Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

Quest. Why? but are they all alike guilty that do keep bad company?

Answ. No. For there are three sorts of men, that do or may possibly keep bad company. Some are wicked themselves, some are Professors, and some Members of Churches. It ill for a wicked man to keep bad company, it is worse for a Professor of the Gospel, but its worst of all for a Member of a Church.

1. Its ill for any man to keep evil company, it is ill for a wicked man himself to do it; for the more companions that a man hath in his wickedness, the more he is enclosed therein, and the harder it is for ⟨p. 93⟩him to break away from his wickedness. Is it not an hard thing for a Bird to fly away that is taken in the Lime twigs? Why? evil company is the Devils lime-twigs; and what is the reason that many a man doth continue in his sin, who is convinced of the evil of it? but because he is held fast in the bands of his wicked company. O saith one, I confess it is my duty to live otherwise, but I cannot get away from my company, so that though a man be a wicked man himself, it is an evil thing for him to keep bad company. But

1. Its ill for any man to keep evil company, it is ill for a wicked man himself to do it; for the more companions that a man hath in his wickedness, the more he is inclosed therein, and the harder it is for ⟨p. 93⟩him to break away from his wickedness. Is it not an hard thing for a Bird to flie away that is taken in the Lime twiggs? Why? evill company is the Devils lime-twiggs; and what is the reason that many a man doth continue in his sin, who is convinced of the evil of it? but because he is held fast in the bands of his wicked company. O saith one, I confess it is my duty to live otherwise, but I cannot get away from my company, so that though a man be a wicked man himself, it is an evil thing for him to keep bad company. But