Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That the company of reic/¿ed worldlings it to be ameided, t S 7 Neither are wee alone corrupted and infeeled with the 4.Seêl. to. tainture of their finnes,and become euill by imitating their That it if bard wicked examples ; but alto we are made either acceffarie to to !cape comps. their fins,which they commit in our company,or elfe we ac- ny w;tit the quit our felues withmuch griefe & trouble;for hearing their ta`bc úrj/ y t blafphemies, ribauldrie and prophanenes, we either beare toiheirhunts. with them,and paffe al ouer with filence,or els we admonifh and reproue them for their fins; by the former wee become acceffaries,for whilefl webeare with,& winck at our friends faults, wee make them to become our ownc,by our filence vitiaanici fi giuing a fecret content to their wickedneffe; and fo whilefl: fires faces tua. we labour to haue our focieciepleafing vnto men;wee doe much difhonour and difpleafe God;whilefl we fhew a falle loue to our companions, we make it manifefl, that there is but little true loue of God remaining in vs : for if no louing fonne can indure to heare his father difgraced, if no good feruant can abide to heare his Lord and mailer difhonoured and abufed;and therfore wil flew their diflike, either by re- buking the offenders, or by forfaking theircompany:then thofe that can with delight frequentthe company ofvvicked men,who in all their words and alions,do nothing elfe but difhonour God,doe plainly fhew,that they neither loue the Lord as theirFather, nor reuerence him as their Lord and Mailer. But if hearing and feeing there abides, they doe reprooue them, then doe they become to their companions irkefome and tedious, mooning them, when they feele themfelues gaulled with reprofes, to bitcerneffe and anger, yea, fometirne to rage and furious reuenge; and fo whiled+ by their abfence they might haue had them friendly !Iran - gers,by this neerer acquaintance,theybecome knowne ene- mies. And both chefefhouldbe carefully auoided,either to, difpleafe God bypleafing ofinen; or willingly to difpleafe, and to bee at enmitie with men, when as we may auoid it, without Gods difplcafare. But as wicked company defile vs with their hones; fo an 4Sec`Z t I. they fubieèt vs to their punifhments; for they brand our mia Tbat names with the blackemarke ofinfamy andreproch,whilefl bas:dab okr keeping them company, we are reputed andcenfured to bee flames with lit. of famie.