Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That the friendfìip ofwic,Eedworldhrgtie to be contemned. 169 and for the prefent Peeing we cannot haue them ourfriends, PaacisPis cha- let vs not willingly haue them (ifwe can by lawful( meanes rwúmuctl' auoid it) our foes and enemies. But to come to our purpofe: wee are carefully to take nos omnesami: heed of worldly friendfhip, when it is an occafion to breake cos habereope- offour friendfhip with God (as it is, when as it prouoketh 1efnm eil : Paris or allureth vs to the committing of finne ,or to the negle &ofon haberrSSc- any good duety ) and labour to pleat.; God rather then nec.epifi. 4, men, when wee cannot pink both' together : efieeming §.Set1,3. luth kind of friendfhip the moil hatefull emnitie, and filch net roe can. carnall friends, to bee no better then trecherous enemies notbold friend - who doe vs much more mil-chide then thole who openly ¡g ánbdQAlte difcouer their malice, and Phew their hatred by offering all with God, outward violence. Whereofit is that one thus exclaimeth a- gainfl this wicked friendfhip : O friendfhip (faith hee) too machour enemie,asbeing a feducer not eafrie to beedifcerned ; from which proceedeth an appetite and greedie defireofdoing hart; and endamaging others,ae it were byway of f art and play, without any de/ire of gaine or reuenge; bat whileff companionsAug,Confef. fay, let vsgoe together,let vs doe it, and they are a fhamednot Iib,a,cap.9. to be ae impudent as their fetters on. With which wicked friendfhip that we may not be abufed and inueagled, let vs confider, firf:,that we cannot hold this friendfbip with worldlings,but wee muli breake our league andcouenant with God, and as Itwere proclaime wanes againfl him; for- as the Apofile lohn telleth vs,he that loner h the world,the loue r ,Ioh.s.ri, of the father cannotabideinhim:and lames plai nely affirm eth, that the amitte of the world is emnitielbith God; and therefore whofoeuerwill bee a friend oft he world,ma4ethhimfelfe the ene- mie of God: into which finne when Iehefhaphatfell, hee islatn.4.4. fharpely reproued by the Prophet, Wouldesf thou (faith he) helpe the wicked, and loue them that hate the Lord ? therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is upon thee. Secondly,let vs confider that this friendfhip with wicked §,Sell. 4. worldlings is not true, but falfe and counterfeits. For there That friendfbp isno true .friendfhip, but that which is betweene the ver- toith worldlings tuons and faithfull, and grounded upon the true loue and faire feare ofGod; for whole fake they alfo loue their brethren, cou;rrorfeir. whereby