A29369:280
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons ... by that learned and judicious divine, Mr. William Bridge ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock Senior and Junior ..., 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermons › Sermon 4: OF GOOD AND BAD COMPANY, How to avoid the one, and improve the other.
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.
Ans. Here are three questions I shall speak something unto them distinctly. As for the first, Do you ask what you shall do that you may avoid evil company? First, you must be sure to mortify your affection, inclination, and disposition to the vanity thereof; 'tis not the persuasions of evil company that doth lead you to them, but it is your own disposition and unmortified affections; you think it may be, that it is their Spark that doth set you a fire, but it is your Tinder that doth close with their spark, if there were but Water thrown on your own Tinder you could not be so fired with your evil company. The Woman that thou gavest me, said Adam, did give me to eat, and so I was drawn into this sin, but it was his own disposition that did lead him to it, 'tis in this sin as in all other outward sins; 'tis not the drink or wine that is in fault, but a mans own drunken disposition that doth lead him to drunkenness; 'tis not the beautiful ⟨p. 100⟩object that is in fault, but a mans own wanton disposition that doth lead him into uncleanness; so here it is not your company, but your own disposition that doth lead you into it. Would you therefore avoid and abstain from your wanton company then labour to mortify your own wanton affections, would you abstain from and avoid your vain company; then must you first labour to mortify the vanity of your own heart and spirit; otherwise though you abstain from your company for a time, yet you will return again. First therefore mortify your own lusts and earthly affections
Ans. Here are three questions I shall speak something unto them distinctly. As for the first, Do you ask what you shall do that you may avoid evil company? First, you must be sure to mortifie your affection, inclination, and disposition to the vanity thereof; 'tis not the perswasions of evil company that doth lead you to them, but it is your own disposition and unmortified affections; you think it may be, that it is their Spark that doth set you a fire, but it is your Tinder that doth close with their spark, if there were but Water thrown on your own Tinder you could not be so fired with your evil company. The Woman that thou gavest me, said Adam, did give me to eat, and so I was drawn into this sin, but it was his own disposition that did lead him to it, 'tis in this sin as in all other outward sins; 'tis not the drink or wine that is in fault, but a mans own drunken disposition that doth lead him to drunkenness; 'tis not the beautiful ⟨p. 100⟩