A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

Now if any of these benefits be wanting in societies, or the contrary evils fall out through this conversation and mutual conversing one with another, the fault is not in the things themselves, but in their sinful corruptions, who pervert them from their first institution, and grossly abuse them to ill ends. For as it is generally observed, that the more any thing excelleth in excellency, the greater is the difficulty in attaining unto it; and the greatest benefits in temporal things, are most liable unto abuse; so cannot it be denied, but that it is much more hard to attain unto the right use of society then of solitariness; and lamentable experience teacheth us, that those who make conscience of their ways, and desire to carry themselves in all places as in Gods presence, do more often forget him and their duty when they are in company, then when they are alone, and fall into many more errors and sins, because they have more occasions, and do lye open unto many tentations of the world, if they do not make the better choice of their companions, or at least, keep not a strict watch over their words and ways, that they be not overtaken. In which regard, it is necessary unto this Treatise of a godly life, that we set down some directions, which may serve to guide us in our course when we converse with others. And these either generally respect the duties that concern society with all men, or more specially those which belong to our own families. The duties that concern society withal, either respect our preparation before we go into company, or be such as we ought to perform when we are come into it. The first general duty in our preparation, is, that we do not rashly rush into all companies; but seeing there are amongst men many more bad, by whose society we may be made much worse, then good, by whom we may in our conversing with them, receive much fruit and benefit, that therefore before we resort unto them, we make careful choice of such, as may either in all likelihood do us good, or at least receive some good from us.

Now if any of these benefits bee wanting in societies, or the contrary euils fall out through this conuersation and mutuall conuersing one with another, the fault is not in the things themselues, but in their sinfull corruptions, vvho peruert them from their first institution, and grosly abuse them to ill ends. For as it is generally obserued, that the more any thing excelleth in excellency, the greater is the difficultie in attaining vnto it; and the greatest benefits in temporall things, are most lyable vnto abuse; so cannot it bee denyed, but that it is much more hard to attaine vnto the right vse of society then of solitarinesse; and lamentable experience teacheth vs, that those who make conscience of their vvayes, and desire to carry themselues in all places as in Gods presence, doe more often forget him and their duty when they are in company, then when they are alone, and fall into many more errours and sinnes, because they haue more occasions, and doe lye open vnto many tentations of the world, if they doe not make the better choyce of their companions, or at least, keepe not a strict watch ouer their words and wayes, that they bee not ouertaken. In which regard, it is necessary vnto this Treatise of a godly life, that wee set downe some directions, which may serue to guide vs in our course when we conuerse vvith others. And these either generally respect the duties that concerne society vvith all men, or more specially those vvhich belong to our ovvne families. The duties that concerne society vvithall, either respect our preparation before wee goe into company, or bee such as wee ought to perfome when wee are come into it. The first generall dutie in our preparation, is, that vvee doe not rashly rush into all companies; but seeing there are amongst men many more bad, by vvhose society vvee may be made much vvorse, then good, by vvhom vvee may in our conuersing vvith them, receiue much fruit and benefit, that therefore before vve resort vnto them, vvee make carefull choyce of such, as may either in all likelihood doe vs good, or at least receiue some good from vs.