A26903:151
Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity,…
Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity, physic, and law, III. the sons of magistrates and rich men / by Richard Baxter.Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity, physick, and law, III. the sons of magistrates and rich men / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by T.S., 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But be sure that you choose the most useful and necessary subjects, and that you seek knowledge for the love of Holiness and Obedience.
VI. The sixth part of my advise is, forsake ill Company and converse with such as will be helps to your Knowledge, Holiness, and Obedience, and not such as will draw you to sin and misery.
You have found by sad experience what power ill Company hath on fools, with such a merry Tale, a Laughter, a Jest, a Scorn: a merry Cup, and a bad Example and Persuasion, doth more than Reason, or Gods Authority, or the Love of their Souls. A Physician may go among the Sick and Mad to Cure them; and a Wise man that seeth these will pity them, and hate sin the more. But what do you do there, where you have already catched the infection of their disease. The mind of a man is known much by the Company which he chooseth, and if you choose ill, no wonder if you speed ill, Pro. 13.20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Prov. 28.7. Whoso keepeth the Law is a wise Son, but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his Father. Psal. 119.63. David saith, I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 26.4, 5. I have not sate with vain persons. neither will I go in with dissemblers, I have hated the Congregation of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked. 119.115. Depart from me ye evil doers, for I will keep the Commandments of my God.
You have found by sad experience what power ill Company hath on fools, with such a merry Tale, a Laughter, a Jest, a Scorn: a merry Cup, and a bad Example and Perswasion, doth more than Reason, or Gods Authority, or the Love of their Souls. A Physician may go among the Sick and Mad to Cure them; and a Wiseman that seeth these will pitty them, and hate sin the more. But what do you do there, where you have already catcht the infection of their disease. The mind of a man is known much by the Company which he chooseth, and if you choose ill, no wonder if you speed ill,