Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

x 56 That the company ofwickedworldlings is to be auorded, meates and drinkes may poifon the bodie, fo vngodly company pylon the foule, vnlcffe wee bee prefcrued with fome foucraigne autidots minillredvntovsbyGods word and holy Spirit : and feeing this is a tlrong,temp- tation to draw vs voto coil', let not vs who daily pray that wee may not bee led into tentations, wittingly and willingly runne into them. Neither let vs,;vnlefl'e Free haue a calling hereunto, and bee furnifhed and prepared with a great meafure of grace and flrength, prefìrme vpon our owne abilities, and flatter our felues with a conceit, that we can by keeping them company draw them to vertue and goodneffe, and in the meane time receiue no hurt, Seeing it is much more likely,- vnleffe wee be very skilful! Phyíirians0 that they fhould infeEt vs, then that we fhould cure them : zerum natura For(as one faith)this is theordinarie coterfe of humane affaires, fie eft vtquasics that when thegoodandetillare ioyned -toether, the mill man is basso malo con- not made better by thegood, batthegood rather corrupted by nongitur,non es bono muter me- the cud. And this was fignified. by the. ceremonial' law, in -lioretur,fed ex which thelaoly flefh carried in the skirt of the garment did mala bonus con- not make it holy,but the polluted perfon touching any holy taminetur, thing, with his filthines did make it:vncleane as the.Prophet ChryfoRom. Ha ai fheweth ; to note vntovs, that it is a-matter of farre Hag,a.r3.r4 greater dtfcultie to cleanfe and purifie, then to defile and make vncleane. The reafon whereof is cleare and tnanifefl; for they are wholly flefh,and we but in part fpirituall and re- generate; fo that they pull vs with full fwinge ofwill,and with all theirpower and might : whereas both our will and power being diuided, cannot haue fueh force and vertue. Againe, they run f viftly downe the hill and .flreame of vice, but we with great labour and difìïcultie crcepe foftly forward in the way of vertue, and as it were -vp the hill, and ,againfl the flreame ofour corruptions, which naturally catie vs another way; and therefore if by familiar companie,.we catch holdto thy them, and graple with them, it is a thou - fand to one,if we be notaflìlled with a power farre lupariour ;to our owne, they will rather carie vs away with their vio. lence, or at leali naturals motion ; then that we 111a11 make ,them,llay, or force.them backcby true repentance. Neither