A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…

Thirdly, Have a care of your Company, take heed of unnecessary familiarity with sinners, we cannot catch health from another, but we may soon catch a disease; the disease of sin is very catching: I would be as fraid of coming among the wicked, as among those that have the plague. Psal. 106.35. They were mingled with the heathen, and learned their works: If we cannot make others better, let us have a care that they make not us worse: Lot was a miracle, he kept fresh in Sodoms salt water. My beloved, take heed of the occasions of sin, evil company is an occasion of sin. The Nazarites in the old Law, as they might drink no wine, so they were forbidden grapes, whereof the wine was made, as you read in Num. 6. to teach us, that all occasions of sin must be avoided; evil company is belluo animatrum, the Devils draw-net, by which he draws millions to Hell: how many families, and how many souls have been ruined and undone in this City by evil company? many there are that go from a play-house to a Whore-house, and from a Tavern to Tyburn.

Fourthly, Have a care whom you hear; it is our Saviour Christs counsel, Mat. 7.15. Beware of false prophets that come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. Let me tell you, the Devil hath his Ministers as well as Christ, Rev. 12.15. The Serpent cast out of his mouth water, as a flood over the woman; that is, as the Learned expound it, Satan by his Ministers, and Emissaries, cast out the flood of Arian Doctrine to drown the Church. There are some, who by the subtlety of their wit have learnt the Art to mix error with truth, and to give poison in a Golden cup. Take heed who you hear, and how you hear, be like those Noble Bereans, that searched the Scriptures whether the things that they preached were so or not, Acts 17.11. Your ears must not be like ⟨image 76⟩