A29369:283
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.
4. And in the Fourth place, If you would avoid and part with your evil company, then you must humble your self before the Lord, for all the vanity and folly of your Company-keeping; some men being convinced of their sin in Company-keeping, do resolve never to come in such company again: And it may be they do refrain for three or four weeks, but in a short time they are where they were. And what's the reason, that though men be convinced of their sin, yet they return again? but because they go forth in the strength of their own resolutions, and were never throughly humbled for their sin. Would you therefore so refrain from evil company, that you ⟨p. 102⟩may return no more; then go and humble your self before the Lord for the evil of it.
5 And in the fifth place, Be sure that you do not follow the Saints to that is good for their multitude: for he that follows the multitude to good, because they are many, will also follow the multitude unto what is evil, Non faeciendum, &c saith Austin, 1we must not do a good thing, because many do it, but because it is good; if others do that which is good saith he, I will rejoice because they do it, but I will not do it, because they do it that I may do good; for to do well few shall suffice, yea one, yea none. The way to follow the multitude to evil, is to follow the multitude to good; because of this multitude take heed therefore of that
5 And in the fifth place, Be sure that you do not follow the Saints to that is good for their multitude: for he that follows the multitude to good, because they are many, will also follow the multitude unto what is evil, Non faeciendum, &c saith Austin, 1we must not do a good thing, because many do it, but because it is good; if others do that which is good saith he, I will rejoyce because they do it, but I will not do it, because they do it that I may do good; for to do well few shall suffice, yea one, yea none. The way to follow the multitude to evil, is to follow the multitude to good; because of this multitude take heed therefore of that