Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

Answ. Ye have heard, and seen, and read what the Scripture saith in this case; and the Scripture only is the rule of lawful and unlawful things. And pray do but mark what stress the Scripture lays upon this prohibition, and how it loads it with variety of expressions. Will ye instance in the persons of ungodly men, then it forbids your company with ungodly sinners and scorners. In the first Psalm, Vain persons that have no good will, are merely vain, dissemblers, evil and wicked doers. In Psalm 26.4, 5. I have not sate with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I hate the Congregation of evil doers, and I will not sit with the wicked. And what can be said more to delineate and characterize the persons themselves, whose company you are to avoid. Or will ye instance in the actions of keeping company? Mark how the Scripture loads this prohibition in that respect. Here the Psalmist saith, I have not sate with them, neither will I go in with them. If they will go into an Ale-house, or elsewhere, I will not go in with them, I will not sit with them, neither will I go in with them. And in the first Psalm, there are three terms, standing, sitting, and walking. Blessed is the man that standeth not, sitteth not, walketh not with them. And in that 4th of the Proverbs, there are no less then four expressions put together upon this prohibition in one verse; at the 14. he saith, Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men; then ver. 15. avoid it; ⟨p. 88⟩there's one expression; Pass by it, there's another; Turn from it, there's another; and Pass away, there's another. Now if you will break through this hedge of expressions with some distinctions, take heed how you distinguish over and against the letter of the Scripture that is so full, lest a Serpent bite you.

Answ. Ye have heard, and seen, and read what the Scripture saith in this case; and the Scripture onely is the rule of lawful and unlawful things. And pray do but mark what stress the Scripture lays upon this prohibition, and how it loads it with variety of expressions. Will ye instance in the persons of ungodly men, then it forbids your company with ungodly sinners and scorners. In the first Psalm, Vain persons that have no good will, are meerly vain, dissemblers, evil and wicked doers. In Psalm 26.4, 5