CHAPTER XXIV – 7. Vain and sinful company to be denied
than a thousand any where else? The Spirit of God by David said so, Psal. 84:10. But alas, it is this unmortified flesh, and tyranizing sensuality that blindeth you, that you cannot see the truth: or else all this would be as plain to you as the high way.
CHAPTER XXIV
Vain Company to be Denied 7. ANOTHER sensual vice to be denied, is, a love to vain, ungodly company. This is a sin that I think none but utterly graceless men are much carried away with. For the godly are all taught of God to love one another (1 Thess. 4:9.), and to delight in the saints as the most excellent on earth (Psal. 16:2, 3.), and to take pleasure in their communion: and to look on the ungodly with a differencing belief, as foreseeing their everlasting misery, if they return not: so that it is the ungodly that I have now to speak to. Some fall in love with the company of good fellows, as they call them: and some love the company of harlots, and some of gamesters; and most of merry, pleasant companions, and men that are of their own disposition: and the love of such company, enticeth them to the frequent committing of the sin. They would not go to gaming but for company; they would not go to the alehouse but for company; and when they are there, perhaps they will swear, and drink, and mock at godliness for company. But are you willing also to go to hell for company? Is the company of those sinners, better than the company of God, and his favour? Were it not better to be that while with him in prayer, or about his work? If you love a tippling fellow better than God, speak out, and say so plainly, and never dissemble any more, nor say that you love God above all, or that you are Christians. Have you more
delight in the company of them that would entice to sin, than in the company of the godly that would draw you from it? This is a most certain mark, that yet you are the children of the devil, and in a state of damnation. It is not possible for a sanctified child of God to do so.
See the description of the man that shall be saved, in Psal. 15:4. "In his eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord." Birds of a feather will flock together. The company which you love, shews what courses you love, and what you are. You delight in the company of those that Christ will judge as his enemies; and how then will he judge of you? You delight most in the company of those notorious fools, that know not the plainest and most needful things in all the world; that know not that God is better than the world, and holiness than sin; and know not the way of their own salvation. If you are content to have the company of the ungodly for ever, you may take it here. But if you would not dwell in hell with them, do not go on in sin with them. O when you shall see those very men arrested by death, and haled at the bar of God, and cast into damnation, then you will have no mind of their company! Then, O that you could but say, that you were none of them! Like a man that is enticed by thieves to join with them; but when the hue and cry overtakes them, and they are apprehended, how glad would he be then to be from among them! I tell you sinners, if grace recover you, you shall wish in the sorrow of your hearts that you had never seen the faces of those men that enticed you to evil; but if grace do not recover you, you shall wish ten thousand times in hell that you had never seen their faces: but then your wishes will be in vain. In the name of God bethink yourselves, whether your companions can bear you out at last, and save you from the wrath of God, and warrant your salvation? Nay, whether they can save themselves; alas, you