s A`N nOMBLE ATTEMPT, &C. of evil company in the world, since you are not constrained trs mingle with them in the Church. Enquire of yourselves, Who are your chosen anddelightful companions among men ? Is it with you as it was with David, who was a cesnpaniunof them thatfear the Lord ? Ps. cxix. 63. Are the saints, the excellent in the earth, high in your esteem, and is your delight amongst them ? Ps. xvi. 3. It is granted, and the apostle allows it, 1 Cor. v. IO. that if you would always avoid the company of the wicked and theprofane, you must even almost go out of the world, because the world is so full of them and in buying and selling, in the daily business and commerce of life, their presence and converse cannot be avoided : but he directs you to avoid them, as far as it may be done consistently with other duties. And the great question is, Who are the com- panions of your choice, and in whose society do you take the most agreeable satisfaction ? Are the sons of vice and impiety your familiars and intimates ? And while you profess your desire to be separated from them in the church, do you chase to dwell much with them in the world ? Does not such a sondadgive toa just an occasion to charge you with hypocrisy ? What ! cannot yen bear to sit near the lewd and profane, the drunkard or the swearer in the house of God, for fear of defiling yourselves with their communion -, and yet can you delight in their company all the week, and take so much pleasure to meet them either itt your own houses or in the houses of public resort, in taverns, itr gay assemblies, at midnight clubs, and in seasons and places of extreme hazard to virtue ? Can you take familiar delight in thosewho neither love God nor fear him in the World, while you exclude them from a place in the church ? Is there no defile- ment to be taken but in the house of God ? Is there no infection- but at die sacrament ? What strange sort of conduct is this ?" Ridiculous and inconsistent ! And to what severe reproaches do you expose the protestant dissenters, with all their pretences to purer communion, while you make the company of knownand profligate sinners your free choice and your daily delight ? V.I. It may be reckoned among your advantages for strict religion and virtue, that your whole conduct is strictly observed, and your behaviour is watched with a narrow and severe eye by many of your neighbours of the established church, and especi- ally by those of them that hate your they are ready to take notice of every failing, and to make sharp remarks upon every defect you are guiltyof in your duty to God or man. You can- not step' awry, but censure and reproach attend you. If there should happen to be any persons in your societies for worship, who are a scandal to religion, you shall be sure to hear of it plentifully*, even though perhaps theyare ejected out of your special communion: and this should awaken you to a double Lay-Nonconf. Justified, p. 17, 35, 43.
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