, though theeues (pare vs. pun m.-cked And therefore Peeing it is a thing of fo great danger, to sompanY. haue our conuerfation among wicked worldlings, left wee rtiendumcfY - flhould be tainted with their corruptions, let vs be exceeding,,,gaibus warie and careful! in making choice ofour company :and as ¿dasaut one faith, let vs be no more res eliuewhatwecareanddrink`e, goam qu;drdat then arnonglt whom we eat and drtnkç : for as vn` h olefome dr bi bas. Se- meats `rcc,epíß.s9,