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

More especially, this society with the godly and religious, doth much further us in all duties of a godly life, because it taketh away the tediousness of our journey, when we have good company to travail with us: Seeing they draw us on by their good discourses, and put out of our minds the tediousness of the way; they comfort and encourage us, when we begin to be weary; they are ready to help us, if any evil betide us; to secure us by their assistance from fear of our spiritual enemies, who are ready to rob us of the treasures of Gods graces; and when we are slothful, they much better our speed, because we would not be cast behind. Again, the fellowship of the godly doth much further us by their good example, seeing their zeal and diligence convinceth our luke-warmness and negligence, and their good works of piety and righteousness are good patterns and presidents for us to imitate. For though the Law of God be the most perfect rule, and the example of our Saviour Christ the most exact squire, according to which all our actions and whole conversation are to be framed; yet these being of such incomparable excellency, and so far above our low growth in grace and short reach, would altogether discourage us in the sense of our imperfections, if we did not also observe men subject to the like infirmities, walking before us in the ways of godliness, and inviting us to follow them, who though they go not so swiftly as they should, yet have much outstripped us in the Christian race. Furthermore, this society and communion with the faithful, is a notable means to make us familiar with God, and to enjoy the fellowship of his holy Spirit, which is the chief bond that uniteth us together in this holy communion. For where two or three are gathered together in