And because we are often mistaken in our choice, not knowing the course and conversation, and much less the hearts and affections of men, before we have had some trial of them, therefore it is fit that we pray unto God, that he will direct us in our choice, and make our meeting and society profitable for the advancing of his glory and our good. The which is to be understood, when as we are free, and left to the choice of our companions, and not when they are put upon us, or we upon them, by some urgent necessity, the duties of our calling, some weighty business or other unlooked for accident. Secondly, let us pray also unto God, that he will by his grace and holy Spirit so assist us, as that our meeting & society may tend to the advancement of his glory, & good one of another. Thirdly, seeing the enemy of our salvation doth in all places lay ⟨p. 305⟩so many nets and snares to entrap us, and especially in our company, if it be not well chosen, whereby it cometh to pass, that we are often caught at unawares, and depart away worse then when we came into it; therefore we must resolve beforehand, that we will arm our selves against all these dangers, and keep a narrow watch, that we be not ensnared or overcome of any evil. Fourthly, we must not propound this as the end of our society, to pass away the time with less tediousness, or to delight our flesh with carnal pleasure, but go into it with this resolution, that we will do our best endeavour, either to receive some good thereby, especially to our souls, by gaining more wisdom and knowledge, or better our desires and affections, or more power and cheerfulness in the service of God, and in the performance of all Christian duties; or to do some good unto those who consort with us, by our words, examples and actions, either by keeping them from sin when they are ready to fall into it, and pulling them (as the Apostle Jude speaketh) like firebrands out of the fire; 1or instructing them that err from the truth, in the right way, or performing unto them some other Christian duty which may further their salvation, either as a means of their conversion, whereby they may be 2gained unto Christ, or for their further building in their most holy faith; the which we are chiefly to intend as an excellent work:
And because we are often mistaken in our choyce, not knowing the course and conuersation, and much lesse the hearts and affections of men, before we haue had some tryall of them, therfore it is fit that we pray vnto God, that he will direct vs in our choice, and make our meeting and society profitable for the aduancing of his glory and our good. The which is to be vnderstood, when as we are free, and left to the choice of our companions, and not when they are put vpon vs, or we vpon them, by some vrgent necessity, the duties of our calling, some waighty businesse or other vnlooked for accident. Secondly, let vs pray also vnto God, that hee will by his grace and holy Spirit so assist vs, as that our meeting & society may tend to the aduancement of his glory, & good one of another. Thirdly, seeing the enemy of our saluation doth in all places lay ⟨p. 305⟩so many nets and snares to intrap vs, and especially in our companie, if it be not well chosen, whereby it commeth to passe, that we are often caught at vnawares, and depart away worse then when we came into it; therefore we must resolue beforehand, that wee will arme our selues against all these dangers, and keepe a narrow watch, that wee be not ensnared or ouercome of any euill. Fourthly, we must not propound this as the end of our society, to passe away the time with lesse tediousnesse, or to delight our flesh with carnall pleasure, but goe into it with this resolution, that we will doe our best indeuour, either to receiue some good thereby, especially to our soules, by gayning more wisdome and knowledge, or better our desires and affections, or more power and cheerefulnesse in the seruice of God, and in the performance of all Christian duties; or to doe some good vnto those who consort with vs, by our words, examples and actions, either by keeping them from sinne when they are ready to fall into it, and pulling them (as the Apostle Iude speaketh) like firebrands out of the fire; 1or instructing them that erre from the truth, in the right way, or performing vnto them some other Christian dutie which may further their saluation, either as a meanes of their conuersion, whereby they may bee 2gained vnto Christ, or for their further building in their most holy faith; the which we are chiefly to intend as an excellent worke:
- 1Jude vers. 23.Iude vers. 23.
- 2Vers. 20.Ʋers. 20.
