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

And this ought to be our conversation when we come in company with our brethren. But what if by accident, or by our necessary occasions, we ¹fall into the company of mere worldlings, and such as are irreligious and profane? Surely we are not to cast off the cloak of our profession, and the badge and cognizance of virtuous and religious behaviour, as though we were ashamed of our Master; for if we thus deny him before men, he also will deny us before his Father which is in heaven. And much less ought we to approve and applaud them in their wicked courses, or because we would not displease them, & endure their reproaches & disgraceful taunts for our profession and practice of Religion, countenance their ribaldry, swearing, and profane jests, with our smiles, or join in the same graceless courses, running together with them into the same excess of riot, that they may ²not speak evil of us. But so long as we are in their company, we must labour by all means to reclaim them, and to gain them to Christ; out-countenancing their levity and profaneness, by our gravity and piety shining in our words, countenance, and conversation. And first our care must be, that in all our carriage we be unblameable, although their malice will not allow us as commendable. So the Apostle exhorteth us to do all good duties without murmuring and disputings, that we may be blameless and harmless, ³the sons of God without rebuke, in the middest of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we should shine as lights in the world. Herein indeed like the Sun, which though wicked men may at some times hate, because it discovereth their works of darkness, yet are they so convinced with its beauty and excellency, that they cannot for shame speak against it. Thus also he exhorteth Titus, to show himself in all things a pattern of good ⁴works; in doctrine showing uncorruptnesse, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that ⟨p. 308⟩cannot be condemned, that he who is of the contrary part, may be ashamed, having no evil to say of him. And thus the Apostle Peter persuadeth us, not only to sanctify the Lord in our hearts, but also to make profession of the hope that is in us, upon all good occasions; having a good conscience, that